mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REPUBLICANS' FIRST 100 DAYS
Gregory F. Murphy (Republican, NC) \u2014 2023-4-19

this evening, I will be talking on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. prgtoken I have been a physician now for over 30 years and have dealt with a lot of different types of individuals, and there is a difference medically between men and women. There is a difference biologically between men and women. There is a difference chromosomally between men and women. There is a difference genetically between men and women. prgtoken At age 5, it is an absolutely normal thing for young children to question who they are. It is absolutely normal. We all go through that phase. Sadly enough, our left colleagues now want to put pressure, either from teachers, counselors, or whatever, that they may be disillusioned, that they may not understand who they are, to try to push them in one direction. prgtoken What has happened? We now have this huge conglomeration of individuals who don't understand their biological sex. We have been preached to by the left for 3 years, ``Follow the science. Follow the science,'' even though the science was wrong. prgtoken Right now, they don't want to follow the science. It comes down to the science of gender, and they refuse to allow that truth to be told. They don't want to hear about the true biological and genetic differences between XY and XX chromosomes. prgtoken As a physician, I can say there is an absolute genetic difference in mitochondria, spindle cell formation, and everything else in a genetic XY male from an XX female. It is how they develop. prgtoken Regardless of any type of hormonal manipulation, an XY male has a competitive advantage over an XX female--period, point blank. It is fact. It cannot be refuted. prgtoken Sadly enough, the left doesn't want to hear that. They want to push the fact that the choice of a gender will get to decide a competitive advantage. They want to trample over the rights of women and allow men to compete in women's sports. It is an absolute absurdity. prgtoken I honestly cannot believe that this is an actual issue that we are debating in the United States of America. It is common sense. prgtoken I won't point out any specifics, but what would happen if a male from the NBA decided he wanted to compete in the WNBA? Would that be fair? Absolutely not. prgtoken What would happen if somebody like Michael Phelps wanted to compete in women's athletic sports, in swimming? It would be absolutely unfair, but the left is not horrified if something like that would happen in high school or college. prgtoken Ten years ago, I would say and s would never have dreamed we would be going down this path of lunacy, trying to erase women's sports, that a young girl who at the age of 5 or 10 would be competing so hard for her dream at age 18 or 22 to compete in the Olympics for a gold medal or any other medal might have that taken away by a biological male. prgtoken However, here we are. It is a sad state. It is time for the adults in the room t
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL UNDER CHAPTER 8 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS RELATING TO "REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES...
Tommy Tuberville (Republican, AL) \u2014 2023-4-19

I am proud to have come from a military family. Our veterans are some of the best people in this country. Because of that, I am grateful to serve on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. Giving back to our veterans has been a passion my whole life. Our men and women in uniform deserve the best medical care available. I am grateful for every healthcare provider that works for and with our veterans. prgtoken The mission of the VA is taken from Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address. Lincoln pledged our country to ``care for him who shall have borne the battle.'' That is what the VA is supposed to be about. But today, under the administration, we see the VA increasingly--increasingly--getting distracted from that very important mission. The administration increasingly has the VA involved in politics. prgtoken Last year, the VA announced they would begin providing taxpayer- funded abortions--last year. This is something the VA has never, ever done. Let me repeat that. The VA has never done abortions. In fact, the VA has been prohibited by this body from performing abortions at its facilities for more than 30 years. prgtoken The 102nd Congress--1991 to 1992--made taxpayer-funded abortions at VA facilities illegal. Let me repeat that. Thirty years ago, this body made taxpayer-funded abortions illegal. It is a law. They did this with the bipartisan Veterans Healthcare Act of 1992. The last I heard, that is a Federal law, passed by this body, which, for some reason, we don't want to do anymore. We want the executive branch to be able to do it on their own, and that is wrong. We need to do our job. prgtoken This, today, is not about abortions. It is about taxpayers paying for abortions that they don't have to pay for because of a law that was presented and passed in this Chamber in 1992. The bill was introduced in the House and the Senate by whom? None other than the . The Senate passed it unanimously. This includes a Senator by the name of . prgtoken Now President is breaking the law that he voted for. How do you do that? This is a direct violation of Federal law. The administration even wants taxpayers on the hook for abortions for veterans' dependents. That has never happened. So we are changing the law at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and not in here, where we are supposed to do our job. It has got nothing to do with the VA's mission. prgtoken The VA won't even tell Congress if they are placing restrictions on abortions. When are they doing it--at 5 months? 3 months? 2 months? after the baby is born? We can't get any information out of them. They just write the laws themselves. The VA has refused to cooperate with Congress throughout this whole process. And that is what this is all about. For all we know, a taxpayer-funded abortion can be at any time, at their choosing. prgtoken This new policy also includes very limited moral protections for VA medical staff. This,
SINGING THE PRAISES OF JENNIFER WICKRE
Frank D. Lucas (Republican, OK) \u2014 2023-4-19

