mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING THE MIDWEST ISMAILI ARTS FESTIVAL
Janice D. Schakowsky (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-10-19

. Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize The Midwest Ismaili Arts Festival hosted by the Ismaili Council for the Midwestern United States. The Ismaili Arts Festival will be held at the Copernicus Center in Chicago, Illinois on Sunday, October 22, 2023. prgtoken The Ismaili Arts Festival stands as a testament to the profound impact of the arts, serving as a platform for Ismaili artists to share their unique visions and creations with our community. This festival celebrates creativity, and promotes dialogue, diversity and understanding among residents of Illinois and visitors. These events elevate and illustrate the pluralistic values that are held by residents of Illinois and make Illinois a more vibrant and stronger community. prgtoken This year, the Midwest Ismaili Arts Festival will bring together over 200 Ismaili artists showcasing their artistic expression in the categories of performing arts, film festival and art gallery. The theme for this year's festival is ``care,'' in which the artists will explore their personal interconnectivity with care for the environment, care for one's heritage, and strengthening one's identity. prgtoken I am proud of the Ismaili Council for Midwestern United States and the Midwest Ismaili Arts Festival organizers, Ismaili Artists and Ismaili Volunteers who dedicate their time, knowledge, and passion to promote the arts. prgtoken On behalf of the residents of the 9th District of the State of Illinois, I proudly recognize the impact of the Ismaili Arts Festival and its contributions to the State of Illinois' arts and cultural stage and celebrate this showcase of Illinois' diversity and commitment to inclusion.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2023-10-19

I rise to celebrate the incredible life and legacy of Granite Falls, MN, mayor David ``Smig'' Smiglewski. A lifelong resident of Granite Falls, Dave loved his neighbors and gave so much to his city that he became known as ``Mr. Granite Falls.'' During his entire 44-year career in public service, which began with an appointment to the city council at age 26, Dave always made time for his neighbors and would stay late after city council meetings to share his vast knowledge of the region's history and tell stories about Granite Falls. prgtoken I had the pleasure of visiting Mayor Smiglewsi and other local leaders in Granite Falls earlier this year. We had productive discussions about our shared vision for bringing broadband to rural Minnesota, investing in Granite Falls' public schools, and strengthening the city's economy. What I remember most fondly from my visit, however, happened after our meeting, when Dave opened up the historic Andrew J. Volstead House and gave me a tour. prgtoken Dave always looked out for the people of Granite Falls, but he loved his family most of all. He and Cindy, his wife of 40 years, raised three children and had three grandchildren who kept them busy with sporting events, music concerts, and dance recitals. Throughout his decades of public service, Dave cherished his time with his family and made every effort to be with them. prgtoken That was Dave: a beloved mayor, a local historian, and, most of all, a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Today, my heart is with all those who knew and loved Smig.
ISRAEL
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-10-19

on September 11, 2001, even while smoke was still billowing from the wreckage of the Twin Towers, I knew deep within me that that attack on American soil would change not just my Nation's future but my own, and it did. prgtoken I rushed back to the assault helicopter company I commanded at the time, ready to seek out the terrorists who attacked my Nation and slaughtered civilians. I did it willingly, without hesitation, because every fiber in my being felt the need to defend my country when she was threatened. prgtoken So, today, let me be very clear. As a soldier and as someone who has always supported Israel, I strongly believe in Israel's right to defend herself and her people, especially when under attack from a terrorist organization like Hamas--a group that redefines the word ``cruelty,'' that seems to take pleasure in bloodshed, that refuses to adhere to the rule of law or international norms. prgtoken If I were an Israeli soldier--if I woke up two Saturdays ago to the sights and sounds of massacre like they did--I, too, would be desperate to defend my nation and my neighbors; I, too, would want to make sure that those who turned my children's playgrounds into battlefields, who turned the grass under my daughter's swing set from a rich green to blood red, were never able to inflict such horrors again. prgtoken I grieve for every Israeli life that was upended or, in too many cases, ended in such a horrific fashion. prgtoken There is never an excuse or justification for terrorism, none. And I will stay on this floor for as long as it takes, vote as many times as I have to, to ensure that our Israeli allies have the resources and support they need in time of war. prgtoken I am also clear-eyed about the fact that there is a humanitarian crisis unfolding just miles away in Gaza, and I recognize the urgent need to help the innocent Palestinians, who are also suffering as a result of Hamas's brutal attacks. prgtoken It is this simple: We should all be able to agree that no child deserves to starve to death or die of thirst. We should all be able to agree that no child deserves to be brutalized or burned alive, whether they live in Gaza or Tel Aviv. We should all be able to agree that no child deserves to be terrorized, whether their home is on a kibbutz or in Plainfield, IL, or behind a blockade. prgtoken Every time I have gone home from work since that awful Saturday morning, I have held my little girls as tightly as I could. I have given them one more squeeze than usual and held on to them for a couple more seconds than normal. My daughters are just 8 and 5. They don't understand why I am so upset. So I just tell them that Mommy's heart is hurting, that she is really sad right now, and that all she wants in that moment is just to hold them a little closer for a little longer. prgtoken I am haunted by the faces of the Israeli children whom Hamas terrorists abducted, just as I am by the conversations
ISRAEL
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-10-19

