mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF ETHAN QUILLEN
Bill Huizenga (Republican, MI) \u2014 2023-3-9

I rise today to honor the life and service of Lieutenant Ethan Quillen. prgtoken On Wednesday, February 22, volunteer firefighter Ethan Quillen responded to a downed power line call during a severe ice storm that swept through his hometown of Paw Paw, Michigan. prgtoken He acted like so many other volunteer firemen around the country. His incredible life of service was tragically ended in the line of duty when a falling tree struck a high voltage power line that he was standing under. prgtoken Ethan had volunteered at the fire department since 2019, eventually working his way up to lieutenant. He was a father, a husband, a Marine Corps veteran, and a hero, a hero who for the well-being of his fellow Americans and Paw Paw neighbors consistently put service over self while asking for nothing in return. prgtoken On behalf of the people of Paw Paw, Michigan, the Fourth Congressional District, the State of Michigan, and our Nation, I recognize and thank Ethan for his service and his sacrifice and pray for blessings and peace for his family.
RON AND LIZ JAWORSKI
Jefferson Van Drew (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2023-3-9

Ron and Liz Jaworski of Cumberland County, South Jersey have been unanimously selected as the recipients of the CEO Group Lifetime Achievement Award. Ron had a distinguished 17-year NFL career, including a Super Bowl appearance, Pro Bowl selection, MVP award, and an Eagles Hall of Fame induction. Ever since he retired from the NFL, he has been teaching and coaching football on both TV and radio as a NFL and Philadelphia Eagles analyst. Additionally, Ron is the host of a podcast about cardiovascular heart health. Liz is also very accomplished and has won many awards. She was honored by the Salem County Chamber as an ``Outstanding Female Entrepreneur'', was selected as one of the ``South Jersey Super Women'' by South Jersey Magazine, named a ``Woman to Watch'' by South Jersey Biz, and was recognized by the NFL Players Association as the ``Humanitarian Woman of the Year.'' Additionally, Liz is a breast cancer survivor. Successfully overcoming breast cancer actually inspired her to serve on the committee for the Pink Roses and Teal Magnolias, which is in support of women who have breast or gynecological cancers. Aside from these successful career accomplishments, Ron and Liz were selected to receive this award because of their philanthropic and civic contributions to the South Jersey community. As a couple, they created the ``Jaws Youth Playbook Foundation'' through which they have raised over million dollars to improve the health and wellness of at-risk youth in America. Ron and Liz have also held annual bike drives for disadvantaged children and funded numerous parks in the South Jersey area. I want to sincerely thank this selfless couple for their generosity and service, and they should be so proud of all the work they have done. Ron and Liz have truly made a difference in our community, and they are more than deserving of this award. God Bless Ron and Liz, and God Bless our United States of America.
HONORING TINA TYUS SHAW
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2023-3-9

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the life of Anne Hodnett, a loving mother, wife, and dedicated volunteer in her community. prgtoken A native of Henry County, Virginia, Anne grew up during the Great Depression, the youngest of eight children. prgtoken Anne later married Roy K. Hodnett, a veteran of World War II. prgtoken In 1968, the Hodnetts moved to St. Simons Island where Anne was an active volunteer throughout her community. Anne used her many talents, such as cooking and organizing, to cultivate a thriving community. She volunteered at St. Simons United Methodist Church, The Gathering Place, Manna House, MAP International, Amity House, and the Island Players, where she was a ``life member.'' prgtoken Another passion Anne had was for the stage. She acted in more than 30 plays and produced nearly 50 of her own. Anne operated her own dinner theater for several years, entertaining tour groups with light comedies and Lowcountry boils on their visits to the island. prgtoken Anne will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2023-3-9

