mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO CHESCA BARNETT
Tommy Tuberville (Republican, AL) \u2014 2024-5-9

Chesca Barnett of Brierfield went to the U.S. Air Force Academy at age 17, thinking that she would one day become an astronaut. Little did she know that her time in the military would take her on a completely different career path. Due to some medical setbacks, Chesca was told she wouldn't be able to go to flight school, as she had originally planned. She recalls feeling devastated at having to give up on a dream she'd had since she was 6 years old. prgtoken This setback led her to discover an unexpected passion that would allow her to help those who need it most. A military career coach encouraged Chesca to become a pharmacy tech. She found that she loved the work. After 8 years in the military, Chesca began studying to become a pharmacist. prgtoken She chose to specialize in pediatrics because she believes our children deserve the best care available. And for the last 20 years, she has been serving as a pharmacist at Children's of Alabama. She also helps at Cooper Green Mercy Help Services. prgtoken A colleague at Children's said that Chesca is ``an excellent pediatric pharmacist with a strong focus on patient safety and a team player who willingly shifts her schedule or comes in for extra shifts to ensure patients are taken care of.'' prgtoken Chesca feels she has a ``duty'' to serve, which she attributes to her time in the military. But her impact spans far beyond the medical field. Chesca also teaches courses at Jefferson State Community College and Samford University. There, she helps students who are facing personal challenges, reminding them that if she overcame her struggles, they can, too. Chesca is also a proud mom of four. prgtoken We are thankful for Chesca's devotion to helping Alabamians in need. Her story is an inspiration to anyone who is facing a difficult circumstance. It is my honor to recognize her as the May Veteran of the Month.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
J.D. Vance (Republican, OH) \u2014 2024-5-9

I rise today to talk about a program of critical importance to my State and to a number of people all across the country, and that is the Affordable Connectivity Program--something that doesn't generate a lot of headlines; something that doesn't generate a lot of partisan debate; and something for which, gratefully, there is a bipartisan group of Senators who would, I think, extend the Affordable Connectivity Program for this country, but, unfortunately, it looks like the leadership does not want to give us a vote on it. prgtoken So I want to talk about why this program is important and talk about why it is important that we hopefully, sometime in the future, authorize this important program, which just expired a matter of a few days ago. prgtoken Now, this is a town where, often, the things that generate headlines are sometimes the most partisan fights, the things that are most pressing and most relevant. And, of course--the Presiding Officer knows me--I participate in those debates just as well or just as much as anybody. prgtoken But sometimes--hopefully, most of the time--this body should be geared toward actually accomplishing things for the constituents that we represent. In the State of Ohio, the Affordable Connectivity Program benefits over a million households. That is not a million people. A million households in the State of Ohio benefit from this program. And my cosponsors from Vermont, from New Mexico, ic colleagues, and from a number of States as well, I think, testify to how important this program actually is. prgtoken Let me just sort of try to identify a couple of the reasons why it is important. So the first reason it is important is because we know that connectivity is actually one of the important and necessary parts of living life in the 21st century. We may not like this. We may think that this is a negative trend. But, look, kids can't do their schoolwork without access to high-quality broadband. A lot of parents can't do their work from home if they don't have access to high-quality broadband. Teachers can't prepare lessons for the next day. prgtoken And, increasingly, especially in a country that is as constrained by budget and fiscal matters as ours, one of the great ways to lower healthcare costs in our country is telemedicine. Yet you can't do telemedicine, of course, if you don't have an internet connection at home. prgtoken The Affordable Connectivity Program solves this problem by ensuring that our low-income residents all across the country can afford their internet bills. prgtoken Now, it is not just about the consumers; it is not just about our citizens who need a high-quality connection because the guarantee that consumers will be able to pay their internet bills, regardless of their income level, is one of the things that makes it possible for a lot of companies to invest in rural broadband infrastructure. prgtoken Now, I talked to a number of
TRIBUTE TO LOUISE SMITH
Roger F. Wicker (Republican, MS) \u2014 2024-5-9

