mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STUDENT VETERAN EMERGENCY RELIEF ACT OF 2022
David P. Joyce (Republican, OH) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I include in the Record the following letter to Chairman Takano regarding H.R. 7939, the Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022. Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, December 21, 2022. Chairman Takano, Our nation's servicemembers and veterans epitomize the spirit of service to one's nation that is embedded into the soul of our nation. The men and women who serve in the United States Armed Forces exemplify an unparalleled degree of bravery, selflessness, and patriotism. One of those men is the late Sgt. Wolfgang Kyle Weninger, affectionately known by family and friends as, ``Wolf.'' Sgt. Weninger served our country honorably in the United States Marine Corps and was selected to serve in the elite Marine Forces Special Operations Command. Tragically, Wolf passed away as the result of an accident that occurred during a training exercise. In the words of his father, Wolf ``lived as a Marine and died as one.'' Sgt. Weninger's memory deserves to be honored, which is why I urge passage of the Student Veterans Emergency Relief Act of 2022, which includes the language of my legislation, H.R. 7746, the Sgt. Wolf Kyle Weninger Veterans Education Fairness Act of 2022. As a result of Wolf's death, his brother, who was also serving in the Armed Forces, sought a sole survivorship discharge in order to return home to support his grieving family. The unintended consequence of this discharge being granted was that, despite having served over two years serving in the United States Armed Forces, he did not meet the three-year requirement of continuous service to qualify for assistance under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act. Veterans like Sgt. Weninger's brother should not be disadvantaged as a result of unforeseen circumstances that compel them to leave the service and support their family amidst a tragedy. Access to educational assistance under the modern G.I. Bill is of paramount importance for veterans seeking to make a successful transition into civilian life and underscores our nation's commitment to support those who have fought for our freedoms. This discrepancy that exists under current law, which prevents veterans from accessing financial assistance through the G.I. Bill solely because they were forced to seek a sole survivorship discharge, is fundamentally unfair. Fortunately, H.R. 7746 fixes this problem. My legislation provides a simple but important correction to existing law, amending Title 38 of the United States Code to provide for the eligibility of educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational A
HAZARD ELIGIBILITY AND LOCAL PROJECTS ACT
Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican, PR) \u2014 2022-12-21

I rise today in support of the Senate amendment to H.R. 1917, the Hazard Eligibility and Local Projects Act, introduced by my colleague, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher from Texas, and which I am a proud cosponsor. prgtoken The reason for that is that this bipartisan bill supports our communities with their preparation and response efforts to any disasters. Specifically, it will make them eligible for certain Federal disaster mitigation assistance for projects that began prior to submitting a request for assistance. prgtoken The Senate amendment builds on this sound work by including a 3-year sunset clause that will allow Congress to assess the use of this authority and flexibility moving forward. prgtoken We need to support our constituents in their efforts to safeguard our communities against any disasters. In my district, Puerto Rico, and in several others across the country, we know all too well the impact certain disasters may have on our health, economy, and of course, everyday life. prgtoken This bill will support mitigation and related initiatives prior to the disaster taking place. As such, it reduces the need for post- disaster response funding and ensures the continuity of mitigation work once it has started. prgtoken Timely mitigation measures create and promote resiliency and lead to a faster recovery. As a cosponsor of H.R. 1917, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, as amended.
RECOGNIZING MARILYN AND C.L. FORDYCE UPON THEIR 70TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Sam Graves (Republican, MO) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I proudly pause to recognize Marilyn and C.L. Fordyce upon their 70th Wedding Anniversary. They are wonderful people that, through thick and thin, have stood by each other's side. prgtoken Christmas Day in 1952, days before C.L. Fordyce left for Army basic training, he had the good fortune of marrying Marilyn Sanders in the home of her aunt and uncle. For 2 years, C.L. served in the First Armored Division and Marilyn worked for MFA Agri-Service and managed to wreck ``only'' 1 car. Upon C.L.'s return the couple moved into the home that he and his wife continue to share today. The marriage they share has seen nearly any and everything that a person could see. Good times, bad times, victory, loss, children, grandchildren, all of the ingredients of a full life. With all of that, they continue to be a rock for their community, friends and, most importantly, their family. We should all be so blessed. prgtoken Madam , I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing Marilyn and C.L. Fordyce for their Seventieth Wedding Anniversary. They are incredible people who set a sterling example of what marriage should be. I am extremely proud to represent them in the United States House of Representatives.