agriculture may well be among the world's oldest ways of life, but it has never been stagnant. Farmers and ranchers have always looked for new and better ways to increase crop yields, conserve resources, and keep their land and livestock healthy and productive. Today's agricultural producers explore new farming practices, grow more resilient crops, and adopt new technologies to produce more and to use less. And the resilience of our food supply and America's ability to feed our country and the world are in no small measure thanks to these farmer-driven advances. prgtoken As I said, farmers and ranchers are always looking for ways to improve their operations, but they can face challenges when they are looking for reliable data. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture collects a lot of data, little has been done to analyze and organize it so it is useful for farmers. prgtoken Right now, many producers have to rely on anecdotal information to determine the value of things, like conservation and other production practices, and decide what to adopt on their farms and ranches. Better data would make it easier for farmers to decide what practices are the best option for them. prgtoken A recent study of Department of Agriculture data from farms in several States confirmed anecdotal reports about certain conservation practices. It demonstrated that farmers who use these practices were more likely to be able to plant during an exceptionally wet spring. That is the kind of information farmers need to make informed decisions about their operations. We need to see more of this kind of analysis. prgtoken That is why, earlier this year, I introduced my bipartisan Agriculture Innovation Act with Senator Klobuchar. Our bill would make it easier for producers to use USDA data to assess the impact of various conservation and production practices so that producers can choose the right practices for their farm and ranch operations. I will work to get the Agriculture Innovation Act included in this year's farm bill. prgtoken While the macrolevel data that USDA collects can provide valuable information, farmers are already beginning to look to the next frontier, collecting real-time microlevel data from their own fields. prgtoken Imagine what a farmer could do with real-time information about soil quality, water uptake, and plant health. Imagine quickly knowing whether you need more nitrogen or less water in a section of your field. Imagine having real-time data about your land or livestock at your fingertips. This is the promise of precision agriculture: harnessing the power of technology to help producers manage their operations with real-time data. prgtoken GPS can allow farmers to identify field characteristics, map out irrigation, and optimize crop production on their fields. Soil monitors can allow farmers to react to conditions as they change and apply fertilizers more precisely. And remote monitoring can h
TRIBUTE TO GEORGIANNA LINCOLN
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2023-3-9

I rise to join the other members of Alaska's Federal delegation--Senator Lisa Murkowski and Representative Mary Peltola--in honoring our very dear friend Georgianna Lincoln, who will be retiring from the board of the regional Alaska Native Corporation, Doyon, Limited, after 47 years of service. prgtoken For decades, Georgianna has been a force for good in our State. A force of nature, with an indomitable spirit, Georgianna, a Koyukon Athabascan Indian, was born in the village of Rampart, AK, in 1945. She moved to Fairbanks when she was in fourth grade. Like the experience of many Alaska Natives, moving from a small village to a relatively big city was tough. Fairbanks, she said, was ``foreign to me.'' But her mother, Kathryn Evans Harwood, told her repeatedly that she was as good as anyone else--an equal. And that message stayed with her throughout her long career in public service and politics. ``This path is cut clear for me and I am following it, willingly,'' Georgianna later recalled. ``Knowing that, I can take boulders and move them aside because in front of that boulder is green pastures; maybe more trouble, but nothing is insurmountable.'' prgtoken Indeed, from executive board rooms, to the halls of the State legislature, to communities throughout Alaska that she has worked tirelessly to improve, nothing has been insurmountable for Georgianna. As a young woman in Fairbanks, Georgianna got involved with the Fairbanks Native Association, eventually becoming the executive director of the organization. This was in the 1960s, when the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act--the largest lands claims act in U.S. history--was in full debate. She, along with thousands of Alaska Natives from across the State, advocated tirelessly for the bill, which eventually passed. It redefined Federal Indian policy in Alaska and fundamentally transformed the lives of Alaska Natives. prgtoken That was just the beginning for Georgianna. She went on to develop health and education programs in her region, helping to improve the lives of so many. And then she decided to run for the Alaska legislature. She won a seat in the house in 1991, then ran for the senate, where she stayed until 2005. In the legislature, she was a fierce champion of issues impacting women and children, as well as natural resource management. Still today, she is the only Alaska Native woman ever elected to the Alaska State Senate. prgtoken Her achievements didn't end there. She became the director of programs for Tanana Chiefs Conference, served as a director on the Alaska Native Heritage Center board, United Bank of Alaska, Alaska Native Health Board, National Indian Health Board, and the North American Indian Women's Association. prgtoken Significantly, she dove head first into her work for Doyon starting in 1976, later serving as board chair of the corporation and its subsidiaries--and guiding the corporation through years of remarkable
RECOGNIZING THE HEGEMAN FAMILY AS NATIONAL OUTSTANDING YOUNG FARM FAMILY
Mike Rogers (Republican, AL) \u2014 2023-3-9

I rise today to recognize Jon and Amy Hegeman and their children, Ella Kate and Jon Henry for being named National Outstanding Young Farm family. This award is administered by the Outstanding Farmers of America and sponsored by the John Deere Manufacturing Company along with the National Association of County Agricultural Agents. prgtoken The Calhoun County farmers received the honor during the Outstanding Farmers of America Awards Congress on February 18th in Appleton, Wisconsin after undergoing an intense application process gauging their farm growth, conservation practices and community involvement. prgtoken The Hegemans primarily raise plants for distribution to big-box stores. These plants include Dracaena Spike, English ivy, the polka dot plant, ornamental asparagus plants, Boston ferns, spider plants, purple heart and pothos. prgtoken Jon oversees a staff of 42 people in order to satisfy orders. Amy operates an equine business of raising quarter horses and teaching horseback riding lessons while also running the household. The Hegemans attend Grace Fellowship Church in Anniston. prgtoken , please join me in recognizing this young family on this great honor. Congratulations to the Hegemans.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2023-3-9

