mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE LIFE OF COREY COMPERATORE
Scott Perry (Republican, PA) \u2014 2024-7-22

. Madam , I thank my friend, Mike Kelly, for yielding. It is sad that we have to be here. Corey Comperatore is now a hero, but we would sure rather have Corey back in our lives. I didn't know Corey, but I have come, like many, to learn something about him. prgtoken Each of us wonder, if we had to, what we would do in that moment; what we would do. Corey's resolve, Corey's mettle was already known to many. As it has been said, he was a volunteer firefighter and the chief, a devoted member of his local church, a member of the armed services of America. Probably other than loving his Savior, what prgtoken he found most important in the world was being a husband to Helen and a father to Allyson and Kaylee. prgtoken We need to know why Corey is no longer with us on behalf of the American people, and we are going to find out, but that is not what this is about. This is about honoring the life and the legacy of a man who loved his family, his God, and his country, and laid down his life. prgtoken He went to the rally, expecting safety, like everybody else, but in the face of unimaginable danger, when a moment means the difference between life and death, Corey shielded his wife and his daughter, the things he loved most in this world. For that, we honor him, we pray for him, we pray for his family and his community. We also know that he exemplifies the best not only in Butler, Pennsylvania, not only in Pennsylvania and our great Commonwealth, but in the United States of America and for all of humanity. prgtoken I thank the gentleman for this time this evening. God bless Corey Comperatore and God bless his family.
HONORING THE LIFE OF COREY COMPERATORE
Daniel Meuser (Republican, PA) \u2014 2024-7-22

. Madam , I rise as well to express my deep sympathy, and yes, eulogize a great Pennsylvanian, Corey Comperatore. I too, with my colleague, Representative Kelly, attended the rally last Saturday. Of course, it started as any rally does. People were very enthused and looking forward to the remarks of former President . prgtoken Madam , 7 or 8 minutes into the speech, the shots rang out, and many lives were changed forever. It was a tragic day that could have been worse, but for the Comperatore family, it was a tragedy that they will live with forever. prgtoken We are here this evening to honor the life, legacy, and ultimate sacrifice of Corey Comperatore. As was expressed, he was a quintessential family man, and as has been expressed, the best girl dad, as well as a dedicated public servant and true local hero. prgtoken As the Nation now knows, Corey's life was taken by the shooter, by the gunman, at the rally in Butler last Saturday. In his final moments, Corey gave his life while shielding his wife and daughter from the bullets as they rang out. prgtoken He exemplified unparalleled bravery, shielding his wife and daughter and protecting them in his last moments. His courageous act saved his loved ones from the gunfire and truly serves as a testament to his character and his dedication to others. prgtoken Corey Comperatore served his community with distinction for so many years, for decades, actually, particularly as a firefighter in Buffalo Township where he served as chief in the early 2000s. prgtoken In addition to his service as a firefighter, Corey was a 10-year veteran of the United States Army Reserves, demonstrating his commitment to our Nation and its values. prgtoken He will always be remembered by his family as a man whose life was guided by faith, saying Corey inspired those around him to live with purpose and grace. His passion for family, life, and service to others will never be forgotten.
GUIDANCE OUT OF DARKNESS ACT
James Comer (Republican, KY) \u2014 2024-7-22

