mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
I RISE WITH A HEAVY HEART
Al Green (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-7-20

. And still I rise, Madam . I rise today with a heavy heart, and I say this because of the topic that I will share with persons based on a personal experience that I had. prgtoken I often say I rise in the spirit of Maya Angelou. I rise with the notion that I bring the gifts our ancestors gave on the dream and the hope of the slave. That doesn't apply to me personally, but generally speaking it applies to people of my ethnicity, my race. prgtoken I rise today with this heavy heart because of something that has haunted me since I saw it some many weeks ago, something that haunted me to the extent that I returned to my office after having seen it and called it to the attention of my staff. prgtoken I have had a good deal of consternation in terms of how to respond and react to what I saw, so permit me to share this vignette with you and a bit of commentary thereafter. prgtoken While visiting a local facility, a store in the area--I will not announce the name of the business. I can if I have to, but I choose not to today. While I was there for business purposes, I saw children come in. These children, I am going to guesstimate, 5 to 10. They came in the main entrance, they proceeded to move over to my left, their right, as they came in, and they had bags. They went up and down each aisle in the store collecting things. prgtoken They proceeded to do this all the way through the store, traversing the entirety of the store. When they arrived at the very last aisle in the store, they walked out. prgtoken There was a peace officer, or what appeared to be a peace officer, an officer in uniform, standing there as they passed. They did not go to the cashier, the cash register, the person, the clerk who was collecting funds for items that were being purchased. They did not go there. They didn't go over to the self-check area. They merely walked out of the store with bags of goods that they collected while in the store. prgtoken Now, let me pause for a moment and say something that is important. I will come back to the story, the vignette. There are things that happen that cause me to pray that the person who did this was not a person of color. When I hear of these dastardly deeds, there is something within me that says, God, I hope that is not a person of color. prgtoken I don't want to have it be any person. I don't want to see dastardly deeds done. Because of the history of people of African ancestry in the country and how there was a time when there was a constant drumbeat to style them as persons who were doing dastardly deeds, I relate, and I just don't want to see that done. I always pray that it is not a person of color. I don't want it to be any person at all. prgtoken In this case, I happened to witness it, and I have to tell you, these were all children of color. Now, an Anglo person saying this would probably be called a racist by somebody. I want you to know that I saw this, I am saying this, and I believe that they
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2023-7-20

. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Wyoming (Mr. Barrasso), the Senator from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), the Senator from Texas (Mr. Cornyn), the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer), the Senator from Louisiana (Mr. Kennedy), the Senator from Wyoming (Ms. Lummis), the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Moran), the Senator from Utah (Mr. Romney), the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Schmitt), and the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Scott).
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (Executive Session)
Ted Budd (Republican, NC) \u2014 2023-7-20

I would like to take a few moments to remember the life and the legacy of Stuart Epperson, Sr who passed away this week. prgtoken Stu was a native of Winston-Salem, NC, and he was a giant in the world of Christian broadcasting. prgtoken In 1972, he cofounded Salem Communications and then expanded it to include Christian radio stations across the country. He served on the board of directors of the National Religious Broadcasters Association, and he was named one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in America by Time magazine in 2005. prgtoken He dedicated his life to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible, whether it be through the mediums of mass communication or in person or as a father to the fatherless in tough neighborhoods. He was a pioneer, an innovator. prgtoken He was a dear friend to our family. We share our deepest condolences with his wife Nancy, his family, and his friends. He will be dearly missed. But because of his family's faithful Christian witness to our family, I personally look forward to seeing Big Stu again in Heaven.
SECURING GROWTH AND ROBUST LEADERSHIP IN AMERICAN AVIATION ACT
Scott Perry (Republican, PA) \u2014 2023-7-20

. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the chairman of the full committee and his perspective on this. Nobody likes the pirating or the abuse, so to speak, of the system, but to disallow it altogether is not the answer. prgtoken To me, this is Congress, and if this is such an egregious problem, then we can handle the software issue directly without destroying an industry that is obviously good for the buyer and the seller. prgtoken Quite honestly, I don't know how many of us who have bought and sold a car and transferred the license number said: ``Oh, my goodness, if I don't have the same license number, well, I can't sell the car.'' I am not really worried about the license number. I just need to be able to drive the car. prgtoken If it is such a problem, why don't we address that portion of the problem and not cut everybody out of the deal? prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
Kentucky Flooding (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-7-20

yesterday, communities across my home State endured another spate of heavy rains. Flash flooding was especially severe in Western Kentucky, where residents are still rebuilding after tornadoes pummeled the region just 19 months ago. prgtoken First responders have been moving quickly to rescue and evacuate those impacted, and I understand that so far, there are no reported injuries or deaths. I am thankful for the heroic work to keep Kentuckians safe. prgtoken My team is in touch with State and local officials to help however we can, and later today, I will speak with the mayor of Mayfield to get an update on the situation in her community. prgtoken Elaine and I continue to pray for the safety of West Kentuckians as they recover and rebuild in this time of need.
SCANDALS IN THE WHITE HOUSE
Daniel Meuser (Republican, PA) \u2014 2023-7-20

``I think that there's no doubt about the seriousness of the problem we've got. We have a cancer within--close to the Presidency, that's growing. It's growing daily.'' prgtoken , that is a quote from the Watergate scandal, but the American people are applying it to current circumstances in the White House. prgtoken We have a laptop referencing ``the big guy'' is getting his 10 percent. We have text messages stating: My father is sitting next to me and you better pay up. prgtoken I am paraphrasing, slightly. prgtoken Despite statements from the White House on how there was no contact with business partners, we have pictures of them playing golf together, and White House visitor logs. prgtoken , we have bank records, lots of them, around 20, with tens of millions of dollars going to members of the President's family, including grandchildren. We don't know what they did for it, and recently a bag of cocaine was found in the White House, but case closed. No one accused. No one found. prgtoken , if this was a bag of anthrax, would that have been taken more seriously and solved? I think the answer is yes. The only reason there are any investigations taking place or oversight is because s have a majority in the House.
NATIONAL PENNSYLVANIA DAY
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2023-7-20

. Madam , I rise today to recognize July 20 as National Pennsylvania Day. prgtoken Pennsylvania gained the nickname the ``Keystone State'' because Thomas Jefferson referred to the Commonwealth as a keystone of the Federal union for our role in the establishment and the success of the United States. prgtoken Our Commonwealth is where the Declaration of Independence was signed, our Constitution was written, and our flag was born. It also served as the first capital back in the early days of our union. prgtoken Pennsylvania is the site of famous battles, such as the battle of Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War and the battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War. In Pennsylvania, we are proud to be home to the first hospital, superhighway, and commercial oil well, the Drake Well in my district. We are also proud to have invented the slinky, little league baseball, the steam engine, and bubble gum. prgtoken All throughout history from our steel and coal mines to our farms and forests, Pennsylvania has led the way with an inspiring work ethic. prgtoken As a lifelong Pennsylvanian, I am proud of all we have done and look forward to our future. I am proud to represent nearly one-third of the land mass of our great Commonwealth. prgtoken Madam , to all Pennsylvanians, happy Pennsylvania day.
CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ERNESTINE RACLIN
Rudy Yakym III (Republican, IN) \u2014 2023-7-20

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the life and honor the legacy of Ernestine Raclin, who recently passed away at the age of 95. prgtoken The youngest daughter of Ernest and Emma Morris, Ernestine was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. Ernestine made it her life's mission to make her home community a better place to live, work, and raise a family. prgtoken Ernestine was a trailblazer, taking on roles and responsibilities like few women before her. In addition to chairing 1st Source Bank, Ernestine was the first woman to serve on both the Notre Dame Board of Trustees and the Board of the United Way. prgtoken She was a strong supporter of the arts, devoting her time, talent, and treasure to countless projects in the South Bend/Mishawaka area. prgtoken Above all, Ernestine was a leader who loved her family and possessed a unique ability to rally people around causes greater than themselves. prgtoken The sheer number of remembrances that have come in since her passing just goes to show you how many lives Ernestine touched and the people that she shaped for the better. prgtoken I know Ernestine's family misses her during this deeply difficult time, but I also know that they ``do not grieve as those who have no hope,'' and they take comfort in knowing that they will one day be reunited with Ernestine for all eternity. prgtoken May God bless Ernestine Raclin.
ISSUES OF THE DAY
Glenn Grothman (Republican, WI) \u2014 2023-7-20

