mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Judicial Nominations (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-10-26

I have good news. This week, the U.S. Senate is going to consider five highly qualified Federal district court nominees. Before briefly speaking on their records, I want to make a few broad observations. prgtoken First, each of these nominations was recommended by the White House, by their home State Senators, or, in the case of the D.C. District Court, by District of Columbia Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton. I want to commend my colleagues--they did their job. They continued to identify and recommend nominees who have the experience and the temperament needed to serve on the Federal bench. prgtoken Second, these nominees represent an important cross-section of professional diversity. They have served as public defenders. They have also been prosecutors, civil rights attorneys, municipal lawyers, and even sitting judges. prgtoken Third, all five of these nominees received bipartisan support in the Judiciary Committee. How about that, bipartisan support in the committee. That is a testament to their abilities, qualifications, and character. I thank my colleagues who made that possible. prgtoken Finally, these nominees understand the limited role a judge plays in our judicial system. They have to be guided by evenhandedness, impartiality, and fidelity to the rule of law. We have seen that in their records. These records have been scrupulously reviewed by staff on both sides--, , in addition to the White House, obviously. We have seen it in their testimony before the Judiciary Committee, and we have seen it in the broad support they had from the legal communities where they live. prgtoken Let me tell you a bit about each of them. prgtoken First is Jia Cobb, nominated to the District Court for the District of Columbia. Ms. Cobb has more than 15 years of experience as a trial litigator. She has tried more than 30 cases to verdict in both civil and criminal cases. This depth of experience is one of the reasons she was rated unanimously--unanimously--``well qualified'' by the American Bar Association. prgtoken For nearly a decade, she has represented people seeking to uphold their rights when it comes to the Nation's housing, disability, and employment discrimination laws. prgtoken Critically, Ms. Cobb understands the distinction between being an advocate and a judge. As a judge on the District of D.C she has promised to rule based on the law and facts of the cases before her. prgtoken Next is Judge Karen Williams, nominated to the District of New Jersey. Like Ms. Cobb, Judge Williams was unanimously rated ``well qualified'' by the ABA. That is a testament to her integrity, temperament, and experience, which includes 12 years as a Federal magistrate judge and another two decades as a practicing litigator. prgtoken She has the strong support of both Senators from New Jersey, Menendez and Booker, and many throughout the New Jersey legal community. prgtoken We will also be voti
Gun Violence (Executive Calendar)
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-10-26

C.J. Brown was 7 years old. He was a second grader at Clarksdale Collegiate academy in Mississippi. Clarksdale, MS, is a relatively small town of 15,000 people. Everybody knows each other in Clarksdale. C.J. was described as a really bright young student. His principal and director at his school said that he was a great student. He was always cheerful and friendly to his classmates and teachers. prgtoken Clarksdale is reeling right now because just a few weeks ago, on October 12, little C.J. Brown was sitting in a car outside of a laundromat, and he was shot to death. The owner of a nearby corner store, the Tiger Mart, said that C.J. and his mom and his little sister used to come in all the time, friendly as can be, chatting up a storm. The owner of that little convenience store said that he considered C.J. and his mom and his little sister to be family. prgtoken You can say that C.J. was in the wrong place at the wrong time--a 7- year-old kid in a car outside of a laundromat shot to death--but he wasn't. He was in the right place at the right time. He was in what should have been a safe place his hometown, just sitting in a car. prgtoken That day, there were three shootings over 5 hours in this small town of Clarksdale. C.J. wasn't the only victim, but his death made news because he was 7 years old, and now he is gone. prgtoken The problem is, this story isn't the exception; it is the rule, increasingly so, across this country. For the last 8 years, I have come down to the floor with a chart that looks very much like this. In fact, I think this is the chart that I have displayed for about 5 years straight. I come down here every few weeks--sometimes, in busier times, every month or so--and I tell the story of men and women and children, often like C.J to try to rattle the conscience of this body to do something about the epidemic of gun violence in this country. prgtoken These numbers in and of themselves are stunning. This is my old chart showing 36,000 people a year are killed by gunshot wounds--3,000 a month, 100 people day. There is no other nation in the high-income world that has anything