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 890, the Guidance Out Of Darkness Act, or the GOOD Act. prgtoken Regulatory guidance includes agency statements that, while not intended to have the force and effect of law, establish agency policies on statutory, regulatory, or technical issues. Since such guidance communicates how an agency will administer a law and its programs, it has a significant effect on regulated entities. prgtoken Regulated entities and the public should know what agency guidance says about the laws and programs that affect them. However, guidance documents are not easy to find. They are not consistently posted on agency websites. prgtoken This inconsistency burdens regulated entities. It especially burdens small businesses that often lack the resources to hire compliance experts. The problem is so bad that agency guidance documents are known as ``regulatory dark matter.'' prgtoken For a brief time, the prior administration brought needed sunshine to this situation. Following the GOOD Act's passage by the House during the 115th Congress, the prior administration voluntarily adopted the bill's reforms through an October 2019 executive order after the Senate failed to act. prgtoken Under the executive order, guidance was required to become fully transparent online. Across the government, each agency was directed to make available on its website a single searchable, indexed database with links to all guidance documents in effect. prgtoken As a result, for the first time, members of the public could easily find whatever agency guidance they needed online in one central location. The order was in effect during 2019 and 2020 but has since been rescinded. prgtoken Ever since, agencies have been pulling down their guidance web pages, and guidance has once again fallen into darkness, increasing the potential for agency abuse. prgtoken This is why we need to once again pass the GOOD Act in the House and require agencies to publish their regulatory guidance in a single, easily accessible location. The American public deserves nothing less from their government. prgtoken I thank my committee colleague, Representative Ro Khanna, for cosponsoring my legislation. I especially thank the ranking member for working with my staff to strengthen the bill and helping us advance a bipartisan bill here today. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this simple and necessary transparency bill.
THANKING ED HALEY FOR HIS LONG CAREER OF PUBLIC SERVICE
David Kustoff (Republican, TN) \u2014 2024-7-22

I rise today to honor and thank Edward ``Ed'' Gardner Haley of Shelby County for his long career of public service to west Tennessee. Now, , everyone just knows him as Ed. Ed recently announced that he is going to end his long career in public service. prgtoken Ed is a west Tennessean through and through. He grew up in north Shelby County, just outside of Millington and graduated from Millington Central High School in 1956. prgtoken Before starting his career in government, Ed spent 8 years in the United States Air Force, 4 years on Active Duty, and 4 years in the reserves. He then worked for the U.S. Postal Service, and then with DuPont. prgtoken Now, in his nearly five decades of public service to our community, he has held a lot of titles: city manager for the city of Millington, superintendent for the town of Arlington, representative in the Tennessee General Assembly, and Airman First Class in the United States Air Force. prgtoken Ed is also the proud husband to his wife, Kay, and a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Also, a special shout-out to Gracie. prgtoken In 2014, Ed announced his retirement serving the town of Arlington. That was just a false alarm. Given his long history in Millington, he couldn't refuse Millington Mayor Terry Jones' offer to be the new city manager in Millington. prgtoken Millington is also home to Ed Haley. Today, he says he is retiring for good. He recently told the Daily Memphian: I am not going to quit working, but I am really retiring. prgtoken It all started in 1973 when Ed accepted a job with Shelby County government working in safety. He worked under the county's first-ever mayor, Roy Nixon, who took office in 1976. Ed served various roles in Shelby County government for 27 years, when he left to become Arlington's town superintendent. prgtoken In between all that, Ed served as Millington alderman from 1972 to 1990, and he was then elected to the State House of Representatives. Ed served three terms in the Tennessee General Assembly. prgtoken In classic Ed fashion, he agreed to stay in Arlington and lead for 3 years, but he ended up staying for 14 years. Then he returned home to Millington on, you guessed it, another 3-year contract. He stayed for 9 more years. prgtoken Ed has always had an open-door policy, and he wanted to hear from anyone and everyone that had a problem. Ed is a fix-it type of guy. In my opinion, if you looked in the dictionary under public servant, there would be a photo of Ed Haley. prgtoken Oftentimes, Ed would do whatever he needed to do, whether that was mowing a lawn for somebody or providing a meal to someone in need. Everyone who has ever met or worked with Ed has been touched by how much he truly cares about people and his community. prgtoken When Ed started this final tour in Millington, he drove around the city taking pictures and putting together a list of 52 projects he thought would improve the community. It took him a few y
HONORING THE MEMORY OF CHARLES BENJAMIN BASYE
Blaine Luetkemeyer (Republican, MO) \u2014 2024-7-22

