mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SUPREME COURT DECISION ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WILL HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS
Terri A. Sewell (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2023-7-11

for centuries, African Americans were systematically denied the opportunity to pursue a higher education, build wealth, and achieve financial independence, leaving behind a painful legacy of discrimination that persists to this day. prgtoken Let us not forget. It was in 1963--only six decades ago--when Black students were finally allowed to enroll alongside their peers at the University of Alabama. prgtoken Almost half of the members serving in this be today were alive at that time. prgtoken Make no mistake--we have made tremendous progress since then. For the past four decade colleges and universities across this nation have had the freedom to build student bodies that reflect the diversity of our great nation. prgtoken With the blessing of the Supreme Court, these schools have used affirmative action policies as a tool to break down educational barriers for students who would otherwise be left behind. prgtoken Tragically, two weeks ago, in an extreme reversal, this - controlled Court has prgtoken once again chosen to ignore our history and roll back our progress. prgtoken By banning affirmative action in college admissions, the Supreme Court has deprived us of a critical tool in our continued fight for equality and justice for all. prgtoken Not only is this decision a blatant attack on educational opportunity, it also upends nearly 40 years of precedent, undermining the sacred trust that the American people have placed in the Court. prgtoken From voting rights, to reproductive freedom, to educational opportunities, this Court has demonstrated time and time again that it is willing to ignore history, ignore precedent, and ignore common sense in order to strip away our freedoms and roll back our progress. prgtoken , we know that ignoring our past will not make it go away. In the words of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, ``deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life.'' prgtoken If we are going to address the injustices of the past, we must be intentional about leveling the playing field and providing opportunities to those who have been left behind. prgtoken After all, our entire nation benefits when talented students of diverse backgrounds get a fair shot at success. prgtoken Despite this shameful decision, we must not be deterred. Let this decision serve as a reminder that progress is elusive, and every generation must fight to preserve the progress of the past and advance it. prgtoken Now is the time to redouble our efforts and to hold this nation accountable to its highest ideals of equality and justice for all. prgtoken Until every American can enjoy the full promise of our democracy, our work continues.
TRIBUTE TO JUDGE WILLIAM S. GREENBERG
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2023-7-11

I rise today to recognize Judge William S. Greenberg, a dedicated public servant, celebrated jurist, and fierce advocate for our Nation's veterans. prgtoken Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, Judge Greenberg received his undergraduate degree in 1964 from Johns Hopkins University and his J.D. in 1967 from Rutgers University in Newark. Upon graduating from law school, Judge Greenberg enlisted in the U.S. Army as an armored cavalry crewman beginning his long history of service to our Nation. In 1970, he earned a commission in the Judge Advocate General's Corps and eventually retired as a brigadier general in 1994 after decades of honorable service in the U.S. Army Reserves. prgtoken Judge Greenberg spent the beginning half of his career in private practice as a litigator. He was a founding partner of Sterns & Greenberg from 1970 until 1976 and of Greenberg & Prior from 1976 to 1989. He retired from private practice as a partner in McCarter & English in 2012, after he was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims by President . After his confirmation in the Senate, Judge Greenberg was sworn in for a term of 15 years on December 28, 2012, allowing Judge Greenberg to apply his skills and energy as a judge to two of his greatest passions: the law and veterans service. prgtoken This nomination to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims was the culmination of a career dedicated to advocating for our Nation's veterans, both in and out of the courtroom. Judge Greenberg devoted much of his career to ensuring his fellow veterans had the best legal representation. After the horrific attacks on September 11, 2001, Judge Greenberg established the New Jersey State Bar Association's Program of Military Legal Assistance for members of the military Reserves who were called to active duty. This pro bono program connects volunteer lawyers with soldiers who need legal representation for everything from disability benefits claims, to employment prgtoken and family law issues that they face both during and after deployment. prgtoken Judge Greenberg also admirably represented wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center during their physical disability hearings. For his remarkable work, Judge Greenberg was recommended by the White House to become Chairman of the Reserve Forces Policy Board in 2009 and honored with the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, the second highest civilian award in the Department of Defense. prgtoken Throughout his long career, Judge Greenberg has held many prestigious positions, including chairman of the Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association, president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, New Jersey, commissioner of the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation, and assistant counsel to the Governor of New Jersey. He is also a published author and has been a professor at
SUPREME COURT DECISION ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WILL HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-7-11

