mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT TITLE EQUALITY ACT
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2023-5-2

today, I introduce the District of Columbia Government Title Equality Act. This bill would amend the D.C. Home Rule Act to redesignate the Mayor as the Governor, the Council as the Legislative Assembly, the Councilmembers as Representatives and the Chair of the Council as the . The new titles are the ones used in the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth constitution, which the District adopted in 2016 in anticipation of passage of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act which would make D.C. the 51st state. prgtoken I introduce this bill to highlight to the American people and Members of Congress that there would be a seamless transition to D.C. statehood because D.C. already operates as the functional equivalent of a state, providing state-, county- and city-level services, despite being denied voting representation in Congress and full local self-government. prgtoken This bill would not change any legal authorities. prgtoken This is an important step to provide greater equality for the District, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
TRIBUTE TO JANNA NICHOLS--CALIFORNIA'S 24TH CONGRESSIONAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Salud O. Carbajal (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-5-2

each year, through the Woman of the Year Award, my office extends special recognition to women on the Central Coast who have made a difference in our community. I would like to recognize one outstanding Women of the Year Award recipient, Janna Nichols of San Luis Obispo, California. prgtoken A longtime resident of San Luis Obispo, Janna Nichols, has been a leader and advocate by providing support and resources to some of the most vulnerable in our community. Since 2009, Janna has been the Executive Director of 5Cities Homeless Coalition, a local non-profit, assisting individuals who are homeless or facing homelessness. prgtoken Through Janna's leadership and insight, 5Cities Homeless Coalition is working to strengthen community by mobilizing resources and providing support and hope for individuals at risk of being homeless or are already homeless. She not only provides the services that are crucial to assist those in need, but engages her community to fully understand the complexities of homelessness and invites those to get engaged in creating and implementing solutions to reduce it. prgtoken When Janna sees a need in the community, she steps up and mobilizes by bringing other agencies together and finds the funds to make projects come to fruition. Janna found the funding and the resources to make the newly opened Cabin Project in Grover Beach a reality. The 20- cabin project contains a bath house, community room and on-site case managers contributing to the success of the project. prgtoken Janna is well liked and respected in the 5Cities community in San Luis Obispo County. She has many agencies who consistently show support, donating their time and goods to the project she manages under the 5Cities Homeless Coalition. She has a strong connection to the Central Coast, and a proven track-record of community involvement through her partnerships with local restaurants, the Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, and other non-profit, state, and local agencies. prgtoken Janna has inspired change and empowered others by enabling her staff to know their clients and understand the situations that bring them to the 5Cities Homeless Coalition. Janna has created a safe place for people who are vulnerable in our community, developing a welcoming space to come and find the support they need. prgtoken I am honored to recognize Janna for her continued commitment to provide services and resources to individuals and families on the Central Coast. I ask all Members to join me today in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 24th Congressional District, Janna Nichols, for her incredible service to her community.
CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF SUPERDAWG
Mike Quigley (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-5-2

I rise today to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Chicago's iconic hot dog stand--Superdawg. prgtoken Established in May of 1948 by high-school sweethearts Maurie and Florence (Flaurie) Berman, Superdawg first opened at the corner of Milwaukee and Devon in Chicago. Today, Superdawg continues to be family owned and operated in the same location. prgtoken Despite the small changes they have undergone over the past 75 years, the infamous Superdawg recipe and the drive-in concept have remained the same. Just as they did in 1948, customers can order from their car and have a carhop deliver their order on a tray. prgtoken Superdawg has remained committed to providing quality products and service, making each customer's meal to-order, and affirming the belief that the customer is always right. They continue to insist that the customer should be treated as family--setting them apart from other fast-food establishments. prgtoken In 2010, I spent the day working at Superdawg as part of my Undercover Congressman series. There, I learned how to make the famous Superdawg and gained an inside-look into what has made them so successful. prgtoken As someone who has been a beloved Superdawg fan throughout my life, I am honored to help them celebrate this exciting milestone.
HONORING THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHATHAM BOROUGH VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Mikie Sherrill (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2023-5-2