I rise today to honor Charles Benjamin ``Ben'' Basye and his 43 years of dedication to serving this country. Ben served as a Navy pilot in the United States Pacific Fleet during World War II and in the Korean War. prgtoken For his time and service during World War II, Ben was awarded multiple medals including the World War II Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. In 1949, he was one of the first Navy Pilots to land a jet on a carrier. He did this in a Grumann F9F Panther Jet Fighter during the earliest stages of catapult take-off and landing operations. As a reservist, he served as a Consulting Engineer and Maintenance Officer. He retired from the Navy on his 60th birthday in 1987 at the rank of Captain. prgtoken Ben dedicated is life to improve the United States education system. Mr. Basye earned a Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, to which he then served 37 years as an engineering professor in higher education. He wrote two books regarding his time in the military and education system and the values that should be upheld in these great American institutions. prgtoken Ben Basye was the embodiment of American ideals and exemplified at an extraordinary level what it means to be an American. Ben was willing to make any sacrifice, including the ultimate sacrifice, required to defend the values of the United States. prgtoken , I am thankful for the opportunity to commemorate the life and service of a proud American, Veteran, and family man, Charles Benjamin Basye.
ROYALTY RESILIENCY ACT
Bruce Westerman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2024-7-22

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in support of H.R. 7377, the Royalty Resiliency Act. H.R. 7377, introduced by Congressman Hunt, addresses issues in existing law with respect to how oil and gas royalties are paid to the Federal Government. prgtoken When an oil and gas project involving a Federal lease cannot be independently developed because of other State or private assets, the Bureau of Land Management utilizes communitization agreements, or CAs. prgtoken Although the BLM is required by law to approve CAs within 120 days of receipt, the agency has failed to meet this standard, with operators experiencing wait times of up to 3 years. prgtoken Currently, the Office of Natural Resources Revenue, often referred to as ONRR, requires oil and gas operators to pay a 100 percent royalty for projects all while they await BLM approval of a CA, even if only a fraction of their project involves Federal lands or minerals. As a result, many operators end up significantly overpaying royalties while they wait years for BLM approval. prgtoken This bill provides a commonsense fix that would allow operators to pay a royalty to ONRR that is based on the apportionment in their proposed CA. prgtoken This bill would not reduce the obligation owed by companies but would prevent overpayments that unnecessarily lock up capital and create a bureaucratic mess for the Department of the Interior. Furthermore, in the rare case that a proposed royalty is found to be incorrect when a CA is approved, the bill requires the lessee to pay the government within 3 months. prgtoken I would also like to note that the Committee on Natural Resources worked with the BLM to finalize this bill, and it is supported by the Department of the Interior. prgtoken This bill will benefit operators as well as Federal and State Governments while ensuring a fair and more predictable regulatory environment. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 7377, and .
CHARLIE DOWD VA CLINIC
Matthew M. Rosendale, Sr. (Republican, MT) \u2014 2024-7-22

I rise today to recognize, honor, and remember the extraordinary life of an American hero, Charlie Dowd, who truly embodied the Montana spirit of patriotism, courage, and hard work. prgtoken Heroes like Charlie Dowd are what make America a beacon of hope here and abroad. prgtoken Through his exemplary and selfless service to our great Nation during the attack on Pearl Harbor, at just 17 years of age, and his continued defense of our country in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea as a member of the United States Navy, Charlie undoubtedly faced the horrors of war and remained committed to defending our Nation despite uncertainty and life-threatening challenges. prgtoken Even after serving, Charlie was an active member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association where he continued to provide care for his fellow veterans and was recognized as the last survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack living in Montana. prgtoken Charlie's legacy deserves to be honored, admired, and preserved. By establishing the new VA clinic in Butte to be named in his honor, we can ensure that future generations of Montanans will remember the Greatest Generation and Charlie's legacy. prgtoken Naming the facility that provides care for thousands of veterans across the Treasure State in Charlie's honor would be a worthy accolade for his bravery and service to our great Nation. prgtoken Charlie Dowd devoted his life to defending our freedoms, serving our veterans, and strengthening Montana communities. By passing this legislation today, the memory of him and his heroic acts of patriotism will be truly memorialized. prgtoken , I appreciate Ranking Member Takano's support for this legislation. I hope my colleagues will do the same.
RECOGNIZING THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF RUSHDIE'S ATTACK
Jennifer Kiggans (Republican, VA) \u2014 2024-7-23

