mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EATS Act of 2023 (Executive Calendar)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2023-6-21

the recent Supreme Court ruling in favor of the California law that is called Proposition 12, affecting the pork industry, has sent shock waves through the entire agricultural industry. Particularly hard-hit by the news is my State of Iowa, which is No. 1 in pork and No. 1 in eggs; and another proposition California law affects the selling of eggs in California. prgtoken California is 15 percent of the national market for pork, so you can see what California is doing can have a big impact on the pork industry in the other 49 States. prgtoken If California can regulate pork producers out of business through costly and unrealistic regulation, which food will be next? What segment of agriculture will be negatively affected next? prgtoken Consumers should be waking up to the reality of activist policies coming from folks on the left who want to put the kibosh on animal agriculture. prgtoken California's law is based on arbitrary and prescriptive standards that lack any scientific, technical, or agricultural basis. It also jeopardizes sow safety. And for you city slickers, ``sow'' is the word we use for mother pigs. prgtoken The cost to implement Proposition 12 has been measured to be approximately $3,500 per sow--a cost that farmers would need to pass on to the consumer. prgtoken This additional cost will threaten the independent pork producers in rural Iowa and run them out of business due to burdensome regulations. prgtoken I am not only speaking for Iowa pork producers, even though we are No. 1 in pork production. This is affecting pork producers in the other 49 States. The result of this law will be significant on Iowa's independent pork producers. prgtoken We all know people will continue to eat pork chops, ham, and bacon, but this will only lead to further consolidation so that you will only have three or four companies controlling the entire supply of pork for our country. prgtoken The future of the independent pork production is at stake, and I do not want to sit idly by as pork producers across Iowa go out of business. So this Monday, our national holiday, when the Senate wasn't in session, I met with 40 pork producers in Palo Alto county. Hearing from Iowans firsthand on this issue was especially impactful. prgtoken Iowa producers who have raised hogs for more than 50 years told me that they have never been so worried. How will rural agriculture fight against the special interests and big money of the coasts is a question I was asked. How can farmers afford to remain compliant with nonsense policies written by someone who has never been on a hog farm? prgtoken There has to be a legislative solution to what California is negatively doing to pork producers in the other 49 States, so Senator Marshall, Senator Ernst, and I have been working on a solution. The EATS Act--E-A-T-S, that is an acronym for a piece of legislation preventing States from impeding ag trade from other States within the United S
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-6-21

under 's leadership, the United States has experienced an unprecedented border crisis. That is not exactly news because for the last 2\1/2\ years, Customs and Border Protection has encountered more than 5.2 million migrants at the border, plus another 1\1/2\ million ``got-aways.'' prgtoken In other words, under our bizarre and broken immigration system, 5.2 million people basically were welcomed at the border, while another million and a half simply fled the Border Patrol and made their way into the interior of the United States. prgtoken Now, it is true out of the 5.2 million under title 42, the COVID-19 order, basically public health order, that 2.6 million of the 5.2 were returned to their country of origin or at least expelled out of the United States. That was a public health order, but that is gone. That is expired. That has served its time. prgtoken So under any scenario, you can conclude that under President 's tenure, millions of people have made their way into the United States, not using the legal pathways that are designed to make our immigration system safe, orderly, and humane--something that I know we all support, legal immigration--instead, President 's failures, when it comes to border policy, has resulted in transnational criminal organizations controlling immigration, and they also control the drug trafficking that makes its way across the border. prgtoken And as was acknowledged by the Attorney General, Merrick Garland, when he was testifying before the Judiciary Committee, I believe he said he understood that this was part of the business model of these organizations, these criminal organizations. They would flood the border with people, and as the Border Patrol was diverted to try to deal with that mass of humanity, including unaccompanied children, that left huge gaps in the border which were then exploited by the drug cartels to move drugs into the interior of the United States. prgtoken Rather than secure the border or make any attempt to deter illegal immigration, the administration has allowed the chaos to continue for nearly 2\1/2\ years. prgtoken Now, inexplicably, the President claims this is all part of his plan to promote safe, orderly, and humane migration, but there is nothing safe about the journey migrants take to the United States in the hands of cartels, coyotes, and ordinary criminals. prgtoken There is nothing orderly about migrants using inflatable rafts and ropes to cross the Rio Grande where some meet their death when they drown. And there is nothing humane about what is happening in the United States now as a result of the border crisis. prgtoken First, let's look at what happens to the children. Since President took office, more than 300,000 unaccompanied children have been encountered at the border and then placed with a sponsor in the interior of the United States. To be clear, these children did not arrive in the United Stat
TAX CONVENTION WITH CHILE
Ted Budd (Republican, NC) \u2014 2023-6-21