I rise to recognize the 125th anniversary of the Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department. prgtoken The Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department is an integral part of New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District. The Department has provided outstanding emergency services, fire safety education, and prevention programs to Chatham Borough and its surrounding towns for the past 125 years. prgtoken When the Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1898, it responded to emergencies with just 600 feet of hose, two hose carts, and a hand-drawn hook and ladder truck. In fact, the Department responded to 897 alarms in its first 50 years alone. And as the Department has grown and modernized throughout its extraordinary history, it is clear that the exceptional determination and bravery of the firefighters to protect the Chatham Borough community has always remained at the very core of the Department. prgtoken Beyond emergency response services, the Department has led community programs that bring our residents together each year. The annual Fishing Derby, Santa's visit on the Christmas Eve ``North Pole Express,'' and the Fourth of July Parade, are just a few examples of the many ways the Chatham Borough Fire Department has gone above and beyond to provide lifelong traditions and memories for our community. prgtoken Whether responding to major fires, car accidents, or by ensuring disaster preparedness, I am tremendously grateful for the deep tradition of public service that has driven this Department and its firefighters for over a century. I am proud to honor the Chatham Borough prgtoken Volunteer Fire Department and its members as their 125th anniversary approaches on May 7th.
Nuclear Revitalization (Executive Calendar)
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2023-5-2

today I would like to talk about nuclear revitalization for a few minutes. prgtoken I want to make two overarching points. First, no sane person wants a nuclear war. No sane person wants a nuclear war. But, No. 2, peace through weakness never works--never. When the United States built much of its nuclear stockpile, the Cold War was raging, and the Soviet Union was our only major adversary with a sophisticated nuclear stockpile. We remember those days. Our nuclear power deterred Soviet aggression and made sure the Cold War never escalated. prgtoken But today, fast forward, we no longer face just one threat. Russia still maintains the world's largest nuclear arsenal, but China's nuclear stockpile is growing rapidly. North Korea, as we know, continues to threaten our allies with its collection of nuclear weapons. And thanks to the disastrous nuclear deal with Iran, Iran is marching ever closer to developing a nuclear weapon of its own. prgtoken So here is where the United States finds itself today. The United States must now counter nuclear superpowers in both China and Russia while also deterring the itchy trigger fingers of unstable dictators like Kim Jong Un and the Ayatollah in Iran. prgtoken We should be innovating and preparing our nuclear arsenal for this new global dynamic. But, instead, our nuclear stockpile remains stuck in the Cold War, and that is just a fact. Put simply: America's nuclear stockpile is old, and it is shrinking. And while modernizing our nuclear arsenal should be a top priority, our effort to restart nuclear weapon production has been riddled with delays and poor planning and we do not have time to waste. prgtoken The United States has not built a single nuclear warhead since the close of the Cold War. Let me say that again. The United States has not built a single nuclear warhead since the close of the Cold War. Instead, we have focused on what we call Life Extension Programs to keep our old weapons operational by refurbishing them. Those that aren't refurbished are destroyed. prgtoken From 1994 until 2020, the United States dismantled 11,683 total nuclear warheads. And this total does not include the 2,000 other warheads that have been retired while awaiting their own demolition as well. Most of our nuclear warheads are decades old. The facilities where we built and store these are even older. As recently as 2019, the computer system controlling our nuclear weapons ran on floppy disks. I kid you not. prgtoken Today, we are so far behind in our nuclear revitalization that we cannot even produce plutonium pits. Plutonium pits are an essential component of every nuclear weapon. Plutonium pits sit at the center of a warhead. They are not all that different from pits in a peach. The pit is essential because it triggers the nuclear explosion. Plutonium pits do not last forever. They can only sit inside a weapon for roughly 100 years before we must replace them. The clock is t
RECOGNIZING THE LENA AMERICAN LEGION POST 342 ON ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY
Mike Gallagher (Republican, WI) \u2014 2023-5-2