I include in the Record remarks submitted at the request of a Virginia Beach constituent, Rabbi Dr. Israel Zoberman of Temple Lev Tikvah, and are a reflection of his views: ``Prolific author, Salman Rushdie, with translations to more than forty languages and winner of multiple prestigious literary prizes, including the 2023 PEN Centenary Courage Award, rewards us with his latest publication, Knife (Meditations After An Attempted Murder). New York: Random House. 2024. He made news around the world when attacked at the Chautauqua Institution, in upstate New York, on August 12, 2022, by a would-be assassin who acted upon the Fatwa of a death sentence issued by Ayatollah Khomeini 33\1/2\ years earlier. The Ayatollah responded to Rushdie's book, The Satanic Verses, which he deemed blasphemous against Islam. Poignantly and ironically, Rushdie was to address that fateful day on creating safe spaces in America for foreign writers in a project, ``City of asylum Pittsburg,'' initiated by Henry Reese and his wife Diane Samuels. The author's attacker was 24 years old and described by Rushdie as ``the A.'', referring derogatorily by the author to the vile attack, thus revealing his profound disgust for the attacker's both act and personality. Interestingly the author had a premonition in the form of a dream of being attacked two nights before the shaking event. Rushdie's overwhelming hurting, physically and psychologically, of the 27 seconds brutal knifing is captured in his inimitable style, ``He had reached his target, after all; his blade was entering his target's body, over and over again, and he had every reason to think he had succeeded in his endeavor and was standing on the stage of history . . . But then he was dragged off me and pinned down. His twenty-seven seconds of fame were over. He was nobody again.'' Obviously, the author's anger at his attacker who had sought to serve his God at the cost of his victim's life, is tangible. He did suffer from PTSD manifested still in weekly nightmares, and credits writing this book to his literary agent, Andrew Wylie's urging, though reluctant and thinking that his time as an author was over, while expecting the publication of his twenty-first book, Victory City. We are all better off for Rushdie's positive decision at a trying crossword. Losing one eye and enduring six weeks in two hospitals, he however retained his biting humor, ``Don't worry I'm the champion of draining fluids.'' Celebrating his ``return to the world,'' he likened his joyful leaving the hospital to becoming a US citizen in New York in 2016, though this time surrounded by tight security. Ever pondering the meaning of the knife, the tool through which he
TRIBUTE TO ELLA WATERWORTH
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2024-7-23

today I recognize Ella Waterworth, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all the hard work she has done on behalf of my office and the State of South Dakota. Ms. Waterworth is a graduate of St. Croix Falls High School in St. Croix Falls, WI. Currently, she is attending South Dakota State University, where she studies communications, political science, and public relations. Ms. Waterworth is a dedicated and diligent individual who has been devoted to getting the most out of her internship experience. She has been a true asset to my office. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Ms. Waterworth for all of the work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 8997, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025; AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 8998, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR...
Michelle Fischbach (Republican, MN) \u2014 2024-7-23