I rise today to introduce the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act. My colleague Senator King joins me in introducing this important legislation that would assist farmers across America who have been harmed by PFAS contamination. prgtoken PFAS are a class of man-made chemicals--sometimes referred to as ``forever chemicals''--that can bioaccumulate in bodies over time. They are traditionally found in nonstick pans, clothing, furniture, and firefighting foam and have been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, liver damage, decreased fertility, and hormone disruption. PFAS contamination is a growing problem, and additional resources are needed to support affected communities. prgtoken In Maine, PFAS contamination affecting many different sectors, including agriculture, has been discovered over the past several years. The presence of PFAS in wastewater sludge once spread as fertilizer has prevented some Maine farms from selling their products, thus leading to significant financial hardship for these family farmers. One such farmer is Fred Stone, a dairy farmer in Arundel, ME. In 2016, Fred discovered that the milk produced on his farm contained some of the highest levels ever reported for a PFAS contaminant at that time. More recently, a dairy farm in Fairfield, ME, found PFAS levels in its milk that were 153 times higher than the State's standard. prgtoken Dairy is not the only agricultural sector affected by these harmful forever chemicals. Adam Nordell and his wife Johanna Davis, from Unity, ME, learned that PFAS had contaminated the soil and water in their organic vegetable farm, the result of sludge spread on their land in the 1990s. Tests last year showed that Adam and Johanna had levels of PFAS in their blood that were even higher than chemical plant workers who manufactured PFAS for decades and handled them daily. prgtoken Currently, USDA provides limited support through the Dairy Indemnity Payment Program to dairy farmers who have been directed to remove their contaminated milk from the commercial market. This program falls far short of meeting the growing needs of all farmers in the State of Maine. Fred Stone, the farmer who first learned of contamination in 2016, has still not been compensated adequately for the contamination he has experienced. What is more, this program helps only dairy farmers, excluding the farmers of other agricultural products who have had their livelihoods disrupted by PFAS contamination. While community organizations and the State of Maine have stepped in to provide some aid, USDA should do more to assist all farmers affected by these chemicals. That is what our legislation aims to do. prgtoken Specifically, the funds authorized by the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act could be used for a variety of purposes at the State level, including providing financial assistance to affected farmers; building capacity for PFAS testing for soil or water sources; monitoring
Border Security (Executive Calendar)
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2023-3-9

I am sure you have seen news reports about a group of four Americans who were recently kidnapped after driving across the U.S.-Mexico border. This week, two of them were tragically found dead. My heart goes out to the families affected by this devastating development. prgtoken This is the latest in a string of incidents that underscore just how chaotic the situation is at our southern border. I know firsthand because I visited the border last week, along with a delegation of s led by my colleague Senator Cornyn. We can read about what is going on down at the border. We can watch the news. But until you travel south and see the chaos there with your own eyes, you really can't fully understand the gravity of this situation. prgtoken The numbers we hear reported are overwhelming. Migrant encounters this fiscal year have already stretched past 770,000. December hit a record for monthly encounters, at over 251,000. prgtoken Sure, we talk about these numbers, but what really brings home what a crisis this is, is walking past an unfinished border wall, boating up and down the Rio Grande River, riding through the brush, and seeing the paths migrants use to sneak into our country. It is touring a raided stash house where a weapon was found, an illegal immigrant was detained, and a human smuggler was arrested. The faces and the voices of people on the ground in Texas who are directly hurt by border insecurity--that is what really brings home what a crisis this is. prgtoken My colleagues and I talked to Border Patrol officers, illegal immigrants, and South Texas landowners. Each of these conversations unveiled a new side of the tragic situation at the border. prgtoken Our agents are doing good and honorable work to protect migrants, to defend our national security, and to stop criminals in their tracks, but it is all with little support from this administration. prgtoken Along the border wall, we spoke with illegal immigrants, some of them single men and women and some of them with families. We met a 6-month- old baby. All had been detained by Border Patrol, and they were being identified before being sent to a processing center. prgtoken This is a sad situation, not just what these migrants face to get here, dealing with the coyotes and the cartels, but then what they will face in their future. These migrants will head north, and they will be forced to work off what they owe the coyotes for getting them across our border. Many of them will be funneled into lives of indentured servitude, some of them into human trafficking and sex trafficking. prgtoken But this is not only an enormous humanitarian crisis and a drug crisis; this is a national security crisis. prgtoken I am a senior member on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Our trip to the Rio Grande Valley reaffirmed that the frenzy at our southern border is nothing short of a national security disaster. prgtoken The United States does not have contro
CONGRATULATING JERICHO HIGH SCHOOL ON BEING SELECTED TO PRODUCE ``FROZEN''
George Santos (Republican, NY) \u2014 2023-3-9