it is with great honor that I rise today to coanchor this CBC Special Order hour along with my distinguished colleague, Representative Jackson. prgtoken For the next 60 minutes, members of the CBC have an opportunity to speak directly to the American people on affirmative action, an issue of great importance to the Congressional Black Caucus, Congress, the constituents we represent, and all Americans. prgtoken I rise today in the wake of the consequential U.S. Supreme Court decision on affirmative action, which will have devastating ripple effects and exacerbate inequities for years to come. prgtoken I am a Congresswoman, but one of my other most important jobs is being a mother to two amazing college students. Supporting our children through their admissions process was a frank reminder of my own personal journey. I remembered the blanket of anxiety I experienced when pondering my options for higher education. prgtoken Even with excellent grades, would the pronunciation of my last name work against me? prgtoken Would someone see my volunteer work and judge keywords such as Urban League of Broward County or Black student union? prgtoken Would I be accepted? Would I be enough? prgtoken Last month, SCOTUS delivered a crushing and unnecessary setback to the promise of higher education and its ability to provide economic mobility to communities of color. I could not stop thinking about every high school senior who is now worried that they won't have a fair chance to go to college and who fears they won't have the same shot at the American Dream. prgtoken As Americans, we are better than this. We must live up to the ideals of this Nation. We cannot ignore the invisible advantages embedded in our society. The alternative to so-called neutral indicators of merit, like standardized test scores and extracurricular activities, are far from neutral. They are often influenced by unfair and devastating disadvantages that fall along racial lines. prgtoken Here is what I know for sure: the grit and grind ingrained in the heart of one who has to push twice as hard for many Black students and minorities who are trying to actually raise the bar for their families and for their communities and who don't have access to legacy networks or rich family members who are donors. prgtoken We must fight so that every student, regardless of their race, has an equal opportunity for higher education. prgtoken Let me be clear. We will not stand by silently as extremists attempt to turn back the clock on civil rights. We must live up to the ideals of equality in our country. We must have the congressional body and the Supreme Court think about this decision and how it will affect generations to come. prgtoken , from Illinois (Mr. Jackson), my coanchor.
ORDERS FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-7-11

. Finally, , I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 12; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate be in a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; further, that at 11:30 a.m. the Senate proceed to executive session and vote on confirmation of the Cartwright nomination; that the cloture motions filed during yesterday's session ripen during the disposition of the Cartwright nomination; that if cloture is invoked on the Joun nomination, all time be considered expired at 2:30 p.m.; that if cloture is invoked on the Kotagal nomination, all time be considered expired at 5:30 p.m.; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during Wednesday's session, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions.
Nominations of Tiffany M. Cartwright and Kymberly Kathryn Evanson (Executive Session)
Maria Cantwell (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-7-11

I am pretty sure I am joining my colleague from Washington, who probably just spoke on the same subject, but I come to the floor to support the nominations of two very exceptional nominees to serve as judges for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. prgtoken Kimberly Evanson, born and raised in our State, grew up in Grays Harbor County before attending Tacoma High School in Tacoma. She attended Seattle University and went on to graduate from Georgetown University Law Center. prgtoken Nearly her entire legal career has been spent in the Western District of Washington and the district in which she will serve, if confirmed. She has nearly 15 years of experience with constitutional and Federal law procedure, making her--as the American Bar Association said-- ``well-qualified'' for the Federal bench. prgtoken Ms. Evanson has dedicated her free time to supporting her community through volunteer work, and since 2013, she has been a regular volunteer with the Western District of Washington's Federal Civil Rights Legal Clinic. There, she provides legal advice to King and Pierce County residents who face employment discrimination, disability, housing, prison misconduct, and excessive force claims. prgtoken Ms. Evanson's commitment to ensuring legal services and counsel is available to all, regardless of income, shows her dedication to a fair and inclusive justice system. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to confirm Ms. Evanson to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington without delay. prgtoken I also want to urge my colleagues to vote to confirm Tiffany Cartwright for the Western District of Washington. This is a historic nomination. If confirmed, Ms. Cartwright would be the first woman to serve as Federal district judge from the Tacoma courthouse. prgtoken Ms. Cartwright is a proud Washingtonian who grew up in Kitsap County and attended Central Kitsap High School. She went on to earn a bachelor of arts from Stanford University in 2007 and a juris doctorate from Stanford Law School. prgtoken Ms. Cartwright is extremely experienced in our court system. She has served as a law clerk in the Alaska State Supreme Court and has served as a Federal law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. prgtoken Ms. Cartwright currently serves as a civil rights attorney in Seattle, where her practice focuses on police misconduct and gender discrimination. In addition to her work as a civil rights attorney, Ms. Cartwright serves on the Local Rules Committee for the Federal Bar Association. prgtoken Ms. Cartwright has made it a priority to improve the accessibility of the courts. In her free time, she has served as pro bono counsel for cases involving women's and LGBTQ+ rights. And at the Seattle law firm where she works, she has developed a successful fellowship program to draw a diverse range of applicants to the firm and help reduce bias in the workforce. prgtoken A r
FIREARMS SAFETY
Maxwell Frost (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-7-11