more Jews died on October 7 than have died since the Holocaust. As the war in the Middle East wages on, the world is learning more details about the horrors being unleashed by Hamas, which, as the world now knows, is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. This has been going on for a long time. prgtoken Over the past week and a half, we have heard horrifying stories of atrocities committed against the Israeli people. Last week, I met at Temple Emanu-El, a synagogue in Dallas, TX, and talked to a mom named Kim who has two sons who were born in Dallas. They are native Texans, American citizens, and are now fighting in the IDF, the Israeli Defense Forces. prgtoken Another woman had been a teacher of a kibbutz in Israel but had recently relocated to the United States. She recounted watching her phone all of a sudden becoming deluged with messages from that kibbutz about Hamas killers coming in and indiscriminately killing babies, children, and other civilians. prgtoken These terrorists have no conscience. They have no moral standards. They not only murdered babies and children, they raped, tortured, and beheaded other innocent civilians. They dismembered the bodies of their victims and captured hostages to use as human shields or human bargaining chips. prgtoken It gives me no pleasure to recount the horrific evil that we are seeing played out in real time on our TV screens and in social media. But it is important that we acknowledge the reality of this evil because, if we don't--if we brush it under the rug and we act like, well, there is really some moral equivalency between the Palestinian cause and the Israeli nation and that somehow Hamas is justified in committing these acts--we will have bought the propaganda of Hamas hook, line, and sinker. prgtoken Of course, we all know that Hamas is a proxy for the Supreme Leader in Iran and that the IRGC, the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the Quds Force has helped equip and train Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon in the northern part of Israel, and that this is part of a long-term effort to extinguish the Jewish State and to eliminate it from the map. prgtoken This is not a spontaneous act. I know that written in many of the newspapers the news media has said: Well, Iran didn't know about this. prgtoken Well, they may not have known the timing and they may not have known the scale of these attacks, but there is no question they enabled them. And it was their joint cause between Hamas and Iran to commit these atrocities against the people of Israel as part of their desire to extinguish them from the face of the planet. prgtoken These terrorists were carrying documents that explicitly outlined the mission's objective: Kill as many individuals as possible and capture hostages. Those were the orders given to the Hamas terrorists. Other documents included detailed plans to target elementary schools--target elementary schools and a youth center in Israel, a
BORDER SECURITY
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2023-10-19

yesterday, I came down to the floor to discuss the importance of military preparedness to our national security. The most basic requirement of national security is a strong military, but it is not the only requirement. Maintaining our Nation's strength and our ability to deter threats and discourage our enemies from tangling with us also involves things like a strong economy, energy security, and border security. prgtoken And, today, I want to spend a few minutes talking about border security. Border security is an essential part of prgtoken keeping our Nation secure. Porous borders are an invitation to criminals, terrorists, and other dangerous individuals. And let us be very clear: There are dangerous individuals out there right now who would like to enter and harm our country. Porous borders are an invitation to those types of individuals. prgtoken Since the beginning of the month, four Iranians considered to be ``special interest aliens''--individuals, that is, who may pose a threat to the United States--have been apprehended at the southern border in Texas. Now, all told, thousands of special interest aliens--a number of them from Middle Eastern countries--have been apprehended at our southern border in the past 2 years. prgtoken During fiscal year 2023, 151 individuals on the Terrorist Watchlist were apprehended attempting to illegally cross our southern border-- 151. As a recent news story noted, ``that figure is more than the total of the previous six . . . years combined.'' prgtoken That same story also notes: In the first two weeks of the fiscal year, the CBP sources told Fox News that agents had apprehended more than 30 Iranians, nearly 60 Syrians, 35 Pakistanis, more than 100 Russians, 285 Afghans and nearly 2,000 Chinese migrants at the southern border. ``[M]ore than 30 Iranians, nearly 60 Syrians, 35 Pakistanis, more than 100 Russians, 285 Afghans and nearly 2,000 Chinese migrants at the southern border''--now, it is likely that many of those individuals are simply in search of the promise the United States offers of a better life. But it is also entirely possible that some of these individuals-- some of them from intensely hostile countries like Iran--had more malign intentions. And while Customs and Border Protection apprehended the individuals I have mentioned so far, it is not only possible, but likely, that similarly concerning individuals have entered our country undetected. prgtoken Since President took office, there have been more than 1.5 million known ``got-aways'' at the southern borders. Those are individuals that Border Patrol saw but was unable to apprehend. And we can only imagine the number of unknown ``got-aways'' who have sneaked into the country. Those are people they didn't see. They have no idea. prgtoken How many of those individuals are from hostile countries or are on the Terrorist Watchlist or are members of cartels that tar
HONORING TEXAS-24 HOMETOWN HERO WILLIAM SMARR
Beth Van Duyne (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-10-19

. Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 Hometown Hero, retired United States Secret Service Special Agent in Charge (SAIC) of the Dallas Field Office William Smarr. SAIC Smarr has spent more than two decades protecting our nation's leaders before retiring on October 13, 2023. prgtoken Mr. Smarr began his career in 1999 in the Pittsburgh Field Office with subsequent assignments in the Houston Field Office and the Presidential Protective Division in Washington, D.C. In addition to providing protection to our nation's leaders and investigating threats against the President, Mr. Smarr managed high-profile transnational fraud investigations involving the targeting of U.S. financial infrastructure and private industry victims. During his time as the Senior Executive for the North Texas District, SAIC Smarr led all operations involving executive protection and criminal investigations with offices in Dallas, Lubbock, Tyler and Waco. Before assuming his role in the Dallas Field Office, Mr. Smarr led as the Deputy SAIC in Houston, TX, where he oversaw the Secret Service's investigative and protective portfolio covering all southeast Texas and the country of Mexico. SAIC Smarr has dedicated his life to the integrated mission and responsibilities of the United States Secret Service and fulfilled his role with honor. I thank SAIC Smarr for all he had done to protect and serve our great Nation. I wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.
HONORING KATHLEEN AND WILLIAM WISNEWSKI
Andrew R. Garbarino (Republican, NY) \u2014 2023-10-19

. Pro Tempore, I rise today to honor a true Long Island ``power couple''--Kathleen and William Wisnewski--who are both retiring this year after distinguished multi-decade long careers at National Grid--the leading energy provider in my district. Bill began his service at National Grid--then known as LILCO--in 1986 as a meter reader making $7.50 an hour. A second-generation company employee, he put himself through night school and rose through the ranks as a gas and electric planner, field inspector, contractor supervisor, and finally field trainer, ensuring that future generations of National Grid employees will adhere to the same high standards and dedication he so diligently displayed over his long career. Bill was also long active in IBEW Local 1049 at times serving as a shop steward and on the executive board, effectively representing his fellow employees through several acquisitions and successful contract negotiations. prgtoken Kathy started at the company in 1989 after graduating with a degree in business administration from Hofstra University. Initially hired as an energy specialist in the conservation services department, Kathy climbed the corporate ladder at LILCO, Keyspan and now National Grid eventually ascending to Director of Customer and Community Relations for all of Long Island. In this position--and all throughout her career at National Grid--Kathy worked every day to strengthen communities across the island and help my constituents access the essential energy resources that power their lives. There was no better example of this than Kathy's work in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy--a historic storm that devastated my district in 2012. Kathy put in countless hours on behalf of National Grid customers, connecting them to critical disaster relief and working to restore their life sustaining energy service as safely and efficiently as possible. For these efforts she was recognized by several municipalities and community organizations including the city of Long Beach and its Martin Luther King Center. prgtoken I also want to acknowledge Kathy's service on the boards of Girls Inc. and Vision Long Island. Her leadership in these organizations dedicated to empowering young girls and building a more vibrant and livable community guarantees that her positive impact on Long Island will continue to be felt for decades to come. prgtoken For over thirty years, through overnights, weekends, holidays and countless storms--Kathy and Bill did their part to make sure the lights and heat came on when their neighbors needed it the most. We thank them and thousands of National Grid employees just like them who work day-in and day-out to literally power our communities. prgtoken While this is certainly a loss for National Grid and my constituents, their well-earned retirement will allow them to spend more time with their daughters Jennifer and Bridget and dogs Harley and Winnie. I am happy they are staying in
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2023-10-19