. Madam , I am going to address a topic I have addressed before this time earlier in the week, but it was brought up again yesterday in the Oversight Committee, entirely inappropriately. It is something that is brought up with each authorization bill or appropriation bill, and it is apparent that the other side of the aisle desperately wants a new bureaucracy dealing with what I will call preferences. prgtoken It has been in the news lately because there was a Supreme Court decision saying that, for the first time in 50 years, in the United States, we could not discriminate or use--I guess they were primarily focusing on race but they could have used sex as well--in university admissions. It put an end to 50 years of discrimination at universities. prgtoken It has also been in the paper because we have a Secretary of Labor appointed, not yet confirmed, that believes that this country was built on white supremacy, and we have a proposed new head of the Joint Chiefs who believes that we should cap the number of White male officers at 42 percent. prgtoken Of course, this gets into other areas as well that the Court did not touch. It gets involved in the area of government hiring. It gets into the area of hiring by businesses that do business with the government. prgtoken I think a lot of Americans are not aware that if you have at least 50 employees and do business with the government, you are required it submit a statement every year to the government called the EEO-1, listing the race and sex and the amount of money all your employees make. prgtoken It also goes into play with government contracting. Frequently, government contracts are reserved for certain people. prgtoken It will continue to be an issue as even after this decision, individual universities have gone down the path of not using tests for admissions. Historically, for example, to get into medical school you had to pass a test called the MCAT test. I had always felt when I was in my teens and twenties that we had the smartest kids go on to become doctors. prgtoken But the medical schools are shifting away from tests, which are an objective measure of intelligence, and using things like essays to determine who the next doctor is. prgtoken I want to make several comments about this preference idea and why it is so important, as we work through our authorizing bills and our appropriation bills, that we do not slide into this. prgtoken First of all, for people who claim, like our Secretary of Labor, that we are a racist country, or a Eurocentric country, I want to point out that the most successful ethnic group in America today are people from India. The second most successful are people from the Philippines. Other groups like Chinese, Japanese, if you look at Latin America, Cubans are all more successful than the average American, at least judged by income earned. prgtoken According to Thomas Sowell, the children of immigrants from the West Indies, the ch
SECURING GROWTH AND ROBUST LEADERSHIP IN AMERICAN AVIATION ACT
Sam Graves (Republican, MO) \u2014 2023-7-20

. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to amendment No. 76 that is offered by Mr. Perry. This amendment proposes to strike two provisions in the bill that seek to make fairer the process of reserving aircraft registration numbers, also known as N-Numbers. prgtoken The bill also prevents individuals from profiting from the sale or transfer of an N-Number that is otherwise sold, as was pointed out, by the FAA for $10. prgtoken What do I mean by that? There are people out there who scoop up N- Numbers from the FAA for $10 using automated software. What that does is if you are making a transfer and buy a different airplane, and you want to keep the same N-Number, you will be blocked in many cases because of the automated software. They hold hostage that particular N- Number and offer it for sale for thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in some cases, depending on what the N-Number is. prgtoken As was pointed out, we are interrupting freedom of enterprise. Pirating is also an enterprise. We make it illegal. Why do we make it illegal? Because it should be illegal. prgtoken If you use the logic of this amendment, why are we interfering? Why would the government interfere if somebody is just trying to have freedom of enterprise when it comes to pirating or anything else, for that matter, that is illegal? It is just individuals trying to make a living. prgtoken The logic is flawed, and we need to keep this provision in the bill.
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. MILTON CARLYLE DEWHIRST, MD
Doug Lamborn (Republican, CO) \u2014 2023-7-20