reserving the right to object, I object to S. 1297 for a simple reason: It would make it easier for unborn life to be ended. prgtoken Last year's Dobbs decision brought renewed hope to Americans who believe in the sanctity of each and every life, including life in the womb. After 49 years, a new culture of life has begun to take hold across our country. But this bill would actually take us backwards. prgtoken This bill would allow abortion on demand in pro-life States so long as the patient is from another State. This bill would expose doctors and nurses who work in religious organizations, clinics, and hospitals--it would expose them to costly lawsuits if they stand by their deeply held beliefs. This bill would violate the spirit of bipartisan Hyde protections by providing 80 million taxpayer dollars to the abortion industry. prgtoken I was elected to save as many unborn lives as possible, and this bill puts more unborn lives in danger; therefore, I object.
RAISING A QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE
Marjorie Taylor Greene (Republican, GA) \u2014 2023-6-21

now Adam Schiff is running for Senate in California. California has a lot of things messed up, and California is not the model that the United States needs. As a matter of fact, their government policies are atrocious. prgtoken So if California decides to send Adam Schiff to the Senate, they will be sending a proven liar, and that is what he is aiming to do. He is raising money off of being a liar and running for Senate.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3564, MIDDLE CLASS BORROWER PROTECTION ACT OF 2023; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3799, CUSTOM HEALTH OPTION AND INDIVIDUAL CARE EXPENSE ARRANGEMENT ACT...
Michael C. Burgess (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-6-21

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , the only entity cutting Social Security or Medicare right now is the White House, the administration. Over the last 2\1/2\ years, cuts to Medicare have totaled probably $40 billion in the part B drugs administered in physician's offices and $300 billion in Medicare Advantage, all done through the Inflation Reduction Act last year. The only people talking about cutting Medicare right now is the administration, and that is really what ought to be stopped. prgtoken Right now, that is not the business at hand. What we are discussing today are three important bills that are going to be considered on the floor. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the rule and in favor of the underlying bills. prgtoken , .
HONORING MRS. SUSAN SPANNAGEL
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-6-21

I rise today to honor Mrs. Susan Spannagel and wish her a happy 100th birthday. Mrs. Spannagel is my Chief of Staff's Grandmother and former constituent of mine. She will celebrate her 100th birthday on June 22nd. Susan Spannagel was born June 22, 1923, in Harvey, Illinois to Annie Inglis Wilson and George Drummond Wilson. prgtoken Her parents immigrated from Glasgow to New York in 1923 and left for Harvey, Illinois after two weeks in America. Susan grew up in Harvey, Illinois and attended Whittier school until the completion of the 8th grade when they moved to Pacific Grove, California. She attended Pacific Grove High School and graduated in 1941 at the age of 18. After High School Susan then moved with her parents to South San Francisco where she lived and worked in the Post Office. During this time, a handsome sailor named ``Robert (Bob) Spannagel'' came into the post office to pick up the squadron mail and they became friends. prgtoken After dating for a short while, Bob and Susan married in South San Francisco on April 8, 1944. Soon after their marriage, Bob received orders and shipped out to Ford Island at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Bob worked as an ``Aviation Mechanist Mate'' on airplanes for the war and Susan continued to work at the post office in South San Francisco. Bob returned from the service in 1945 and the couple continued to live in South San Francisco. Bob and Susan's first child, David Wilson Spannagel, was born in July 22, 1946. prgtoken Soon after in 1950, Susan, Bob and David along with Susan's mother Annie, moved to Concord, California. Bob worked at the Pacific Gas and Electric power station in Pittsburg, California. In 1953 their 2nd child Peggy was born. During her children's school years, Susan was very active and president of the Parent Teacher Association'' (PTA) for many years as well as becoming the secretary for the Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church. In 1964, the family moved the Clayton, California where Susan went to work for Contra Costa County, Farm Bureau, ultimately becoming the Contra Costa County Farm Bureau Secretary. prgtoken Bob passed away suddenly in 1976 and Susan continued to work there until her retirement from Farm Bureau in 1995 at the age of 72. Susan moved to Grass Valley, California after retirement and became active with the Elks Lodge, the Sierra Presbyterian Church and other friends, until the age of 85. At age 85, Susan moved down to Lincoln, California to Del Webb's Sun City Lincoln Hills to be closer to her son and daughter. Susan's son David, passed away in 2016 at the age of 69. Susan is doing well and is now living in Rocklin near her family. She has 4 grandsons and 9 great grandchildren. I ask my colleague to join me in honoring her and celebrating Susan Spannagel's 100th birthday.
TRIBUTE TO KEELY LARSON
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2023-6-21