in 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated October as National Down Syndrome Awareness Month. We have been honoring that month ever since. We are attempting to ensure that Americans have had the opportunity to celebrate and recognize individuals with Down syndrome and those individuals' contribution to our world. prgtoken Since 2015, I have served as the cochair of the Congressional Down Syndrome Task Force, a bipartisan, bicameral caucus dedicated to promoting policies that enhance the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome. prgtoken Last September, the task force partnered with leaders in Down syndrome advocacy groups and the medical research sector to host a roundtable discussion on recent scientific advances in Down syndrome research. During the roundtable, self-advocates brought awareness to the issues important to their communities, such as work and education opportunities, policies to improve independent living, support for their loved ones and caretakers, and medical research. prgtoken Hearing the firsthand testimonies from individuals of Down syndrome and medical professionals who have dedicated their careers to the understanding of Down syndrome in order to better care for the community was meaningful to me, and it helped us better understand the needs of the Down syndrome community. prgtoken Through my interactions on the task force, I have also had the privilege to meet amazing parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, advocates, and caregivers who support individuals with Down syndrome in living successful and fulfilling lives. The dedication to improving the lives of those in the Down syndrome community is appreciated not only this month of October, but in every month, every day, every year. prgtoken As a cochair of the task force, I have worked to advocate for Federal resources for the Down syndrome community to support medical research and enable individuals with Down syndrome to live a full and independent life. prgtoken Through congressional commitment to expand Federal resources, Down syndrome research has improved significantly in recent years. In May of 2022, the National Institutes of Health report stated Federal investment in Down syndrome research had increased from $18 million in fiscal year 2014 to around $124 million in fiscal year 2022. This increase in funding is a recognition of the gaps in our medical research and works to make certain that we prioritize learning more about Down syndrome. prgtoken As we take this month to celebrate the Down syndrome community and their families, I look forward to building on recent successes and urge Congress to renew its commitment to pursuing policies that support the Down syndrome community and improve the quality of every American's life. prgtoken .
ISRAEL
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-10-19

. There is evil in the world, and for the better part of the last century, America and our allies were squarely in the crosshairs. Unfortunately, we tend to forget that. prgtoken On September 12, 2001, George Will coined a phrase, saying that the free prgtoken world's ``holiday from history'' was over. When Russia escalated its lawless invasion of Ukraine last year, many observers, including former Secretary of Defense Bob Gates, invoked the same idea. prgtoken The West is at a crossroads. Increasingly, fringe voices on the left and right are insisting that it is not America's business to lead. They seem willing to accept American decline and to assume that their lack of interest in history means history won't be interested in them. Meanwhile, many of our allies are waking up to their own commitments to collective defense. prgtoken As the world was reminded last February in Ukraine and again on October 7 in Israel, some of our friends and fellow democracies have never had the option of taking a holiday from history. Israel has no choice but vigilant self-defense because murderous theocrats and terrorists have vowed to wipe it off the map. Ukraine has no choice but all-out resistance because an authoritarian thug with delusions of Soviet glory has spent years butchering its people and carving up its sovereign territory. Half a world away, the free people of Taiwan have no choice but to stare down the threat from a communist superpower intent on bringing their island to heel. prgtoken It is hard to ignore the growing strategic alignment between these authoritarian forces. They share an interest in one another's violent pursuits and in undermining the West--especially America. prgtoken Take the growing strategic partnership between Russia and Iran. The administration foolishly welcomed Putin's intervention in Syria, and it gave Russia influence in the Middle East it hadn't had since the 1970s--mostly at America's expense. Iran and its terror proxies were glad to see Putin prop up Bashar Assad. Under Russian protection, Syria became a training ground and logistics superhighway from Tehran's terror network. And as terrorists challenge America and Israel in the region, Russia is the beneficiary. prgtoken It is a symbiotic relationship for the bad guys, and it has only continued to grow. Russia defends Iran at the U.N and Iran is now providing the same lethal drones its terrorist proxies use to attack American forces in Syria and Iraq directly to Russia for use against Ukraine. prgtoken The world's largest state sponsor of terror--with American, Israeli, and Arab blood on its hands--is also sponsoring Russia's war against our friends in Europe. prgtoken As one good analysis put it recently, ``When Hezbollah terrorists, Hezbollah mercenaries, and Iranian theocrats chant `Death to America' after murdering Israelis, they're not confused.'' And it is hardly surprising that Putin has aligned his regime with this terror,