I am pleased to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Milton Carlyle Dewhirst, MD, who died of natural causes February 13, 2023, at the age of 89. Dr. Dewhirst was not only a pillar of the Pike's Peak region as a successful and generous family practice doctor and medical examiner, his faith and zeal for the Lord were foundational for the spiritual climate in Colorado Springs and set a model for family values and Christian citizenship. Dr. Milton Dewhirst truly helped make the culture of the 5th Congressional District as beautiful as our natural surroundings. prgtoken After graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1954 and from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas in 1958, Dr. Dewhirst completed his Medical Internship at the Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. He then received flight training in Pensacola, Florida, followed by service as a Senior Aviation Medical Examiner at the U.S. Naval Air Station. Brunswick, Maine. prgtoken In 1963, as a Diplomat of American Board of Family Practice, Dr. Dewhirst began a solo family medical practice. In 1972 he founded Family Practice Associates PC. He also treated patients at Penrose, Memorial, and Saint Francis Hospitals. Many Colorado Springs families were blessed to have Dr. Dewhirst as their life-long Family Doctor-- from delivering their babies to treating the elderly. After 43 years, he retired from Family Practice in 2001 and continued as an FAA Senior Medical Examiner until 2019. prgtoken Dr. Dewhirst was not only a family doctor, but a devoted family man. He married his high school sweetheart LaBerta Phillips on August 6, 1954. They were married for 68 years. Together, the Dewhirsts raised 5 children--Debra Rayburn, Rebecca Lathrop, Miles Dewhirst, Angela Simmons, and Christine Van Raaphorst. Their legacy continues with 15 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren. Milton's commitment to marriage and family extended into his service as an Elder at Village Seven Presbyterian Church, where he was active in teaching Bible Studies and Evangelism. prgtoken At a time when families and marriages in our culture are struggling at heeding the words of Jesus, that ``a wise man build his house upon a rock.'' Dr. and Mrs. Dewhirst blessed Colorado Springs as a model and mentor for families instilling Biblical values and consistency in serving medical, spiritual, and relational needs. The Dewhirst legacy goes beyond his own family into the countless families that he influenced and that also continue to ``build their house upon a solid rock.''
SECURING GROWTH AND ROBUST LEADERSHIP IN AMERICAN AVIATION ACT
Bob Good (Republican, VA) \u2014 2023-7-20

I am proud to rise in support of the amendment offered by my friend from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry) that is appropriately titled the SHOW UP amendment. prgtoken Isn't that the minimum standard--to show up--to come to work, especially when you are on the Federal dole paid by the taxpayer? prgtoken This amendment would ensure that the staff of the FAA do what most Americans probably assume that they are already doing and actually go back to work. prgtoken It requires the FAA to comply with the SHOW UP Act. prgtoken The problem, as Mr. Perry has already mentioned, with these Federal agencies--have you ever tried to get a passport recently or a visa recently and need help with a Federal agency? prgtoken The employees are not at work. prgtoken The SHOW UP Act was already passed with bipartisan support earlier this Congress, and this commonsense amendment requires agencies to return to the policies that were in place as of December of 2019, just 3\1/2\ years ago. prgtoken It also stipulates that agencies may not arbitrarily expand telework policies unless the Office of Personnel Management deems that it would have a significant, positive impact on the agency's mission. It is hard to imagine how that would truly be the case. prgtoken Removing the FAA's ability to perpetuate its current relaxed telework policy simply puts the FAA on the same footing as its counterparts in the private sector and requires these Federal employees to do what the civilians they are purportedly there to serve are required to do: show up to work every day. prgtoken The China virus has long dissipated, and it is time for the FAA employees to resume their normal day-to-day duties in the office, and it is ridiculous that we have to try to force this to happen. prgtoken , I will give you some stats. prgtoken An October 2022 survey by the OPM of 558,000 Federal employees revealed that 20 percent never report to a physical office, while 46 percent come to the office some of the time. prgtoken Unfortunately, unions like the American Federation of Government Employees--a government union should be illegal, by the way--are fighting to keep America's Federal employees at home permanently.
CHINA IS PLOTTING A GOVERNMENT-BACKED DIGITAL CURRENCY
Alexander X. Mooney (Republican, WV) \u2014 2023-7-20