PRESIDENT BIDEN ENDANGERS FAMILIES
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2022-12-21

on Monday, the Supreme Court issued a hold to keep the Title 42 border control policy alive. This follows litigation by 19 States, along with a warning by the Border Patrol officials, of a doubling of illegal aliens crossing the border. prgtoken Implemented in 2020 by President , and was set to expire today, the pandemic-era program is a critical tool used to quickly expel illegal aliens. Since took office, over 4 million illegal aliens have been caught crossing the border, including 230,000 in October. prgtoken The administration is intentionally promoting the deadly drugs by cartels, the child human trafficking into our country, and terrorists crossing over into American society putting every family at risk of mass murder. prgtoken The newly elected House majority will work to secure the border to protect families. prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops, who successfully protected America for 20 years, as the global war on terrorism continues moving from the Afghanistan safe haven to America. prgtoken Welcome President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to Washington. During my visit to Kiev last week, I saw firsthand the resolve of Ukraine. Ukraine will achieve victory.
HONORING SPOKANE COUNTY SHERIFF OZZIE KNEZOVICH
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Republican, WA) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I rise today to recognize and congratulate my longtime friend, Spokane Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich. At the end of December, Ozzie will retire from public service after serving more than 29 years in law enforcement, including 16 years as Spokane County Sheriff. prgtoken Sheriff Knezovich began this law enforcement career as a patrol officer for the City of Olympia, WA, and the City of Rock Springs, WY, before joining the force in Spokane. Here, he rose through the ranks serving first as a Field Training Officer, then as a Property Crimes Detective, Sex Crimes Detective, SWAT Team Operator, SWAT Team Supervisor, Patrol Supervisor, and later as a Training Supervisor, where he remained until he was elected as the top law enforcement officer of Spokane County in 2006. prgtoken Sheriff Knezovich has faithfully served the people of Spokane County as Sheriff for the last 16 years, during which he earned the trust and confidence of our entire community. In his role as Sheriff, Ozzie oversees a vast law enforcement force of officers, who under his direction, protect and serve nearly 546,040 Spokane County residents across more than 1,781 square miles. prgtoken A devoted public servant dedicated to reaching out to the community and Spokane County youth, Sheriff Knezovich serves on several outreach boards including the United Way, Daybreak Youth Services, the Salvation Army, Frontier Behavioral Health, the Arc of Spokane, Boy Scouts of America, Community Service Team. He is also the Founding Board Member for the Spokane County Human Rights Task Force. prgtoken Sheriff Knezovich is a true public servant who is always eager to make a difference. His long-held goal has been to provide effective and efficient law enforcement service while building strong and trusting relationships within the community. He has certainly achieved that goal and so much more. Sheriff Knezovich' s dedication to and impact in Spokane County is seen far beyond the walls of the Sheriffs Department, as he has proven himself to be a catalyst in improving the lives of Spokane County citizens. prgtoken Having first been elected in 2004 myself, I've had the honor of working with Sheriff Kenezovich throughout his entire career. I've enjoyed the many projects we collaborated on to make Eastern Washington a safer place to live, work, and raise a family. He's been a tremendous partner, and he will be dearly missed by all those who had the pleasure of working with him. prgtoken Madam , Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich has dedicated his entire adult life to public service. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the dedication and selflessness displayed by Sheriff Knezovich for nearly three decades. While Sheriff Knezovich is deserving of far greater accolades from a grateful public, the United States House of Representatives extends our sincere appreciation and best wishes for a retirement of joy and peace.
OUR BROKEN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION SYSTEM
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2022-12-21

our postsecondary education system is broken. prgtoken The Government Accountability Office recently released the troubling report blasting colleges for giving perspective students misleading information on financial aid letters. The report found that only 9 percent of college financial aid letters correctly calculated students' out-of-pocket costs, and nearly half misled students by blurring the lines between grants and loans, in some cases by tens of thousands of dollars. prgtoken This lack of transparency is inexcusable and outright shameful. prgtoken Students and families make one of the most critical financial decisions of their lives when they accept their financial aid offer. Schools should not hide the true cost of college from them. prgtoken That is why Representative Lisa McClain and I introduced the College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act to ensure that aid offers are clear, so student and parent choice are maximized.
EQUAL PAY FOR TEAM USA ACT OF 2022
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-12-21

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , in 1894, the United States founded an organization that has since grown into the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee is tasked with organizing the participation of U.S. athletes in international amateur athletic events. prgtoken In 1950, Congress granted the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee a Federal charter under title 36 of the U.S. Code. As a congressionally chartered organization, it takes an act of Congress to make changes to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee's charter. prgtoken This bill would amend the bylaws for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and national governing bodies to require those entities to provide equal pay for male and female athletes who represent the U.S. in international amateur athletic events. This would include equal compensation, wages, benefits, medical care, travel arrangements, and reimbursement for expenses. prgtoken S. 2333 also requires a committee of national governing bodies to report annually to Congress on compliance with treating athletes equally. prgtoken We are simply asking for support for the bill and hope that the vote will be taken in a timely fashion. prgtoken , .