on behalf of the people of Mississippi, I submit this statement into the Congressional Record to honor the public service of Ms. Louise Smith. She has dedicated her life to the success of students in her hometown, Pascagoula, MS. prgtoken Louise earned bachelor's and master's degrees in music and education, both from the University of Southern Mississippi. She subsequently put that knowledge to work at Gautier Middle School, where she is completing her 22nd year teaching band. prgtoken Time and again, Louise's bands have achieved successes. Like all great teachers, she has brought out the best in her students. Her bands have earned superior ratings in concert and sight reading, and they have been invited to perform at the Louisiana Concert Band Invitational. Her students frequently merit high marks in solo and ensemble performances. They earn placements in band clinics and the Mississippi Lions All State Band. prgtoken If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Louise's students clearly feel fondly toward her, since several have followed in her footsteps. She has inspired students to become band leaders at other schools in Mississippi and Alabama. prgtoken Over the last few years, Louise's giftedness has been recognized at even higher levels. The Mississippi Department of Education named her the 2023 Mississippi Teacher of the Year. More recently, she was one of just five educators nationwide to receive the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence. Both awards commemorate her impact on Mississippi students, and they give her opportunities to share her wisdom with other teachers. prgtoken Louise's response to these awards characterizes her commitment to public service. She praised Mississippi teachers, rather than herself. For that reason, I am eager to praise her today in the Congressional Record.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2024-5-9

war is hell. It tears apart societies. It alters the course of entire civilizations, and innocent noncombatants suffer. Try as we might, humanity has not eradicated war or stripped it of its horrors. prgtoken But in the modern world, civilized nations hold themselves to the highest standards and take deliberate care to minimize harm to civilians. The United States is first among these nations, but even we make mistakes. On this administration's watch, precision military strikes have inadvertently killed civilians in multiple theaters of operations. prgtoken Our ally Israel goes to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties. Over decades of grinding conflict to preserve its security, a circumstance most Americans can hardly imagine, Israel routinely accepts great risk to its own soldiers to avoid endangering innocent civilians. prgtoken But the forces sworn to erase Israel from the Earth follow a different code. To Hamas, civilian casualties are not tragedies; they are tools of the trade. To these savages, kidnapping, torture, rape, and murder aren't crimes; they are tactics. For terrorists around the world, human suffering is the weapon of choice, and Hamas seeks to magnify it. prgtoken These are the facts, and any serious conversation about the war in Gaza needs to start here. prgtoken If war could be avoided entirely, so could its terrible costs. Israel tried to avoid this war. It negotiated a cease-fire with the savage terrorists bent on destroying the Jewish State, all to try to avoid the war. prgtoken The terrorists used this cease-fire to plan and prepare for war, and, on October 7, Hamas launched it. It also chose how Israel would be forced to fight it, putting fighting positions in hospitals, schools, and United Nations facilities; directly attacking humanitarian aid crossings. This doesn't just contravene the laws of war. It exploits human suffering. prgtoken Why does Hamas behave this way? Because it works. Because they know the media will cover it--``if it bleeds, it leads.'' Because they know it creates an international rush--rush--to blame Israel. Because leftist columnists and useful idiots of university campuses will play at revolution and express solidarity with the terrorists. Because the President of the United States will be forced to choose between his supposedly ``ironclad'' commitment to an ally under attack and the will of his leftist political base. And because they bet that the President would choose the latter. prgtoken Well, it would seem that Hamas bet correctly. President is withholding urgent military assistance to Israel. prgtoken But he cannot have it both ways. He cannot claim his support for Israel is ironclad while denying Israel precisely the weapons they need to defend themselves. prgtoken The President is old enough to remember 1968, but he seems to have learned the wrong lesson from that pivotal year. Caving to the college radicals will only whet their
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Josh Hawley (Republican, MO) \u2014 2024-5-9