my colleague is exactly right. Sometimes even in the institution and amongst the family, we forget how important the critical role that the staff plays is, their understanding of the issues, their vast experience and ability to focus. Jenn is one of those individuals, one of the catalysts, I will say, of the legislative process. prgtoken , I yield now to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici) to discuss a fellow Oregonian.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Bill Hagerty (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-4-19

in February, the administration argued to the U.S. Supreme Court that title 42 will terminate in May of 2023 with the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. prgtoken Removing one of the last tools available to Border Patrol agents during a record-shattering border crisis is intolerable. Congress should not stand by and refuse to address this obvious problem. prgtoken Title 42 authority was initially based on the pandemic, and while I agree that the pandemic is over, the border crisis and the deadly drug overdose crisis that it fuels are worse than ever. prgtoken Whether to maintain border security policy should not depend on whether there is a pandemic. That is why I am reintroducing the Stop Fentanyl Border Crossings Act today. This legislation would preserve continued use of title 42 authority to combat drug trafficking at the border. prgtoken Clearly, the deadly epidemic has not ended. Deadly fentanyl is flooding American communities--deadly fentanyl, produced with the help of the Chinese Communist Party and smuggled by drug cartels across our southern border. prgtoken More than 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in the last 12 months, most of them from synthetic opioids like fentanyl. It is the No. 1 cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. prgtoken The rise in fentanyl overdoses and deaths affects every State and congressional district. It kills the young and the old, the rich and the poor, in cities and in small towns alike. It is not a partisan issue, and finding a solution shouldn't be partisan either. prgtoken When I talk to Tennessee sheriffs, they tell me that fentanyl is becoming more and more lethal, how a so-called ``bad batch'' can kill dozens of people. Once this deadly substance arrives in American communities, it is too late. We have to stop it before it crosses our borders. That is why I have reintroduced this legislation to combat drug smuggling. prgtoken When I travel to the border, Border Patrol agents tell me that the cartels use human waves of illegal border crossers as cover to transport fentanyl and other deadly narcotics. While Border Patrol agents are diverted to manage caravans of border crossers, the gap in coverage is then exploited by the smugglers. In many cases, these are well-planned and carefully coordinated occurrences. prgtoken The agents told me that ``the people don't stay at the border, and the drugs don't either.'' They also told me that title 42 is the last tool the Border Patrol has left to partially slow this ongoing tidal wave of illegal crossings. We can't afford to take away this tool in the midst of a crisis. prgtoken Letting title 42 end without creating a permanent, new authority to replace it empowers drug cartels. It enables them to send migrants across the border at strategic points, bogging down Border Patrol agents with paperwork and processing that takes five times longer without title 42. This drama
RECOGNIZING NOTRE DAME ACADEMY'S GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM
Mike Gallagher (Republican, WI) \u2014 2023-4-19

today I rise to recognize the Notre Dame Academy Girls Basketball Team for winning the 2023 WIAA Division 2 State Championship. prgtoken Achieving the title of State Champion is a testament to the unwavering dedication and hard work that the coaches and players display every day throughout the season. After beating No. 3 ranked McFarland in the semi-finals the Tritons advanced to the finals where they faced No. 1 ranked Pewaukee who handed them their only defeat of the season. The Notre Dame Girls Basketball Team dominated with their strong offense capturing the state title over Pewaukee in the Championship game with a 64-49 win at the Resch Center. prgtoken I applaud Coach Sara Rhode and the entire Lady Triton team for their outstanding performance during the 2023 Girls basketball season. Winning one golden ball much less three in a row is a feat that you and the entire Notre Dame community should be incredibly proud of. prgtoken Following years of hard work, the Notre Dame Girls Basketball Team has left a remarkable legacy that will be remembered by the Green Bay community for years to come. The team won their third consecutive Division 2 state title while also setting a WIAA record for the most points scored in the State Tournament. It is quite evident that the Notre Dame Girls Basketball Team has become a powerhouse in Division 2 throughout the years securing titles in 2000, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2021, and 2022. prgtoken , I extend my sincerest congratulations to the entire Lady Triton coaching staff and team for their outstanding display at the 2023 Division 2 State Girls Basketball Tournament. It is my honor to recognize these young women and I wish them nothing but the best for seasons to come.
PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SPORTS ACT OF 2023
Lisa C. McClain (Republican, MI) \u2014 2023-4-19

