mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CONGRATULATING ANDY KLINE ON HIS RETIREMENT
Fred Keller (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-2-4

. Madam , today I recognize corrections officer and Local 148 Union President Andy Kline, who is retiring after 25 years of service at USP Lewisburg and FCC Allenwood. prgtoken In Congress it has been my pleasure to work with Andy on issues related to the Bureau of Prisons. His insight has been vital for our team in creating the Bureau of Prisons Reform Caucus and working on legislation to improve staffing shortages, inmate security, and emergency preparedness. prgtoken In addition to his career with the Bureau of Prisons, Andy served in the Army Reserves for 8 years and is heavily involved in helping others in his community. Andy is a Pennsylvania native and a dedicated servant who always puts others before himself. prgtoken While his retirement is well deserved, Andy's impact and leadership at the BOP will be missed. prgtoken Andy, thank you for the sacrifices you have made to keep our community safe. Enjoy your retirement with your family and congratulations on an outstanding career of service.
COLONEL JOSIAH WALLACE
Dusty Johnson (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-2-4

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Colonel Josiah Wallace of Rapid City, South Dakota who passed away on November 18, at the age of 97. prgtoken Following high school, Josiah received an appointment to West Point. He served in the military for 30 years, completing tours in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. Josiah was a well-decorated veteran, receiving the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star with valor, two Legion of Merits, and two Purple Hearts. prgtoken After retiring from the military, Josiah spent his time volunteering in the Rapid City community. He organized ``Operation Evergreen,'' which planted thousands of trees in Rapid City and created the tree canopy that Rapid City enjoys as a Tree City USA. He also gave back to the community by being an active member of the Catholic Church. Josiah spent time volunteering his knowledge and efforts to help educate the next generation on the topic of leadership in the workplace by volunteering as an Adjunct Professor at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. prgtoken In 1946, Josiah married his high school sweetheart, Beulah ``Vicki'' Mae Housiaux, whom he was married to for 72 years. Together, they had six children, 12 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren. prgtoken Josiah's impact on lives and his dedication to serve and mentor others is evident throughout his life. I would like to thank Josiah and his family on behalf of South Dakota for his service to our Nation. He will be deeply missed by all.
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Darrell Issa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2022-2-4

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken The passion with which you speak is the passion that the American people feel right now. One of the things that you said in the mandate that particularly I have seen for the men and women in uniform, for my chief warrant officer, who after 23 years is being forced out, for my Lutheran minister, who has 16 years and they will not accept his religious exemption--what I am seeing, though, that I think the American people need to understand is, it is not going to change the number of people who are vaccinated. prgtoken Firing somebody simply means they go from being an employed person to an unemployed person, a productive person to somebody less productive. We are literally making, as you and I speak, our military less productive at a time in which the Russians are at the Ukrainian border prepared to snuff out a democracy. prgtoken So your passion is the passion of the American people. You must continue for the next 14 days. We cannot fund this kind of a power play, particularly when, as you said so eloquently, it doesn't reduce the spread of the virus. It is dubious as to whether it actually reduces the impact when you get it. And lastly, if you don't get it, what they do is they choose to fire you, fire our first responders, fire our military people, and it is not going to change anything. Because if somebody believes it is either unhealthy for them, or for religious reasons doesn't want to, firing them isn't going to change it. prgtoken What it is going to change is it is demoralizing our military, it is demoralizing our police, and it is creating a situation in my own district in which our hospitals are saying that they cannot treat the patients. But the reason they can't treat them is people are sitting at home, and they are sitting at home, even if they are vaccinated, because it isn't working. prgtoken So keep it up. I just wanted to come to the floor and say nobody could be more proud of what you are doing and more in belief that these are dubious how they're working. The vaccine now has become more about a religion of power than anything else, and I want you to just know that you have the entire Conference behind you.
ISSUES OF THE DAY
David Schweikert (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2022-2-4