. Madam , China is plotting a government-backed digital currency which will be used to survey and manipulate financial activities of its citizens and to crack down on dissent. A central bank digital currency, known as the digital dollar, poses significant privacy and government surveillance concerns. prgtoken s have been clear that the Federal Reserve does not have the authority to issue a digital dollar without an act of Congress. The United States shouldn't have the ability to build and test one behind the scenes either. prgtoken Right now the Federal Reserve is contracting with the private sector to build digital dollars far beyond what we considered traditional research. That is why I introduced H.R. 3712, the Digital Dollar Pilot Prevention Act which closes this loophole. prgtoken Make no mistake, government-backed digital dollars are not about innovation; they are about control. We must stop the Fed's current development dead in its tracks, and my legislation does exactly that.
DEEPLY ROOTED POLITICAL INFECTION IN THE FBI
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican, IA) \u2014 2023-7-20

my good friend Senator Chuck Grassley said it best when he said: There is deeply rooted political infection in the FBI. We can see this rot play out every single day when the FBI decides who they will and will not pursue. They targeted parents who showed up to school board meetings to hold their elected officials accountable and to speak up for their children. They targeted pro-life Americans who exercised their First Amendment right to peacefully protest and arrested them in front of their children. They rushed to investigate claims of Russian collusion--despite lapses and a bogus FISA warrant--even when those claims were not backed up the evidence. prgtoken Yet, when dealing with Hunter , the DOJ and the FBI chose to go easy on him and gave him a sweetheart plea deal, leaving him unlikely to go to jail. prgtoken It must be nice. prgtoken We have simply lost confidence in The Bureau and serious changes must be made by Director Chris Wray to root out favoritism and double standards so the American people can have faith in their institutions again. prgtoken , I also wish my young friends Kurt and Cathy Haller a milestone 40th wedding anniversary. prgtoken Happy 40th anniversary, Kurt and Cathy.
STOPPING A TWO-TIERED JUSTICE SYSTEM
John Joyce (Republican, PA) \u2014 2023-7-20

justice that is not blind is not truly justice. Our courts, our law enforcement, and our laws have always strived to uphold that ideal. That is why it is so disturbing to see the whistleblower testimony that has been given this week. prgtoken As we continue to investigate the business dealings of the administration, his family, and associates, it continues to become clear that the President has pressured the agencies he is entrusted with overseeing into providing his family with special treatment and special favors to avoid the consequences of their unlawful acts. prgtoken This isn't justice. It is time to put a stop to a two-tiered justice system that has flourished during 's Presidency. We must stand for the rule of law and condemn anyone who deliberately uses their position as a public servant for personal gain.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Kay Granger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-7-20

I was unable to attend votes due to circumstances beyond my control. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 339; YEA on Roll Call No. 340; NAY on Roll Call No. 341; YEA on Roll Call No. 342; YEA on Roll Call No. 343; YEA on Roll Call No. 344; YEA on Roll Call No. 345; YEA on Roll Call No. 346; YEA on Roll Call No. 347; YEA on Roll Call No. 348; YEA on Roll Call No. 349; YEA on Roll Call No. 350; NAY on Roll Call No. 351; YEA on Roll Call No. 352; YEA on Roll Call No. 353; YEA on Roll Call No. 354; YEA on Roll Call No. 355; YEA on Roll Call No. 356; YEA on Roll Call No. 357; YEA on Roll Call No. 358; NAY on Roll Call No. 359; and NAY on Roll Call No. 360.