today I rise to congratulate the Lena American Legion Post 342 on its 100th Anniversary. prgtoken Post 342 was founded on February 1, 1922, when the founding members came together to sign the Legion constitution forming the Lena American Legion Post. For 100 years, the Lena American Legion Post 342 has upheld the vision of legions across the country to the highest degree. Post 342 proudly carries the names of Lena natives and World War One veterans, Corporal Everett Doney and Private Desire DeGrave. prgtoken Corporal Doney was born on October 3, 1893. He enlisted in the armed forces in 1917, serving with the Company M, 127th Infantry Regiment of the 32nd Division of the U.S. Army in France. Corporal Doney was killed in action on August 4, 1918. He is laid to rest in the soldier's section of Evergreen cemetery in Oconto, Wisconsin. prgtoken Private DeGrave was born on April 8, 1896. He enlisted in the armed forces in 1917 and served with the 150th Machine Gun Battalion of the 42nd Division, American Expeditionary Force in France. Private DeGrave was killed in action on July 27, 1918. He is laid to rest at St. Charles Catholic cemetery in Lena. The legion carries on the memory, service, and sacrifice of Corporal Doney and Private DeGrave through their vision of strengthening America by improving the lives of veterans, the military, and their families. prgtoken Post 342 has continued to grow from their beginnings 100 years ago. Post 342 now has over 42 members located across the United States, who work together to teach future generations about the importance of service. The members of Post 342 are a true inspiration and example for all Americans. The continued service and dedication that the members of Post 342 have shown to not only the Lena community, but to the United States of America is deserving of the highest degree of recognition. prgtoken As we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Post 342, we must recognize the outstanding service that they continue to provide to Lena and the entire Oconto County community. Post 342 takes great pride in supporting the local Lena High School and other organizations via numerous community events. Post 342 continues to be a voice for the men and women who have served our country. At Post 342 every day they put country before self, just as they did the day they joined the service. American Legion Post 342 Doney-DeGrave is a true credit to Northeast Wisconsin. prgtoken , please join me in honoring the Lena American Legion Post 342 Doney-DeGrave as they come together to celebrate their 100th Anniversary.
National Debt (Executive Calendar)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2023-5-2

I come to the floor today referring to a speech that Senator gave on this Senate floor 39 years ago today. The scene was this: It developed over several months of that year before May 2, 1984. prgtoken I had this idea which would be considered crazy today, that we need to get control of the budget by just freezing everything across the board. And I recruited Nancy Kassebaum, a Senator from Kansas, and Senator to help in that effort. prgtoken Senator gave the longest speech that day on justifying it, and most of his comments at that time were trying to justify that you could actually freeze the defense budget, and also it included the freeze on the COLAs for Social Security. prgtoken But Senator spent most of his speech fighting off giants of the military industrial complex at that time, by the names of Senator Goldwater, Senator Towers, and Senator Stevens of Alaska. So that is the background of what I am talking about today. prgtoken So on this day, 39 years ago, then-Senator spoke on the Senate floor saying that he was ``outraged''--that is his words--that our national debt would soon be near $2 trillion. He urged fellow Senators to ``do something . . . before the debt limit increase comes up.'' The ``something'' that he advocated for was a Federal spending freeze. prgtoken Today, our national debt stands at $31.5 trillion compared to that $2 trillion in 1984. But in a few years, public debt as a share of our economy is expected to exceed record levels set in the wake of World War II. However, instead of urging immediate action this year, President wants to kick the can down the road. I think, today, we would all consider that to be irresponsible and unacceptable. prgtoken In contrast, House s are tackling our debt crisis head-on. Legislation the House passed last week would rein in excessive government spending, lift the debt ceiling, and impose meaningful fiscal controls moving forward. President and Senate must get off the sidelines and negotiate. We can't continue to live high on the hog at the expense of future generations. prgtoken To put our current national debt in perspective, a gross Federal debt of $31.5 trillion equates to $95,000 for each man, woman, and child living in the United States today. By comparison, the average cost of a 4-year public college degree in 2023 is about $90,000. Both are more than we should be asking young people to bear. Looked at in terms of the American taxpayers, our government debt comes to a staggering $247,000 per tax filer, and I think the number of tax filers would be close to 160 million or just a few more. That is $52,000 more than the average home value in my State of Iowa. prgtoken Our growing national debt is unsustainable. In its most recent budget outlook, the Congressional Budget Office estimates interest on the debt will be near $1 trillion in 2028--an amount exceeding what our Nati
RECOGNIZING RAMSEY'S MARKET
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2023-5-2

as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Ramsey's Market of Lenox, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken The company was founded by Theo and Bonnie Ramsey in 2015 after learning that the local grocery store in Lenox was up for sale. As veterans of the U.S. Air Force, service is key for the Ramsey family, so the pair jumped at the opportunity to fill a critical community need. When a local grocery store goes out of business, residents sometimes have extensive drives just to buy the basic food items. Over the years, Ramsey's Market has been able to expand to include a food locker delivery service, an adjoining Ace Hardware store with a bar inside, and even a second location in Manning, IA. prgtoken Another unique aspect of the store is live music. Theo and Bonnie met during their time in the U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West, where they both were singers. It is very normal for local musicians to perform in the grocery store while customers shop. The staff behind the deli counter, and even Bonnie can often be found singing to customers. prgtoken Ramsey's Market has been recognized for their hard work, earning the Iowa Farm Bureau's Renew Rural Iowa Entrepreneur Award in 2018 for their unique shopping experience and their impact on the Lenox community. They have even been recognized for their success by America's Small Business Development Center, Iowa. In January 2022, I had the opportunity to visit the store and see the local impact the business has on Taylor County. prgtoken Ramsey's Market's commitment to providing quality groceries in a fun environment is clear. I want to congratulate the Ramsey family, and the entire team at Ramsey's Market, for their continued dedication to finding a solution to the food deserts in Iowa and serving their community. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in Iowa.
The Judiciary (Executive Calendar)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-5-2