. Madam , we all get behind these microphones on occasion and we want to share something. And tonight, I am going to try to stay on a theme. I am going to try to walk through one of my intense frustrations around here that we keep making public policy. prgtoken Let's be honest. We just passed--the , I don't think a single voted for it--a $350 billion bill that originally was labeled as America COMPETES Act. But if you look at the math in it and the spending in it, it is functionally, hey, let's give lots of money to our special interests who actually support them politically. prgtoken So here's the theme. If I came to any Member of Congress, any one of our staff, anyone out there listening in the public and said, What makes people poor? Seriously. What makes our brothers and sisters who are working poor poor? prgtoken And you get these discussions, Oh, we don't tax rich people enough and transfer their wealth, or we don't do this, or we don't do that. And it turns out, when you actually look at the math, almost none of those things are actually true. prgtoken It is complicated. So we have been doing a project for almost a year in our office, of trying to understand what is different. So we held a hearing recently, on health disparities. Guess what? prgtoken There really are health disparities between certain urban minority populations, my Tribal communities in the Southwest. But why? prgtoken Also, take a look. There is crime, crime differential. When someone steals your stuff or breaks your bones, you're not able to go to work, you're not able to accumulate. prgtoken You actually start to look at all these things that are societal factors. You open up the border, you are competing against others with similar skill sets, labor sets. prgtoken And my argument is, over this last 12 months of unified leftist, unified control of government, we are just crushing people. We are crushing prgtoken the working poor. We are crushing the middle class. And the data--I am going to prove it. prgtoken But one of the most interesting things we have been looking at--and we have actually taken some ridicule for fixating on this, but the math is the math. prgtoken I would typically start these presentations with take a look at the accumulation of U.S. sovereign debt. It is exploding. Twenty-nine years, $12 trillion, and that is based on last year's CBO math. It is Social Security and Medicare, primarily Medicare. But 31 percent of Medicare spending and borrowing is just diabetes. prgtoken But also, that other project we have been doing of what makes certain populations poor. Well, it turns out our brothers and sisters who are often working poor or just trying to survive, have dramatically higher health problems, and it is primarily diabetes. In rural poverty, in my Tribal poverty, in my urban poverty, look at the diabetic numbers. prgtoken So wouldn't the most compassionate thing be to not do what the left keeps
SALUTING THE HEROIC ACTS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PALM BAY POLICE DEPARTMENT, PALM BAY, FL
Bill Posey (Republican, FL) \u2014 2022-2-4

. Madam , on February 16, 2022, the City of Palm Bay will recognize the courage and bravery of the City's law enforcement officers and civilians during their Annual Award's Presentation Ceremony to be held at Bayside High School. Over two-hundred Law Enforcement Officials and Civilian Employees make up The City of Palm Bay's Police Department. prgtoken The 173 men and women who are the Sworn Officers of the Palm Bay Police Department lay down their lives daily to protect and serve. They exemplify their motto of ``Connect, Serve, and Impact'' as they connect with the community and serve with pride to provide a positive impact. Their noble and selfless actions help keep our community safe. prgtoken I am honored to show my support for the law enforcement personnel of the Palm Bay Police Department and their heroic acts. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families. prgtoken Among those to be recognized are the Officer of the Year Recipient, Officer Cole McDonald, the Civilian of the Year Recipient, Kimberly Carlo, Records Specialist, and the Telecommunicator of the Year, Communications Officer, Lyndsey Veina. prgtoken The Medal of Valor Award Recipients: Corporal Vincent Galioto, K9 Officer Byron Patrick, Officer Joseph Moreno, Officer Matthew , Officer Omar Forbes, Officer Andrew Samuels, Officer Christina Martin, Officer Ryan Van Note, Brevard County Sheriff's Officers, Deputy Tyler Smith, and Deputy Jose Rodriguez. prgtoken The Distinguished Service Cross Award Recipients: Officer Caroline Jodoin and Officer Christopher Morris, Brevard County Sheriffs Officer Deputy William Kidd. prgtoken Officers and Civilian Recipients of the Life Saving Award: Mayor Rob Medina, Sergeant Christopher Snedeker, Sergeant Edward Bermudez, Sergeant Neal Valenti, Corporal Brandon Neely, Corporal Jason McCoy, Corporal Michael Sielicki, Officer Aaron Arndt, Officer Brandon Williams, Officer Cassandra Woronka, Officer Jasmine Smith, Officer John Neal, Officer Kendra Smith, Officer Melanie Trimboli, Officer Scott Kenney, Officer Stephen Ball, Officer Virginia Stepp, Officer Tyler Fooks (Second Award), Officer Amanda Hollcroft, Officer Caitlynn Trenor, Officer Ryan Van Note, Officer Andrew Samuels, Officer Christina Martin. Category 2 Awards prgtoken Officers and Civilian Recipients of the Meritorious Service Award: Lieutenant Virginia Kilmer, Sergeant Antoinette Schrum, Sergeant Mark Trammell, Corporal Christopher Richards, Detective Ken Shedrick, Detective Scott Searles, Officer Zachery Morris, Officer Greg Moore, Officer Chad Kirk, Officer Sharon Kurval, Officer Amanda Hollcroft, Officer Caitlynn Trenor, Reserve Officer Mark Gensiejewski, Desk Booking Specialist, Kendall McMullen, VCOP Eva Evans, VCOP Brian Evans, Communications Officer Meaghan Koleszar, Evidence Technician, Dawn Subrin. prgtoken Officers and Civilian Recipients of the Community
HONORING TYLER BALDWIN, A WEST VIRGINIAN HOMETOWN HERO
Alexander X. Mooney (Republican, WV) \u2014 2022-2-4