STUDENT VETERAN EMERGENCY RELIEF ACT OF 2022
Mike Garcia (Republican, CA) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I thank Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost for their support of H.R. 7939, which also contains the text of one of my bills I have been working on for the last year called the Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act. prgtoken In the midst of one of the most challenging moments for our military in terms of recruitment and retention, what this bill does is it allows the spouse of Active-Duty members to effectively cross-deck their professional licenses if they are a realtor, doctor, nurse, teacher, beautician, cosmetologist, whatever their profession is, across State lines when they get orders from one State to the next. prgtoken Right now the national unemployment average is roughly 3.7 percent, but when you look at the spouses of Active-Duty military members, that number is a staggering 20 percent unemployment rate. prgtoken We have roughly 34 percent of the spouses of our Active-Duty members who are actually licensed professionals who would benefit from this very important piece of legislation. prgtoken This legislation would require that spouses who receive reciprocity are in good standing with their original licensing jurisdiction and requires military spouses abide by the new State's rules and regulations regarding the standards and practices and continuing education as required by their license. prgtoken This bill, above all things, would ensure that we ease the burden of our Active-Duty military families. This is a win for military families and a win for our Nation's security, but it is also a win for local communities that are in desperate need of teachers, nurses, doctors, and professionals and what they bring to the table. By the way, it is also a win for the government because it will now enjoy the tax revenue from those dual-income families. Hopefully, this translates into better recruitment and better retention for our military. prgtoken Madam , I urge strong support of H.R. 7939 containing the text of the Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act, and I thank the Veterans' Affairs Committee for their support on this.
VANESSA GUILLEN POST OFFICE BUILDING
James Comer (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-12-21

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , Houston native and Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. In April 2020, she was reported missing from her unit. Tragically, her body was found 2 months later along the Leon River near Fort Hood. It is believed Specialist Guillen was killed by a fellow soldier at Fort Hood who had been harassing and stalking her. prgtoken Specialist Guillen's death spurred a national policy conversation about the way in which sexual harassment claims have been handled by the military. prgtoken , I strongly support this postal naming bill honoring Vanessa Guillen's life and legacy. prgtoken , I encourage passage, and .
RESPECT FOR CHILD SURVIVORS ACT
Scott Fitzgerald (Republican, WI) \u2014 2022-12-21

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , S. 4926, the Respect for Child Survivors Act requires the FBI to use multidisciplinary teams when investigating certain crimes involving children. prgtoken This requirement includes, for example, situations where the interviewed victim is no longer a child, but was the victim of a crime as a child. The multidisciplinary teams would consist of a variety of professionals trained to work with children who had been victims of a crime. The goal of using these multidisciplinary teams is to prevent re-traumatizing victims. prgtoken S. 4926 also contains provisions related to information-sharing and case review for crimes involving children. These provisions would hopefully ensure that these cases are not forgotten or simply dropped without review. prgtoken , .
HONORING THE LIFE OF LESLEE KATHRYN BUHLER ALEXANDER
David Kustoff (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , many in the Chamber know our friend Senator Lamar Alexander, but many of you may not know that earlier this year he lost his wife of 53 years, Leslee Kathryn Buhler Alexander, better known to all of us as ``Honey.'' prgtoken Honey was a household name in Tennessee, not for being the first lady of Tennessee or the wife of a United States Senator, but for being the voice of so many across the State. prgtoken Honey grew up in Texas. She graduated high school in Austin in 1963 and received her college degree from Smith College in 1967. Honey later joined the Washington, D.C staff of United States Senator John G. Tower. prgtoken Now, that summer, during a softball game between Senator Tower's staff and the staff of Senator Howard Baker, Jr Honey met a young Baker staffer, Lamar Alexander. Honey and Lamar dated for about 18 months and married in 1969. prgtoken When Honey, Lamar, and their 11-month-old son, Drew, moved to Nashville in 1970, Honey began to focus on the health and well-being of families and children. She said: ``Strong families make strong children.'' prgtoken Later, as Tennessee's first lady, Honey led the statewide Healthy Children Initiative with the goal of providing prenatal healthcare for every child. Honey dedicated her life to the well-being of our next generation. prgtoken Honey Alexander cofounded Leadership Nashville, served Family & Children's Service as president of its board and chaired multiple events, and additionally served on the boards of the Adventure Science Center, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, the Junior League of Nashville, the Dede Wallace Center, and the Hermitage. prgtoken Honey and Lamar had three more children: Leslee, Kathryn, and Will. Through it all, Honey was a steadfast and committed partner