as we all have observed in recent years, we have witnessed a deeply concerning string of attacks, verbal and otherwise, against Federal judges. I am not talking about fiery speeches or statements by activists and organizations that happen to disagree with a particular ruling. That is their right under the First Amendment to the Constitution. What I am talking about are physical threats, including those from elected officials who want to control another branch of government and because they don't like the decisions that the judiciary is handing down in a given case. prgtoken A few years ago, five of our ic colleagues filed a friend of the Court brief in the Supreme Court on a case involving gun rights. These Senators made a not-so-subtle threat to the Justices that unless the Court ruled in a certain way, the entire institution could be, quote, ``restructured.'' Some might call that coercion or intimidation. prgtoken Last year, one of our ic colleagues took another jab, calling the Supreme Court's conservative majority ``stolen,'' ``illegitimate,'' and ``far right.'' prgtoken But without a doubt, one of the most shocking and reckless examples of what I am talking about occurred 4 years ago with New York's senior Senator, now the majority leader of the United States Senate. As the Supreme Court considered an abortion case, the ic leader went to the steps of the Supreme Court and threatened two Supreme Court Justices by name if they did not rule a certain way. He said: I want to tell you, Gorsuch; I want to tell you, Kavanaugh: You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions. prgtoken Now, it might be more understandable if these words were said by some person on the street who didn't have the sort of education and background and responsibilities of the majority leader of the United States Senate, but coming from the leader of this institution, those words were shocking and reckless and even dangerous. prgtoken I hope it doesn't come as a surprise to the majority leader that when he talks, people listen. That is true for Senators in this Chamber. I know sometimes we think nobody is listening to what we say, but when we say something like that, people do listen. I have no doubt that some heard Senator Schumer issue unveiled threats against Supreme Court Justices, and they viewed that as permission to take action on their part--for example, the individual who was prepared to assassinate Justice Kavanaugh. No doubt this person of unstable mental mind heard some of the rhetoric and was moved to action. Thank goodness for the law enforcement officials who were able to interdict him. prgtoken Last summer, as the Supreme Court considered another case involving abortion rights, an organization released the home addresses of the Supreme Court Justices, some of whom still have
UKRAINE
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-5-2

now on entirely different matter, there was a remarkable exchange yesterday when a Russian reporter tried to put false words in McCarthy's mouth about alleged opposition to helping Ukraine defeat Russian aggression. prgtoken Well, the put him in his place and shut him down. He reminded everyone of his ongoing support of aid to Ukraine and of s' commitment to help our friends win. s are the party of American strength, at home and abroad. And that includes standing up to would-be tyrants who are invading sovereign countries, killing innocent people, and putting the core national interests of the United States at risk. prgtoken Equipping Ukraine to defend itself is a direct investment in America's own national security--our national security. As brave Ukrainians degrade the Russian military on the frontlines, a major threat to Western security and economic prosperity gets weaker. prgtoken In the meantime, our own defense capabilities are actually getting stronger. A large part of the security assistance appropriated for Ukraine actually funds the production of new cutting-edge capabilities for the U.S. military and supports good-paying jobs for skilled American workers right here at home. prgtoken Unfortunately, it is the administration whose policies have been slow and halting. Since the beginning of Russia's escalation, the administration had lagged several steps behind the pace of relevance in delivering decisive aid to Ukraine. Every approval of new assistance has required agonizing deliberations and prodding from congressional s and alike. This was the case with the Stinger and Javelin systems the Ukrainians needed to drive back Russian convoys and Polish fighter jets that stood waiting on the tarmac, with the HIMARS and Harpoons and PATRIOT systems they needed to put the invaders on the back foot and the Abrams tanks they needed to support a counteroffensive and now with the cluster munitions, longer range fires, and fourth-generation fighter jets our friends need to actually turn the tide. At every single mile marker--every one--the administration has dithered--dithered--unnecessarily. prgtoken It is time for the President to get serious about victory and invest in American strength. prgtoken .