. Madam , I stand before you to share a story of West Virginia's Second Congressional District's own hometown hero, Tyler Baldwin. prgtoken Tyler Baldwin is a 17-year-old young man from Newville, West Virginia, who risked his own life to rush into his neighbor's burning home. prgtoken On the morning of November 29, 2021, Tyler was going through his daily routine of getting ready for school, and he noticed his neighbor's house was on fire. prgtoken He knew his neighbor had mobility issues. Without hesitation, Tyler sprinted into the blaze and smoke and helped his neighbor escape. Tyler was treated for minor injuries, and the homeowner was shaken up but okay. prgtoken It is an honor for my staff and me to present Tyler with a formal letter of gratitude and a Congressional Certificate of Recognition at a ceremony put together by his school. I want to thank him for selflessly putting others first and congratulate him on being an upstanding citizen in his community.
BIOECONOMY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2021
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2022-2-4

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Members on both sides of the aisle want more transparency and accountability in postsecondary education, but that is not what this amendment accomplishes. prgtoken This amendment is a Trojan horse for violating privacy rights of students through colleges and universities. prgtoken Many of my colleagues who support this amendment are not completely informed or have not thought through the implications of some of its provisions. prgtoken This amendment would direct the Federal Government to create a data system that tracks every college student in America through their adult lives without their consent and without giving them the ability to opt out. prgtoken This sounds more like a scheme the Chinese Communist Party would manufacture than a bipartisan amendment to a bill meant to combat Chinese influence. prgtoken Don't be fooled. This amendment might use words like ``security,'' but in reality, it puts the privacy of Americans at risk. prgtoken Some of these Federal agencies have already been hacked by Russian intelligence and fraudsters. Who is to say it won't happen again? prgtoken I don't trust foxes in my henhouse, and I surely don't trust Washington bureaucrats with a database of the personal and private information of my children and grandchildren, or yours. prgtoken And what will the administration do with the tax records, Social Security information, and the private data of Americans? The answer is simply, exert more control. prgtoken This amendment isn't about transparency or accountability, but about giving Washington bureaucrats the ability to choose winners and losers among institutions of postsecondary education. For example, the Pell grant provisions herd Americans looking for alternative career pathways into the same colleges and universities that failed them in the first place while blocking them from pursuing programs offered by career- focused schools simply based on their tax status--even if these institutions can meet the 11 pages of arbitrary and prescriptive guardrails the amendment puts in place. prgtoken This amendment does nothing to improve our broken system of postsecondary education. Instead, it exacerbates our skills gap and labor shortage and forces Americans to concede their privacy to an administration that looks more and more like the authoritarian regime we are supposedly trying to combat. prgtoken Madam , .
CELEBRATING LUNAR NEW YEAR
Michelle Steel (Republican, CA) \u2014 2022-2-4

. Madam , this week, we welcomed the Year of the Tiger with the first day of Lunar New Year. prgtoken Lunar New Year is an important holiday celebrated by many East and Southeast Asian countries. It is also celebrated widely by many Asian- American communities here in the United States, including our Orange County community in California. prgtoken As we reflect on our blessings this new year, I am grateful for the opportunity to be a voice for our Asian-American community in Congress. prgtoken Madam , 2022 is the Year of the Tiger, which symbolizes courage and bravery. prgtoken With the new year comes a new beginning and the hope of better days ahead. I hope that this year brings everyone strength, prosperity, and happiness. (English translation of the statement made in Korean, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Japanese is as follows:) ``Happy new year.'' prgtoken Korean: ``saehae bok mani badeuseyo'' prgtoken Mandarin: ``Xinnian kuaile'' prgtoken Vietnamese: ``Chuc Mu'ng Nam Mo'i'' prgtoken Japanese: ``Akemashite omedeto''
BIOECONOMY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2021
Anthony Gonzalez (Republican, OH) \u2014 2022-2-4

. Madam , I rise today in support of our bipartisan amendment that includes both the JOBS Act and the College Transparency Act. prgtoken Since I first ran for Congress, the number one issue that I hear in my district from employers is the lack of good quality candidates for good-paying jobs. From those days, I set out to try to find a way to close this skills gap and provide more opportunities for our local businesses and workforce. The JOBS Act does just that. prgtoken The JOBS Act expands Pell grant eligibility to qualified short-term programs in high-demand jobs. This will help Americans access these programs and learn critical skills that lead to these good-paying jobs. This will be a collaborative process with our States working with local employers and community colleges to make sure that only quality programs that lead to wage increases qualify to make sure that Americans can find jobs after completion of these programs. prgtoken On my way in this morning, I was actually speaking to an employer in my district, and I ran through the bill with him. And I said, what do you think of this? Would this help you? And his immediate response was, I have over 15 truck drivers that I am trying to hire, and I can't find anybody. prgtoken These are the types of programs that the JOBS Act will enable. This is why I think it is a commonsense--and I am thrilled to say-- bipartisan component of the bill, and I hope that everybody will consider supporting it.
BIOECONOMY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2021
Troy Balderson (Republican, OH) \u2014 2022-2-4