right now virtually anyone in our country can walk into a store and purchase a firearm they don't know how to use or store. prgtoken I rise today in support of my amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. It studies weapons training, safety, and storage standards in the military to see how we can implement them for civilians. prgtoken Through our Armed Forces, the United States has developed a system capable of ensuring the safety and training of gun users. Look at all of the steps our servicemembers must take before they can carry a gun. This is what our servicemembers must go through before they can even pick up a gun. prgtoken Hundreds of people die every year from unintentional shootings. Why not take our military's best practices in firearm safety and apply them to civilians so we can reduce gun accidents and save lives? That is exactly what my amendment seeks to do, and I urge folks to support it.
HONORING MADHULIKA SINGH, RECIPIENT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AWARD
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-11

I rise today to honor Madhulika Singh, whom I have selected to receive the American Dream Award for California's 4th Congressional District. This award recognizes the achievements of immigrants in my district who have made remarkable contributions to our communities in the areas of Arts and Culture, Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurship and Innovation or Community Service. Ms. Singh is very deserving of this award and recognition. prgtoken Ms. Singh was born in New Delhi, India, and moved to the United States to receive her master's degree in electrical engineering from Yale University. She earned 2 additional master's degrees in business administration and information management from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Ms. Singh is the first person in her family to make a life for herself in the United States, and she credits her success to her strong educational foundation and family relationships. prgtoken Ms. Singh is deeply involved in her community and holds numerous volunteer positions. She has volunteered as a phone operator with Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence and as a speaker for the Role Model Program in at-risk schools in and around San Jose. Immigrant role models of color like Ms. Singh are essential in offering students diverse perspectives and uplifting the voices of underrepresented communities. prgtoken She is Co-founder and President of the PreetiRange Sanctuary in Solano County where she devotes her efforts to animal rights in California and beyond. PreetiRange hosts the annual University of California, Davis People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty through Education event, partners with the Jain Community of Northern California for a program that teaches young people about having compassion towards animals and partners with the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas at Ukiah, CA, for annual liberation of animals. prgtoken Ms. Singh understands that education is a key to success and is dedicated to bettering our community at home and around the world via education. She has conducted India Culture and Traditions seminars for schoolteachers to spread awareness and support the ongoing professional enhancement of teachers. Her animal sanctuary participates in Pena Adobe Historical Society's outreach program, which is an invaluable educational resource in her community. Her support of the India Literacy Project and her time visiting nonformal education centers illustrates her beliefs that education should be available to everyone. prgtoken When she is not fiercely advocating for animal rights or issues that affect the Indian community, Ms. Singh enjoys spending time with her husband Michael and their 4 children, Brian, Madhur, Rebecca and Manisha. prgtoken , we recognize Madhulika Singh for her achievements and for enriching our community. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor her here today with the American Dream Award.
SUPREME COURT DECISION ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WILL HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2023-7-11