I stand here today enraged that we are debating a bill to protect women and girls in sports. prgtoken I am enraged not because I disagree with the legislation, in fact, I fully support the legislation. I am enraged by the fact that we have reached a point in this country where we have to talk about a bill to protect women and women's sports is even necessary. prgtoken When Congress passed Title IX in this very Chamber a half a century ago, I thought it was supposed to be a victory for women across the United States. prgtoken At what point did we throw it away and make it meaningless? prgtoken Do we not care about women? prgtoken Did we forget about the women and the young girls? prgtoken Listen, as a wife, as a mother, as a female athlete, and as a coach of female athletes, I take offense to this, because now 50 years later, we are in the same Chamber, debating the merits of protecting women's sports, once again. prgtoken The left's hypocrisy on this issue has resulted in women being demolished in competitions, physically brutalized going up against stronger opponents. They are losing individual games, State championships, and NCAA's championships to biological males that have decided to become a woman. prgtoken That is their right, but what about the women's rights? What about the rights of the young girls? Do they not have any rights anymore? prgtoken Let's be clear about something: My ic colleagues can see what is going on and what is happening, and I believe they know that this is wrong, as well. That is why they hide behind it and don't deal with the real issue. prgtoken Because of that reason, I am enraged today that we are debating a bill that should not require any debate at all.
PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SPORTS ACT OF 2023
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2023-4-19

such time as I may consume. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I have spoken to the absurdity of this debate, but let me conclude by clarifying what this bill does and does not do by reading two paragraphs of this bill--it is one page long. ``Section 901 of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(d)(1) It shall be a violation of subsection (a) for a recipient of Federal funds who operates, sponsors, or facilitates athletic programs or activities to permit a person whose sex is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls. ``(2) For the purposes of this subsection, sex shall be recognized based solely on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth.'' prgtoken All of these ridiculous things that we have been accused of are not in this bill. This bill does not discriminate against anyone. It does not exhibit any hate toward anyone. prgtoken What it does is prohibit Federal funding to institutions that ``permit a person whose sex is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls.'' prgtoken The reason for this is simple. Men have certain physiological advantages over women, such as more size and speed. Because of that, allowing biological males to compete against women and girls robs females of equal athletic opportunities and fair playing fields. prgtoken H.R. 734 restores the integrity and fairness of women's sports. prgtoken , s, contrary to what our colleagues have said and accused us of, s love all God's children, male and female, born and unborn. Do not question our commitment to fairness to life or to treating people equally. We hate no one. prgtoken As my colleagues have pointed out, it is ridiculous that we have had to stand here today to defend the rights of women and girls to participate in sports against other women and girls and they not being taken advantage of by biological males. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues across the aisle to do what is best for America's women and girls and support this important bill. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
SINGING THE PRAISES OF JENNIFER WICKRE
Brian Babin (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-4-19

it is with a very heavy heart that I offer my prayers and sincerest gratitude to Ms. Jenn Wickre, a longtime staffer on House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. prgtoken I had the honor of working with her under former Chairman Lamar Smith and now under Chairman Frank Lucas and their leadership. Jenn has been an integral part of the committee, and her departure will leave a void that will be absolutely impossible to fill. prgtoken Over the years, my staff and I have grown very close to Jenn, often relying on her expertise and strong work ethic. We have traveled together on several very meaningful and informative codels, very interesting ones, and I have always appreciated Jenn's input to and her service on these wonderful trips that we have taken. prgtoken She is reliable. She acts with thoughtfulness and has always been able to provide an insightful perspective in approaching policy. Throughout her time on the committee, Jenn has shown an unshakeable passion for serving our Nation and advocating for the goals of our Science, Space, and Technology Committee. prgtoken Her professionalism and one-of-a-kind personality have left an enduring mark, and she will be greatly missed in the Halls of Congress. prgtoken I am sure that I speak for many in expressing my very deepest appreciation for Jenn and her years of service and lasting contributions. She is a shining example, without question, of public service. Whether she knows it or not, she has made a significant difference in the lives of many Americans. prgtoken We wish her and her family the very best during this time, and she is in our deepest prayers. prgtoken I thank Jenn. We are praying for her, and may God bless her always.
FIRE GRANTS AND SAFETY ACT--Continued
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2023-4-19