I am, again, on this floor, this afternoon, because it is, again, apparent that Congress will fail to pass the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. Congress will, again, fail to compensate those Americans who have been exposed by their own government to nuclear radiation, to nuclear testing, to nuclear waste. prgtoken Why is Congress failing to act again? Well, because the House doesn't want to vote on it. The House doesn't want to vote on the radiation bill as part of the FAA. The House doesn't want to vote on the radiation bill as part of anything. The House just doesn't want to vote at all. prgtoken The only problem with that is that there is only 1 month remaining before this vital program--this commitment that this Nation has made to the working people of this Nation, to the veterans of this Nation who have served this country--before this commitment runs out, before it goes dark, before people exposed to nuclear waste by their own government get nothing. We have 1 month to go, and the House is not acting. prgtoken And so I am here, again, to remind this Congress, again, why it is vital, why it is a moral imperative that Congress--the House, in particular--act without delay. prgtoken So let me once more remind the House and all of those listening of just a few of the stories of the good Americans who have given their health--and, in many cases, I am sad to say, their lives--in an effort to help this country's nuclear program and as a result of what this country, what this government, what the military did in pushing forward with the nuclear program, including uranium processing and mining, without telling and informing the American people of what they were doing. prgtoken Let me just start in the State of Missouri. I could start in any number of prgtoken States because this was a nationwide effort that stretches all the way back to the Manhattan Project. And now most of America has seen that movie about Dr. Oppenheimer that won all those awards, and that is fine, and I am sure Dr. Oppenheimer deserves all the credit. prgtoken But let's just be clear that the real people who won not just the Second World War, the people who won the Cold War, the people who have fought and won every conflict that this Nation has been involved in, the people who are truly responsible and get the credit for the success of the Nation's nuclear program and military writ large are the working people of this country, who were not featured in that movie, who have not won awards, who are not getting plaudits from Hollywood or Wall Street or anybody else but are instead dying because of the radiation their government exposed them to. prgtoken In St. Louis, the government opened the uranium processing site in the 1940s, at the height of the Manhattan Project. St. Louis was a so- called secret city because it wasn't known that it was a site for uranium processing, and that went on for years. prgtoken When the government fin
TRIBUTE TO JULIANNE BEECH
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2024-5-9

I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Julianne Beech for her hard work as an intern in my office in Cheyenne, WY. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming. prgtoken Julianne is a native of Cheyenne. She is a freshman at Laramie County Community College, where she studies political science and international studies, with a minor in international relations and comparative politics. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months. prgtoken I want to thank Julianne for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her journey.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Ted Cruz (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-5-9

reserving the right to object, let me say I appreciate the passion of my colleagues from Virginia. I have served with both of them for 12 years. Senator Kaine and I both were elected together in 2012. He and I have worked together on many issues, and I anticipate we will work together on many issues going forward. prgtoken On this issue, he and I see the issue very differently. This bill that is before the Senate is a bill that moved forward the right way. It moved forward, frankly, a way I wish a lot more legislation proceeded in the Senate. This bill proceeded through regular order. prgtoken It began in committee. The Commerce Committee took it up. We had a series of markups scheduled over several months. In the process of drafting this bill, we solicited the input, initially, of every Senator on the Commerce Committee. And every single Senator-- and --has priorities that are reflected in the underlying bill that were adopted. prgtoken After the bill came out of the Commerce Committee, we solicited the input of every other Senator, those not on the Commerce Committee, for their ideas, their priorities for their respective States. prgtoken This bill contains over 200 Member priorities, from and s, reflecting the different needs and the different priorities of our 50 States. prgtoken In addition to all of those, this week, we added nine more amendments in a managers' package when the majority leader laid down the substitute earlier this week. This is an amendment that reflects the consensus view of this body, which is why I anticipate shortly we will see an overwhelming bipartisan vote passing the FAA bill. prgtoken Now, on the question of slots, in the committee initially, an amendment was offered by Senator Raphael Warnock, a from Georgia, to expand the number of slots at DCA Reagan airport by 28 slots. That was an amendment that had a lot in its favor, but it also prompted furious lobbying on the other side. Ultimately, what the committee did is work to seek common ground, work to seek a compromise. prgtoken Senator Warnock's amendment of 28 slots was not adopted. Instead, what was adopted was an amendment that I drafted, working hand in hand with the chairman of the committee, Senator Cantwell, that went down from 28 slots to merely 5 slots. prgtoken Now, several arguments have been raised against creating any additional slots at Reagan. One argument is pointing to the recent near miss at DCA Reagan as evidence that no additional flights can go into or out of Reagan. However, it is worth noting that the FAA experts have recently clarified that this near miss had absolutely nothing to do with traffic on the runway; that it was unrelated issues that produced the near miss. And I might note those unrelated issues include what this underlying bill addresses, which is ensuring we have sufficient air traffic controllers to monitor the traffic and protect
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-5-9