during her husband's honorable career in public service. prgtoken Honey campaigned during Lamar's six races for Governor and United States Senator, served 8 years as the first lady of Tennessee, moved to Knoxville when Lamar was the president of the University of Tennessee, and then moved to Washington when Lamar was the United States Education Secretary and finally U.S. Senator. When Lamar was campaigning for President, Honey traveled on her own to over 80 different Iowa communities. prgtoken During the 1996 Presidential campaign in New Hampshire, Honey was interviewed on the Larry King Show on CNN. Larry King asked Honey this question: Do you really want to be the First Lady and live in the White House? prgtoken Honey answered in her own way, very succinctly with one word: ``No.'' prgtoken That was Honey. It was clear to all of us that Honey was happiest at home with her family. I think that Honey summed it up well when she wrote: ``The most important facets of my life remain the same: supporting Lamar; mothering the children; helping others; and nurturing good physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual health in me and those closest to me.'' prgtoken When Nashville's
HONORING DETECTIVE PAUL NEWELL
Steve Womack (Republican, AR) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , it is with profound sorrow and endless appreciation I rise today to honor the life of Detective Paul Newell of the Benton County Sheriff's Office in Arkansas. prgtoken He was one of Arkansas' finest law enforcement officers, a man who lived his life driven by a call to serve. prgtoken For more than two decades, he donned the badge. More importantly, he embodied the integrity and principled character the shield demands. He wore the uniform knowing it brought risk, but it also brought the reward of keeping Arkansans safe. prgtoken Detective Newell was one of the brave. He didn't pursue a career of comfort but one where he faced danger, helped those in need, and upheld the rule of law. He was devoted to being a guardian of the community he so loved. prgtoken It was in that spirit of service, Madam , while escorting the Wreaths Across America procession in northwest Arkansas, that Detective Newell was tragically killed in an accident involving his motorcycle in the line of duty 4 days ago. prgtoken He served in the military and was a veteran, patrol deputy, patrol sergeant, training sergeant, lieutenant, detective, and volunteer member of the Gravette, Arkansas, Fire Department. Wearing the uniform was fundamental to his life. prgtoken Those roles are only second to the titles he cherished most: proud son, husband, father, and grandfather. Our heartfelt sympathies are with his parents, his wife, his daughters, and his grandchildren. prgtoken I end with a sentiment that epitomizes the many accolades that have been shared by his fellow brothers and sisters in blue from Benton County Sheriff Shawn Holloway. ``We are beyond saddened at the loss of our fallen brother and friend. Detective Paul Newell was one of the most respected deputies at our agency. His presence can never be replaced, but his legacy will remain through the hundreds of people he has trained. I ask that everyone continue to keep his family and fellow deputies in their prayers.'' prgtoken Madam , God bless Detective Paul Newell. His memory is a blessing, and the Third District of Arkansas is forever thankful to have had such a dedicated hero keeping us safe.
HONORING ASSESSOR SUE HORNE
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the retirement of Nevada County Assessor and a close friend of mine, Sue Horne. Sue's leadership in Nevada County over the years serves as a testament to her outstanding work and her dedication to the community. It has been a pleasure to work with her and I know the people of Nevada County have benefited greatly from her time in office. prgtoken Throughout Sue's career she has worked hard to represent the best interests of the people. Her service to Nevada County residents began during her work under 2 State Assembly members as a staffer. After that time, she was elected to the Nevada County Board of Supervisors for 8 years, where she would serve a year as Chair. During her time on the Board, she would also serve as the Chair of the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) in 2007. prgtoken After her service on the Board of Supervisors, Sue was elected as the Nevada County Assessor in 2010. As Assessor, Sue worked to ensure that Nevada County taxpayers receive a fair and accurate assessment of their taxable property in accordance with California tax law. She is also a member of the Northern California Assessors Association and served as its President in 2019. She has served 3 terms in her role as Assessor. prgtoken Never one to slow down, Sue has also been an active volunteer in the community. She has prgtoken volunteered with our local Friends of Nevada County Military for many years, serving on its board and helping to pack monthly care packages for local service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2006, she helped found the Sierra Nevada Chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America and served as the organization's first president that same year. prgtoken It has been a great pleasure to work with Sue. I thank her for being someone I can always rely on and call for advice. Sue and her husband, Bruce, have been married 48 years, live in Alta Sierra and have 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren. In her ``other'' life, she loves to travel, hike the Sierra, mountain bike, and loves being with her family and friends. I wish Sue the best in her retirement, and I will always appreciate our talks. I thank Sue for her service to the people of Nevada County, she will be missed greatly.