my colleagues on the left have accused s of wasting time, and I take serious issue with that. s are going through the proper and transparent process to pass these appropriations bills. We are doing serious work. prgtoken I applaud my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee for the work they have done and for listening to the needs of the American people. The - administration is hell-bent on imposing the radical far-left Green New Deal agenda, and they do not care how much damage they do to the country or to the economy or to the American people in the process. prgtoken The legislation under the rule today reins in reckless government spending, cuts harmful regulation, and restores independence putting us back in competition on the world stage. prgtoken As an example, the EPA spends too much of its time and resources creating new regulations to stifle the U.S. economy. When I go home to Minnesota--and I know many of the other Members hear this when they go home--I constantly hear about concerns with regulations largely due to EPA rulemaking. This includes regulations on light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles, electric power plants, and the abuse of the Endangered Species Act. All of these burden businesses and consumers. prgtoken H.R. 8998 will make significant cuts to these regulations and take meaningful strides toward rightsizing our government. prgtoken I encourage my ic colleagues, particularly those in the Senate, to recognize that this legislation is the will of the people. My colleagues should take it seriously to responsibly fund our government, defend American producers, and address our Nation's debt. prgtoken My colleagues like to make it sound like s are blindly hacking away at government programs. I, for one, applaud the Appropriations Committee for taking such a thoughtful look at where we can responsibly cut spending. prgtoken The fact is that we are trillions of dollars in debt, and Americans are facing the highest inflation rates in over 40 years. Families across this country are being forced to tighten their belts. For their sake, it is time for the Federal Government to do the same. prgtoken We must put a stop to reckless government spending. My ic colleagues are not willing to do it and were not willing to do it when the minority was in control, but we are. I call upon the other side to help us get the debt under control. prgtoken , I support the rule and the underlying legislation.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
Jodey C. Arrington (Republican, TX) \u2014 2024-7-23

. Madam Chair, I rise to offer an amendment to defund the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services plan to expand the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge by an unprecedented 1,000 percent. prgtoken Madam Chair, think about that. We are out in the breadbasket of America, in the panhandle of Texas, Muleshoe America, and they take a 6,400-acre refuge and they want to expand it to 700,000 acres. prgtoken My chairman over here from Idaho is the only one who recognizes that we have the highest level of indebtedness in the history of our Nation, surpassing World War II. We are in relative peace and prosperity, and it is only going to get worse. The wheels are coming off. We spend almost $1 trillion to service the debt, just to pay interest, and that is going to more than double over the next decade. prgtoken We are in trouble. At $35 trillion, we are borrowing almost $8 billion a day to support this huge and ever-growing government. Like a hole in our head, the last thing we need to do is spend money to buy up more land to somehow either appease an environmental group or maybe just achieve what seems to be an odd objective of having the Federal Government own and operate a third of our land. They can't manage the land they have. prgtoken I just got back from Glacier National Park. It is beautiful. I want those parks to be managed well for wildfire management and recreational use. They are beautiful, and we are blessed. prgtoken The gentleman who runs that facility on behalf of the American people said he can't get to but 10 percent of the land, and we are trying to go 1,000 percent expansion in Muleshoe. The sandhill crane and pronghorns are not on the Endangered Species List. They are stable. prgtoken I don't understand why we are here. Let's think about the critical habitat versus human flourishing, the human habitat, and the American people habitat. prgtoken We have Social Security and Medicare, which will be insolvent in the next 10 to 15 years. Their unfunded liability combined is about $135 trillion. We have a farm bill that needs to be resourced. We have infrastructure that is crumbling. prgtoken We have a Defense Department, which is for the common defense, the first and most important job of the Federal Government, but because our debt and interest is squeezing our ability to fund our national priorities, we are now below 3 percent of investment in military for the defense of our country per GDP for the first time since prior to World War II. prgtoken Is this what my ic colleagues think is a national priority? prgtoken I mean, that is the problem with this place, is we don't prioritize. Our system of resourcing the people's government is completely irrational. We don't have to pay for anything. We don't take it out of their pockets, so they don't revolt. They would. If we took the $2 trillion that we borrow every year, they would revolt. prgtoken We ought to be able to find some waste and unnecessary spending. Maybe we