the Senate has spent much of the past couple of years rushing to complete high-stakes bills before long- awaited deadlines arrive. Matter of fact, we have been very bad about meeting those deadlines. We keep kicking the can down the road in a number of cases. That was the situation last month, when one of our Nation's most vital intelligence tools was in danger of expiring on the 19th of April. It was the case last spring, when the United States hit the debt limit and nearly defaulted on its debts while Congress debated solutions. It was the case for fiscal year 2024 appropriations, when Congress had to pass multiple eleventh-hour funding bills to avert a government shutdown. prgtoken It seems like we have lurched from one deadline to another up against the wall, where we have postponed making important decisions on a timely basis, so there is no more time, no more flexibility, and we have lurched, as I said, from potential shutdown to potential shutdown. prgtoken But the big item on the Senate's agenda this week is the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration, and to my point, it is set to expire tomorrow night. prgtoken The Federal Aviation Administration is vital to the safety and the efficiency of our Nation's air travel system that millions of us depend on, on a daily basis. From certifying aircraft and pilots to overseeing air traffic controls, this Agency touches on virtually every aspect of the aviation industry, and its operations have a major impact on all the American people. On an average day, the Agency serves more than 45,000 flights involving 2.9 million passengers. That is a staggering number--45,000 flights, 2.9 million airline passengers a day. prgtoken A highly functioning FAA is vital to the country, but it is clear that the Agency has fallen short in a number of respects in recent years. Travelers have dealt with widespread flight cancelations and paralyzing staffing shortages. They have experienced jarring safety issues, such as near collisions on airport tarmacs, including one at the Austin airport, where I live. All of these incidents have underscored the need to pass a strong FAA reauthorization bill that prioritizes safety, efficiency, and consumer confidence. prgtoken My friend Senator Cruz, the junior Senator from Texas, is leading the reauthorization effort on this side of the aisle, and he has worked with the chairwoman, Senator Cantwell, to help craft a bipartisan, bicameral bill that will make flying safer and more convenient for all airline passengers. prgtoken This reauthorization bill importantly includes a range of reforms and will modernize and improve the FAA. It strengthens safety standards, enhances consumer protections, invests in technologies to improve efficiency, and expands training programs to meet the workforce demands of the rapidly growing air travel industry. prgtoken I am glad this legislation also delivers a major win for Texas and
TRIBUTE TO JOSHUA MANDELL
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-5-9

I rise today to recognize the exemplary work of local educator and mentor Joshua Mandell, a teacher at Granada Hills Charter High School--GHCHS--in Granada Hills, CA. prgtoken A Bay Area-native, Mr. Mandell holds a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in educational technology from the California State University, Northridge; a California Single Subject Credential in English and social science; and a Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development--CLAD--Certificate. prgtoken Across his 7 years as an educator, whether teaching students in his ninth grade English, English Second Language, and International Baccalaureate Standard Level World Religion classes or serving as an adviser for the GHCHS Model United Nations--MUN--team, Mr. Mandell has helped countless students discover a love for learning. prgtoken At conferences across the Nation--from Berkeley MUN in California or across the country to Dartmouth MUN or National High School MUN in New York City--Mr. Mandell empowers his students to look beyond the walls of GHCHS to the world around them. prgtoken But back at home, for students at GHCHS, Mr. Mandell's classroom is where they feel most comfortable. Because of his unwavering empathy and passion for the subjects he teaches, his classroom has become a place for students to feel accepted, to feel part of a larger community, and to pursue their interests--wherever they might take them. prgtoken Today, on behalf of the students and the community he serves, we are grateful for the lifechanging dedication of Joshua Mandell.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-5-9

let me just reiterate: For the sake of fairness, it is only the right thing to do to allow a vote. We don't know what the outcome will be, but it is very fair to have a vote. prgtoken Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that the only amendment in order to the Cantwell-Cruz substitute amendment No. 1911, as modified, be Warner amendment No. 2057 and that at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the leader, the Senate vote on the amendment; further, upon disposition of the Warner amendment, all postcloture time on substitute amendment No. 1911, as modified and as amended, if amended, be considered expired and all remaining amendments be withdrawn; that upon disposition of the substitute amendment No. 1911, as modified and as amended, if amended, the cloture motion with respect to the underlying bill be withdrawn; that the bill, as amended, if amended, be read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended, with a 60-vote- affirmative threshold required for passage and with 2 minutes for debate prior to each vote, all without further intervening action or debate.