. Madam , I rise in support of the amendment offered by Representative Steel. prgtoken This amendment is simple. It demands that China, the world's worst producer of greenhouse gas emissions, meets the same emissions standards that are imposed on the United States. prgtoken CO2 emissions in the United States have steadily declined since 2010 and drastically decreased during the pandemic. In 2020, China somehow managed to increase their emissions. Meanwhile, nearly every other country reduced theirs. prgtoken If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to be serious about the climate, let's start by creating a level playing field for U.S. businesses to compete and require the world's largest polluter, China, to step up to the plate.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE PIEDMONT HIGH SCHOOL BULLDOGS WINNING AHSAA SUPER 7 CLASS 3A FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mike Rogers (Republican, AL) \u2014 2022-2-4

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the Piedmont High School football team for winning the AHSAA Super 7 Class 3A football championship. prgtoken Piedmont High School beat Montgomery Academy 35-33 in Birmingham at Protective Stadium on December 2, 2021. prgtoken The Bulldogs overcame a 23-point halftime deficit to win. What a comeback. prgtoken This is Piedmont High School football team's fifth state championship since 2009. prgtoken Madam , please join me in congratulating Coach Steve Smith, the football team, assistant coaches, students, faculty and all the fans. Go Bulldogs.
PATSY BENNETT'S LEGACY OF BEAUTY, GRACE, AND SERVICE
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2022-2-4

. Madam , I rise today in honor of a life spent in service and love for others, Patsy Bennett of Jesup, Georgia. prgtoken If you got married in southeast Georgia in the 1960s to the late 1980s, you probably had the pleasure of working with Patsy Bennett. prgtoken Patsy was special to many people in her community because she was dedicated to making their special day unforgettable. Patsy made it her mission to ensure every bride had whatever dress she wanted, and if she didn't have it on hand, she would craft it herself. prgtoken At her bridal store, one could pick out their own flowers, have bridesmaids' luncheons, rehearsal dinners, and even hold their wedding ceremony in Patsy's big room. prgtoken Patsy left a beautiful mark on everything she created--be that a wedding, a bridal shower, or a relationship she developed with the women she served. prgtoken Her service to our community's women and families truly was not only remarkable but fun to watch in the form of beautiful ceremonies. prgtoken Patsy's legacy is one of beauty, grace, and service, and my thoughts and prayers reside with her family and those affected by this tremendous loss.
BIOECONOMY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2021
Mary E. Miller (Republican, IL) \u2014 2022-2-4

. Madam , I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. prgtoken In a bill that professes to push back on the influence of China's authoritarian regime, this amendment runs the risk of putting the personal information of every one of America's college students in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party. prgtoken It will allow the administration to create a Federal database that will track every single student pursuing a postsecondary degree without their consent or any ability to opt out, even if they don't accept Federal aid. The administration will also be able to use this data to match with other databases across the Federal Government with few limits on what can be tracked and gathered. prgtoken While the bill claims the data will be secure, once the data comes from the Federal Government, there are no guarantees information will not fall into the hands of criminals or our adversaries. prgtoken Madam , I urge a ``no'' vote on this Federal database amendment.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Steve Scalise (Republican, LA) \u2014 2022-2-4

. Madam , as we have seen some more reports coming out, Johns Hopkins just came out with new reports that talk about, frankly, the detriments of shutting down. When you look at schools, especially, there is a lot of science that shows that kids that are in the classroom are not only learning better but having better health outcomes than in those schools that are shut down, where theoretically they are sitting alone by themselves which, as we know, that is not what is happening. You know, in a controlled environment it is actually better for those students than you are seeing in other environments. prgtoken If you are only looking at a silo of cases at a stadium, but you are not looking at cases that are going up in places that are shut down, you have got to look at the whole picture. I think too often some people have only cherry-picked data, and it has been at the detriment of the overall picture. prgtoken So the science ought to be clear and vivid in its description of what really is happening out there across the country in States that are fully open, in States that are more shut down. Again, red State, blue State, last weekend was a really good example that you can open things up again. prgtoken People are making choices. People know what is out there. Whether they are home alone, theoretically, they are still getting COVID in those places where things are shut down. So we would sure hope that the science would not just look at a silo but would look at the whole picture. Other scientists have done scientific studies like the Johns Hopkins report that just came out yesterday, they show there is a bigger picture. prgtoken We are hearing reports that there would be a limited number of tickets available. Maybe that is premature, but if the gentleman is saying that you are waiting on the doctor to make those recommendations, then maybe the number we were given a few days ago of 25 limitation is a premature number. Hopefully that opens up. prgtoken Madam , .