today I recognize Keely Larson, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. prgtoken Keely is a graduate of burg High School in burg, SD. Currently, she is attending the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ, where she is pursuing a degree in philosophy, politics, economics, and law. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience. prgtoken I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Keely for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-6-21

earlier this year, the Senate made use of the Congressional Review Act to push back on a particularly dangerous part of the administration's radical approach to environmental policy. prgtoken Our colleague, the senior Senator from Nebraska, put forward a resolution that would prevent the administration from implementing even stricter emission standards on the trucks and heavy equipment that literally drive our economy. prgtoken The nitrogen oxide emissions of new trucks on the market today are already 98 to 99 percent lower than they were in the late 1990s. So we are talking about regulation in search of a problem. prgtoken In order to keep up with the rule President 's EPA released in December, heavy-auto manufacturers would be forced to add a dizzying array of new technologies to their products. By one estimate, the new regulations could raise the cost of a new truck by $42,000--$42,000, just to keep pace with the changing whims of unelected bureaucrats in Washington. prgtoken As truckers themselves have warned, the EPA's latest overreach would drive many of them to stick with ``older, less-efficient trucks or leave the industry entirely.'' And, needless to say, higher costs for the men and women behind the wheel means higher costs for fuel, food, and other essentials at the store. But that didn't stop President from vetoing Senator Fischer's commonsense resolution. prgtoken Well, today, we will vote one more time, and we will find out, once and for all, whether Washington care more about keeping pace with leftwing climate activists than helping prgtoken working families contend with the runaway inflation that they helped create. National Security prgtoken , on another matter, as I have discussed at length, America's partners in the Indo-Pacific understand the link between Russian aggression in Europe and the threat of Chinese aggression closer to home. Japan and Taiwan have devoted serious resources to Ukraine's defense, but our friends are also wisely strengthening their own defenses. prgtoken Last year, Taiwan's government put forward its largest defense budget proposal ever--ever--a 14-percent increase in top-line spending, along with greater attention to territorial defense, longer service requirements for conscripts, and a focus on whole-of-government resilience. prgtoken Japan has a new transformational strategy. Prime Minister Kishida's government is pursuing new long-range strike capabilities, increasing defense spending, and buying SM-6 interceptors. In a sign of deepening cooperation with the United States, it has expanded its defense industrial capacity by building facilities to assemble F-35s in Japan. prgtoken South Korea is also deepening its security cooperation with the United States, expanding its defense industrial capacity and providing military capabilities to key American allies over in Europe. prgtoken Presid
RAISING A QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE
Nicholas A. Langworthy (Republican, NY) \u2014 2023-6-21

in this body we are privileged to serve our districts and do right by the American people. We have been entrusted with a tremendous responsibility that shapes the future of our Nation. prgtoken First and foremost, we must remember that we are not here to serve our own interests or pursue personal agendas. prgtoken Unfortunately, one of the most powerful members of the ic Caucus, Adam Schiff, abused his role and violated the trust of the American people. As chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Schiff initiated an unfounded investigation into the leftist lies around Russian collusion. prgtoken This investigation was predicated on nothing more than political propaganda. The Durham report clearly shows that the Russia hoax was manufactured by the left to divide our Nation and discredit and derail President 's agenda. prgtoken He not only wasted countless hours of committee work, but he also wasted nearly $32 million in taxpayer dollars. prgtoken Schiff repeatedly used the authority he was afforded in his position as chairman to lie to the American people to support his political agenda. Even after the Durham report discredited the Russia hoax, he continued to knowingly lie and peddle this false narrative. prgtoken These actions leave a real and lasting stain on this institution. We cannot allow Representative Schiff to continue to serve in this body with no consequences for the abuse of his power. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and to send a clear message to the American people that we will hold Members of Congress accountable.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2023-6-21