moments ago, when I asked to pass this resolution honoring the Heritage Foundation by unanimous consent, moments before I made that motion, I was informed of this policy, a policy that I have never seen. After more than 12 years in the Senate, I haven't seen this policy. prgtoken It is a policy within the Judiciary Committee--not a rule but a policy--but a policy that is seldom employed. I have never seen it invoked. There are a couple of requirements in it. One is that a commemorative resolution, in order to be approved for clearance for passage by unanimous consent on the floor with the approval of the committee, would need to be bipartisan. prgtoken I want to be clear that while this was not bipartisan, I invited to join in this. I genuinely think they should be willing to join it in the same sense that I would be willing to join them in something honoring Brookings or some other think tank. This group has done good work, and there is nothing in the resolution that commits them to substantively embracing every policy recommendation in the Heritage Foundation's past. prgtoken So that one should be easily satisfiable. I hope to get to that point at some point. It is unfortunate that we can't get this passed today, but I would love to be able to do that. prgtoken The other one is that no measure may commemorate any entity that is political. Heritage Foundation is a 501(c)(3), and it is a charitable nonprofit entity. It is not political, and it also can't commemorate a living person. This is there to commemorate an institution, a foundation--not an individual. prgtoken So even though I wasn't aware of this policy until today, I think there is no strong reason why this should stop us from doing this. In any event, I hope we can get this passed, if not today, then on some other day soon. prgtoken .
REPUBLICANS' FIRST 100 DAYS
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-4-19

. Thank you, again, to my colleague from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson), for leading this time for us to further inform the American people on these key matters. prgtoken Really, this is what House s have demonstrated so far in this majority here in the last 3 months or so. prgtoken The priorities of the American people are our priorities for their well-being, their prosperity, and we are achieving that in the legislation we are pushing through. prgtoken Unfortunately, that priority is not shared by our President, and a lot of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are focused on a lot of other things that are very destructive to our economy, destructive to the well-being of what has really made this country strong economically and morally. prgtoken Our economic base pivots mainly on energy, continued development of it, developing newer, better technologies which in this country, when we have the entrepreneurship, the freedom and means to continue to innovate instead of getting railroaded into things that don't work. prgtoken A lot of that is this massive bent toward electrifying all of our energy-consuming devices, whether they be automobiles or appliances, things that we use for manufacturing, industry, what have you. prgtoken I just have to tell you, remind you, that our power grid, our electricity grid, especially in my home State, is this close, especially on a hot summer day, toward collapsing. prgtoken It is not enough, certainly, to take into account the big ideas there are to electrify cars, trucks, leaf blowers, stoves, and this is over the protests of the very people who are going to be expected to buy them and replace them. prgtoken Have you seen cities and municipalities moving in the direction of banning all new gas stoves? Well, gas stoves work awfully well for people, for homeowners that wish to have that choice. prgtoken When we see government continuing to take choices away from people, you are not seeing it from House s. prgtoken You are seeing it from the left. You are seeing it from this White House. You are seeing it from the policies that come from the leadership. People need to realize where this comes from. prgtoken Legislation that was passed in the seventies, NEPA as part of Endangered Species Act, as part of the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, those are good things, were good things at the time. prgtoken They have been weaponized over the last 30 or 40 years to stop projects that people want from getting done, whether it is widening their highways to have better transportation infrastructure; whether it is agriculture. You prgtoken know, incredibly, we are seeing that in this country, we might have empty store shelves of certain products that people come to expect; certainly we are seeing much higher prices for food. prgtoken What is the key to this? Energy. We don't have low-cost energy, reasonable energy, and we have stopped exploring for new oil and gas. prgtoken We st
RECOGNIZING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OXFORD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Mike Rogers (Republican, AL) \u2014 2023-4-19

I rise to recognize the 10th anniversary of the Oxford Performing Arts Center. prgtoken Located at 100 Choccolocco Street in Oxford, Alabama, the building which houses the Oxford Performing Arts Center was once home to a school and then a city hall before becoming vacant for decades. Construction began in 2011 to restore the building to its former glory. prgtoken Over its 10 years in existence, the Oxford Performing Arts Center has hosted a wide range of musical and dramatical genres. Just as diverse as its musical and dramatical genres are the performers that come from all around the world to play at the Oxford Performing Arts Center, having hosted an international musical competition in 2022 with another schedule for August of 2023. Statistics show that it is the busiest stage in Alabama. prgtoken I am proud to congratulate the people of Oxford for reaching such a historic milestone please join me in recognizing the Oxford Performing Arts Center for its 10th anniversary, and I hope that this institution will continue to serve the patrons of Alabama and around the world for many years to come.