today I rise to congratulate Jericho High School for being granted an exclusive performance of ``Frozen.'' prgtoken Jericho is one of 52 schools in the world, and the only one in New York, to be selected by Disney to produce the musical. This impressive performance by talented students is expected to include a snow machine, a projector, puppetry, and even robotics. It will also feature songs made famous by New York Third's very own Idina Menzel, who is the voice of Elsa in the motion picture. prgtoken I wish the entire cast and crew of Jericho High School the best of luck. As for Lauren Marchand, who is playing Elsa, it must be such an honor to play her role model and mentor in this role. Break a leg.
TRIBUTE TO COACHELLA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT
Ken Calvert (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-3-9

I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the longstanding relationship between the Coachella Valley Water District, or CVWD, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. In fact, today, these two agencies are celebrating more than a century of partnership to bring Colorado River water to the southwest United States. prgtoken One of CVWD's first actions, after being formed in 1918, was to provide farms with a dependable irrigation water supply by importing water from the Colorado River. In 1919, the CVWD board entered into its first contract with the Bureau under the Kettner Bill to survey possible routes for the All-American Canal. A second contract was made under the Kincaid Act in 1921 to survey the route that would eventually bring Colorado River water into the Coachella Valley. In 1934, CVWD executed a contract with the Bureau to participate in the Boulder Canyon Project, which included the construction of Boulder Dam (now Hoover Dam), the All-American Canal, and the Coachella Branch of the All-American. In 1938--20 years after the formation of CVWD-- construction began on the Coachella Branch of the All-American Canal. The first segment of the Coachella Canal opened in 1940. The second segment was delayed by World War II but finished in 1943. The remaining segments were built after World War II, and the project was finally completed in 1948. prgtoken The Coachella Valley began receiving Colorado River water in March 1949. Shortly thereafter, CVWD developed plans to build a closed pipe distribution system to deliver imported water to farms. The 500-mile distribution system was completed in 1954. Historically, CVWD and the Bureau have prioritized prgtoken long-term infrastructure projects to prioritize the efficient use of Colorado River water in the Coachella Valley. CVWD and the surrounding agricultural community have invested heavily in its irrigation delivery system to minimize water loss, including canal lining projects and a closed pipe irrigation distribution system. Agricultural customers are encouraged to irrigate with canal water instead of groundwater. CVWD delivers canal water to more than 1,200 irrigation customers. In addition, more than 60 percent of agricultural customers use drip irrigation systems, which allows the average water application to be less than 3.8 acre-feet per acre. prgtoken CVWD, in partnership with the Bureau, implemented significant actions to conserve Colorado River Water. These investments include a 500-mile irrigation delivery system to minimize system losses using pipes and metering 100 percent of properties served. CVWD also lined a 49-mile section of the Coachella Canal that yielded 132,000 acre-feet per year in savings, as well as lined a remaining 35-mile section of Coachella Canal with San Diego County Water Authority and the San Luis Rey Settlement Parties. Today, CVWD and the Bureau are celebrating a $60 million loan for the Irrigation Lateral Replacement Project.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Sam Graves (Republican, MO) \u2014 2023-3-9

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I am proud to rise in support of H.J. Res. 27, which I introduced, to negate an ill-timed and ill-conceived rule coming out of the administration which, if Congress fails to act, will go into effect later this month. prgtoken The Clean Water Act is landmark legislation that was signed into law 50 years ago that has greatly improved the health of the Nation's waters. prgtoken Unfortunately, we have consistently seen increasingly expansive interpretations of the Clean Water Act result in the implementation of a flawed and overreaching water policy. This has hindered our ability to achieve the Clean Water Act's true underlying water quality goals. prgtoken There is no clearer example of this overreach than the debate over the definition of waters of the United States, or WOTUS. prgtoken Decades of agency interpretation and misinterpretations have created uncertainty for rural communities, for farmers, for ranchers, for businesses and industries who rely on clean water. prgtoken Although the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule finally provided long-awaited clarity on the scope of WOTUS, the new administration decided to unravel the water protection rule and attempt to replace it, once again, creating confusion and chaos. prgtoken The definition of WOTUS matters to the everyday lives of people all over the country, including in my district. prgtoken For instance, I have a constituent who wanted to build a pond on his property and had received local and State permits to do just that. But then the Army Corps of Engineers, they stepped in and they said he would have prgtoken to spend $165,000 in environmental mitigation. This is absolutely outrageous. prgtoken Returning to a more costly, burdensome, and broad WOTUS definition could have a massive impact on local communities and Americans' ability to do their jobs and manage their own private property. prgtoken I urge support of this joint resolution to stop this burdensome and overreaching WOTUS rule. prgtoken , .