I rise today to recognize Blanchard Springs Caverns on its 50th anniversary. Blanchard Springs Caverns--BSC--opened to the public in 1973 after decades of underground exploration and development to share this natural wonder with the community and the entire world. prgtoken Blanchard Springs Caverns is the second-largest commercial cave in the country and is often described as one of the most beautiful. This is, in part, thanks to U.S. Forest Service--USFS--employees, community advocates, and outdoor enthusiasts who ensure they are maintained in their natural state--helping Arkansas live up to its own proud title as a home of spectacular outdoor elements and resources. prgtoken Although the first documented visit to the cave system was in 1934 by Civilian Conservation Corps planner Willard Hadley, its name is derived from the nearby spring that formed it and had been used by John H. Blanchard, a Civil War veteran who called the area home, to power a gristmill. prgtoken The Dripstone Trail Tour was the first to launch for recreational use, and as time went on, two other tours, the Discovery Trail and the Wild Cave, opened as well. BSC is referred to as a ``living'' or ``active'' cave, as it is constantly changing. The caverns include an underground river, delicate ``soda straw'' formations, stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and huge areas of flowstone. Along with the unique formations, it is also home to a number of species of cave animals. The USFS has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring preservation and conservation of the habitants including the Ozark blind salamander native to BSC. In addition to what is happening underground, there is also the amazing landscape of the Ozark National Forest. As people from all across the globe are attracted to the area for its splendor, they are driving the local economy. This popular destination helps support area businesses, spurring critical development and commerce. prgtoken I am pleased to recognize all those helping to maintain Blanchard Springs Caverns over the last five decades. This natural wonder is accessible and engaging because of their dedication to preserving it for all Arkansans and visitors to enjoy.
RECOGNIZING 10TH DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN'S DISTRICT OFFICE
John James (Republican, MI) \u2014 2023-6-21

we had a slogan in Army aviation: ``High Above the Best.'' It was a reminder that the American people entrusted us, me and my men, to provide air support for the soldiers fighting for their lives on the ground each and every single day. Likewise, in Congress, our constituents, our customers, have entrusted our staff and myself to provide air support to the good people in our district fighting for their livelihoods each and every single day. prgtoken I stand here to say that my district staff has exemplified this slogan, ``High Above the Best.'' In under 6 months in this office, my team has already delivered on a monumental constituent casework milestone in a freshman office. prgtoken Earlier this month, my team surpassed $100,000 in Federal casework dollars returned to our constituents, to our customers. They are providing that air support to Michigan's 10th Congressional District, just like Army aviators. prgtoken It is a lot of work setting up a congressional office. Both our D.C. and district teams have burned the midnight oil to get everything up and running so prgtoken that we can serve you, our constituents, and deliver on the promises we made. prgtoken On top of all the work that had to be done getting our district office up and running, this staff delivered for the constituency and has returned over $100,000 in Federal dollars and about a trillion-and- a-half passport requests. prgtoken I recognize each and every single member of my district staff by name, in alphabetical other: Russ Cleary, Lisa Damon-Brown, Phil Rode, Linda Torp, and Kris Zrinyi. prgtoken I thank them all for helping me serve Michigan's 10th Congressional District, the greatest district in the United States of America. prgtoken Of the many cases my district team has closed this year, there are a couple that I reviewed that really stuck out to me. prgtoken We got a call from a veteran in our district who hadn't received his VA benefits in nearly 2 years. Together, my staff elevated this case within the VA and got them to act. Now, this veteran in my district has thousands in backpay and a monthly payment of roughly $2,000 that he earned serving our country in uniform. prgtoken My team also helped a single mother of two get her tax return from all the way back in 2015. This young mother is currently attending nursing school to better the future for herself and her two children and to serve her community. Between being a single mom and a student, she didn't have enough time in her busy schedule to work with the IRS, but she had time to give us a call. That is all that mattered. My diligent team was able to step up for her and help her to retrieve $9,000 from her tax return. prgtoken These are just two of the many stories and constituent cases that our district office worked so diligently to close over just the past 5 months--in under 6 months, under half a year. I am so grateful for all the work they have done for our constituents. prgtoken I