I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for giving me the opportunity to speak on this issue tonight, and I also thank my colleague, the gentleman from Illinois. prgtoken , I rise today to discuss the U.S. Supreme Court's horrible decision to reject affirmative action in college admissions. prgtoken Last month, the Court ruled that affirmative action programs and college admissions violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, but that ruling opposes decades of Supreme Court decisions that said just the opposite. They said that the use of race as an admissions factor was consistent with the 14th Amendment. prgtoken In 1978, the Court said that institutions of higher learning had the right to pursue a diverse student body to advance academic freedom, and they could consider race as a factor to evaluate college applications if it was one of many factors. prgtoken In 2003, the Court reaffirmed this ruling because student diversity is a compelling interest in education. In addition, these policies helped counter the historical racism that denied educational opportunities to African Americans and other minorities, and it was working. prgtoken In public universities nationwide, minority enrollment increased when race was one factor of admissions. These minority students equaled or exceeded the successes of their White peers in a variety of academic fields when they graduated. prgtoken Today, these policies help foster a rich and diverse environment for all Americans in higher education, and they help minority students secure higher paying jobs in STEM fields such as engineering and science. prgtoken However, the Supreme Court has decided that this type of equality is bad for America. It wants to reject the fact that race has been a factor in college admissions for decades. Unfortunately, it was used as the only factor to reject candidates and not one of many factors to consider when accepting them. prgtoken I am outraged that the Supreme Court has rejected a successful policy that has helped millions of Black and other minority students receive the quality education they deserve. prgtoken At one time, they weren't allowed to enter these schools. What was the reason? Was it because of many factors that they could not attend these schools? No. It was one factor--their race. prgtoken It is yet another indication of how our country is slowly returning to a time when equal opportunities were not afforded to all Americans. The Court said that race-related admission standards violated the Equal Protection Clause, but where was that Equal Protection Clause during slavery and Jim Crow? Where is that equal protection today in housing, workforce hiring, and voting rights? prgtoken Conservative Justices and politicians want to pretend that our country has no racial issues. They are not connected to reality in that thinking. prgtoken This decision is yet another roadblock to success for Black Am
AMENDING THE INVESTMENT ADVISERS ACT OF 1940 TO CODIFY CERTAIN SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NO-ACTION LETTERS THAT EXCLUDE BROKERS AND DEALERS COMPENSATED FOR CERTAIN RESEARCH SERVICES FROM...
Brad Sherman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-11

. Madam , the balance of my time to close. prgtoken There is an image in the country that nothing is getting done in Washington, that we are tied up in partisan knots. As the gentleman from Texas points out, this bill passed our committee 45-2. Congress continues to function, although it is much more exciting for the press to cover the fights than the progress. prgtoken The amended version of H.R. 2622 being considered on the floor today represents a bipartisan compromise. It gives the SEC the time to address potential concerns laid out by stockholders related to the no- action letter for broker-dealers that offer research services from needing to register as investment advisers. prgtoken It is a well-thought-out response to our current situation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and yield back the balance of my time.
Nomination of Xochitl Torres Small (Executive Session)
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2023-7-11

it is good to see you, and it is good to see my colleague John Cornyn here in the Senate today, all the pages, and folks who came back to go to work. There is a lot of work to do. prgtoken One of the first items of business before us is a critical nomination, a nomination for the Department of Agriculture--and not just any job at the Department of Agriculture but the No. 2 job, the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. prgtoken The person who has been nominated is a woman who serves currently as the Under Secretary at the Department of Agriculture, and she has been nominated to be the Deputy Secretary for the Department. She has a hard name to pronounce, and it is a name I have never seen before. It sounds something like this: So-cheel, like S-O, cheel, like C-H-E-E-L. You look at it down on paper, and you say: How would you pronounce that name? That is the way to pronounce it. prgtoken But the rest of her name is Torres Small. She is somebody I have known prgtoken for a relatively brief period of time. You know who knows her really well? It is a guy who used to serve with us for many years, a Senator from New Mexico, Tom Udall. In fact, as I recall, I think she actually worked for Tom Udall when he was a U.S. Senator. prgtoken Agriculture is a hugely important part of our economy in Delaware. I see Senator Stabenow is going to speak immediately after me. I know it is hugely important in Michigan. As she is the chairman of the Ag Committee, she knows that much better than I do. prgtoken The Department of Agriculture, the No. 2 job--huge industry, important in every State in our country. This is a big deal. This is a big deal. As it turns out, the administration has given us a terrific nominee. prgtoken The Department of Agriculture plays a critical role in ensuring that people from every corner of this country have something to eat-- hopefully, something nutritious to eat--and also helps us with respect to farming and farming agriculture and farming economy, public health, broadband, and a whole lot more. prgtoken And the role of the Deputy Secretary of the Department is a big deal, a very big deal. It requires someone who is diligent. It requires someone who is sharp. It requires someone who ultimately understands the Department. It is a big department. It requires someone who is diligent, and I know that Under Secretary Torres Small possesses all of those qualities and a whole lot more. In her current position as the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development, she has been involved with every function of the Department, including overseeing the deployment of $2 billion for rural broadband that was secured in the bipartisan infrastructure law that we passed here by almost a unanimous vote more than a year ago. prgtoken This month, we saw States across our country receive this significant funding to expand broadband access for literally millions of people in many parts of our Nation--rural part