approaching these numbers when it comes to gun violence. But these numbers are irrelevant now because what has happened over the last year and a half is a story unto itself. prgtoken Gun violence rates have spiked during the pandemic. In fact, the increase in 2020 was the biggest in 60 years from year to year. So I now have to bring a new chart to the floor. This one that I have used for 5 years now is irrelevant because no longer are 36,000 people dying a year from gunshot wounds. No longer are we losing 3,000 a month or 100 a day. We are now losing 40,000 a year, 3,300 a month, 110 people a day. prgtoken You can say: Well, that is a small increase. A hundred people used to die from gunshot wounds a day; now only 110 people a day. prgtoken That is 10 more families every single day, like the family of C.J
CELEBRATING 80 YEARS OF MILLER'S BAR
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Miller's Bar located in Dearborn, Michigan, as they celebrate over 80 years of service to our community. Their decades spent as a Dearborn legend are worthy of commendation. prgtoken Established 1941 by the George Miller and his family, the current owners Dennis and Mark Miller give credit to Russell Miller who ``made it what it is.'' There's always a Miller around the restaurant, which is open six days a week. This old-school Dearborn establishment with the red booths is a local gem, one that requires that customers abide by the honor system when paying for their meals and accepts only cash. Though the honor system may be a relic of days past, their reliance on honesty and the trust they've built with their customers is a testament to their status as a treasured Dearborn mainstay. For years they've served generations of hungry workers and families. prgtoken The restaurant is famous throughout southeast Michigan and is a popular gathering spot for nearby Ford Motor Company employees, known for their iconic made-to-order ground round burgers served on wax paper. Their burger was named one of the top 25 in the country by Food & Wine Magazine in 2012 and named one of the Best Burger Places in America by Thrillist in 2018. Among other fans include acclaimed food writers from GQ, MLive, Click on Detroit, the Wall Street Journal, Pure Michigan, The Michigan Journal, Detroit's Hour Magazine, and even Oprah. prgtoken Miller's Bar is nothing short of a Dearborn icon. A family operation to this day, they have grilled for thousands. A place for friends to get together, families to share a meal, and to catch up on the neighborhood news--we have been lucky to have them here at home for the past eight decades. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating Miller's Bar. Please join me in congratulating them on eight fantastic decades of business. We thank the Miller family for their commitment to serving our neighbors for the past 80 years. We wish them the best of luck as this Dearborn mainstay goes up for sale and new owners take over and continue the great tradition that the Miller family started long ago.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-10-26

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar No. 429, Jeffry Lane Flake, of Arizona, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Turkey; Calendar No. 430, Tom Udall, of New Mexico, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to New Zealand, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Independent State of Samoa; and Calendar No. 459, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Austria; that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc without intervening action or debate; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
Nominations (Executive Calendar)
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2021-10-26

reserving the right to object, I do have good news for my colleague and everyone looking for information about the safety of vaccines: The CDC already collects and publicly releases data like what this bill proposes. So anyone who is curious about whether they should get a COVID-19 vaccination can go to the CDC website right now at cdc.gov. prgtoken And some more good news: The data overwhelmingly shows these vaccines meet FDA's rigorous standards of safety and effectiveness. prgtoken So now that that has been cleared up, I hope instead of wasting any more time on bills like this--bills which threaten to undermine public confidence in vaccines and trust in our public health experts by ignoring the thorough work they already do to provide clear, scientific data--we can instead focus on what we can all do to finally end this pandemic, which has now killed over 730,000 people and counting, and rebuild our country stronger and fairer. prgtoken I object.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Mark Kelly (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2021-10-26

as you know, in Arizona, we have always admired Cindy McCain's dedication to service and to our country. I know she believes deeply in the power of America to promote peace, security, and health around the world, which will serve her and our country well in her next position. prgtoken I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider Calendar No. 457 and that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate.
FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2021
Adriano Espaillat (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , today I rise in strong support of H.R. 2119--the Family Violence Prevention and Service Improvement Act. prgtoken This bill heavily invests in resources and programs to protect and support women like Gladys Ricart, a 39-year-old-woman and former constituent of mine who was killed by her ex-boyfriend on her wedding day. prgtoken After years of physical and mental abuse, she left him to move on with her life, even as he continued to threaten and stalk her. prgtoken As she moved on, she met her soulmate, and was happy and eager to marry the man of her dreams. prgtoken What should have been one of the happiest days of her life, was instead her last. Her ex-abuser fatally shot Gladys on her wedding day. But her legacy lives on and in 2001, the Brides March was created to remember Gladys Ricart and to bring awareness to domestic violence. prgtoken Heartbreakingly, Gladys' story is not isolated or unique. prgtoken By passing the Family Violence Prevention and Service Improvement Act, we also have an opportunity to honor her memory--her and the hundreds of thousands of women who have stories just like Gladys'. prgtoken This crucial legislation would put millions of dollars towards expanding support for culturally specific domestic violence programs, investing in community-based prevention initiatives, and creating an underserved population grant program. prgtoken These resources would help to connect people to advocates and help them safely navigate life during and after leaving an abusive relationship. prgtoken And as I think of all the resources this legislation will make available, I think of Gladys and the hundreds of women who march on her behalf. prgtoken I think about the one in three woman, particularly black and trans women, who will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime. I think of the irreputable, lasting harm domestic violence causes families and children. prgtoken I think about all these lives that will be catastrophically changed or lost and I know that they deserved more. prgtoken As we prepare to vote, I implore everyone to think of all the good the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act will do for all survivors.
PREVENTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Jamaal Bowman (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , I rise to emphasize how important our actions today are for domestic violence survivors everywhere. prgtoken Domestic violence is yet another pandemic in this country. In my district, we have seen a rise in domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic amongst teenagers. prgtoken Survivors of domestic violence carry their experiences with them every single day, experiencing fear, chronic stress, self-doubt, depression, and so much more. This emotional trauma can prevent survivors from accessing and maintaining safe housing, employment, and supportive relationships, leading to feelings of isolation that only worsen their mental health. prgtoken Organizations in my district, like Safe Horizon, Westhab, Family Services of Westchester, and the YWCA are a lifeline of support for survivors of domestic violence. The Federal Government should support groups on the ground like them doing this important work. prgtoken Madam , I strongly believe that together we can prevent all violence and create a culture of care for one another. This legislation, which will authorize funding for preventative and culturally responsive services, is an essential step toward this vision. prgtoken Madam , I am proud to cosponsor this bill, and I rise in support of its passage.
HONORING RICHARD TRUMKA
Thomas R. Suozzi (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , I thank Congressman Levin for yielding and for organizing this special order. We are so grateful to you for making sure we take this time to stop and honor the great legacy of Rich Trumka. prgtoken I first came to Congress in 2017, and one of the first things I did was request a meeting with Rich Trumka, and he took me to breakfast. I have always been a prolabor person through my time as mayor and county executive of Nassau County. And I talked to him, and he made it very clear that what he was looking for and what the labor movement is looking for are champions that will be with you no matter what; not with you on some issues and not on other issues, but with you 100 percent. prgtoken Everything he said to me that morning really resonated with me. And I decided from that moment on that I would make it clear that I would be a true friend of labor because of the instruction of Rich Trumka. prgtoken The country has changed so much from the time from when he served as president of the United Mine Workers Union in the 1980s. And since the 1980s, we have seen tremendous growth in wealth in America. We have seen the Dow Jones go up 1,900 percent. We have seen the GDP go up 900 percent. But workers' wages during that same period of time have gone up less than 20 percent. So we have created enormous wealth in our country, but we are not sharing it with the men and women who go to work every day. prgtoken Rich Trumka has reminded us how important it is that for this great system of capitalism to survive in our country, the best system that has ever been in human history, which has created more wealth, more innovation, has lifted more people out of poverty, for it to survive for the long-term future, we have to learn how capitalism and our economic system can share the great production of wealth with the people who go to work every day. prgtoken Because the American Dream is based upon a very simple concept: if I go to work, I will make enough money. And with that money I can buy a home; I can educate my children; I can have health insurance; and I can retire one day in security without being scared. prgtoken Rich Trumka reminded us of that every day of his life, that we need to recreate the American Dream for people in this country; that hard work will be rewarded with sufficient wealth so that you can live the American Dream. prgtoken So my condolences to the Trumka family. Thank you to my colleague for setting this up. And thank you to Rich Trumka, a good and faithful servant, who has made our country a better place. And let's honor him by making prgtoken sure we do everything we can to support the labor movement in this country.
FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ACT
Teresa Leger Fernandez (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , I rise today in support of the Build Back Better agenda. I would note that it is a women's agenda, Build Back Better. It is because we will be investing in those things that all women need to succeed in life because we began with our children. prgtoken The Build Back Better bill would expand and continue the child tax credit, which began under the American Rescue Plan. We cannot tell those families who finally received the child tax credit that the clock has struck midnight and they can no longer receive it. We must continue this tax credit so that all children in all families receive that benefit. prgtoken The Build Back Better agenda also makes sure that we provide pre-K so that there is universal pre-K. We know the biggest benefit we can provide our children is ensuring that everybody has quality pre-K education. When doing so, we must ensure that we pay the teachers of our children what they deserve and give them the respect they need. prgtoken In that sense, we will also be investing in our workforce development so that we can have the qualified workers who will be able to care for our children, who will be able to teach our children. The workforce development and workforce innovation investments in this bill are very needed. prgtoken I come from a State where we will need to transition away from oil and gas. In order to ensure a just transition for energy communities, we must ensure that there are new jobs for those workers. prgtoken Build Back Better will allow the creation of new jobs, both for plugging abandoned wells and for addressing the legacy pollution that we have seen that needs to be cleaned up. prgtoken Madam , I urge all my colleagues to support the Build Back Better agenda. It is good for our families. It is good for our women. It is good for our planet.
FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2021
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , I include in the Record a Statement of Administration Policy in support of the legislation. Statement of Administration Policy prgtoken H.R. 2119--Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021--Rep. McBath, D-GA, and 83 cosponsors The Administration strongly supports House passage of H.R. 2119, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021. Congress first enacted the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) in 1984 to provide resources to address domestic violence as a public health issue and to support life-saving services and prevention programs throughout the nation. FVPSA, last reauthorized in 2010, allocates funding to states and territories that reaches over 1,500 domestic violence shelters and services programs, as well as funding for over 240 tribes and tribal organizations, to address and prevent domestic violence and dating violence. FVPSA also provides funding for a network of state and territorial domestic violence coalitions, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and national technical assistance providers that provide training and capacity building to ensure that vital services and support are available to individuals experiencing domestic violence and their children. Additionally, FVPSA funds the DELTA program, which provides funds to design, implement, and evaluate innovative domestic violence and dating violence prevention models. As a result of FVPSA funding, each year approximately 1.3 million survivors receive critical services such as emergency shelter, crisis counseling, safety planning, assistance in seeking an order of protection, and assistance recovering from financial abuse and addressing housing insecurity. Nonetheless, research demonstrates that the need for services continues to outpace availability and many survivors are unable to access critical services and support. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated economic insecurity, increased isolation, and compounded barriers faced by victims and survivors in seeking safety and stability, particularly for those from historically marginalized communities. H.R. 2119 is a bipartisan bill that will authorize increased funding to strengthen existing services while expanding access to tribes and tribal coalitions, culturally- specific programs, and other underserved communities. It will also expand investments in domestic violence prevention by increasing support for existing evidence-based, community projects and by funding new initiatives to reach more communities nationwide. The Administration urges swift passage of this legislation.
RECOGNIZING THE REDEDICATION OF THE TOWN OF TONAWANDA POLICE HEADQUARTERS AS THE ``FRANK H. PFONNER PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING''
Brian Higgins (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , today I rise to recognize the rededication of the Town of Tonawanda Police Headquarters as the ``Frank H. Pfonner Public Safety Building,'' in honor of Police Officer Frank H. Pfonner. Officer Pfonner, the only Town of Tonawanda Police Officer to have been killed in the line of duty. prgtoken Frank was born in June of 1893 to George and Elisabeth Pfonner. He was raised on the Pfonner family farm, located where Military Road meets Knoche Road today. The path that once connected the house to the barns has become Ensminger Road in Tonawanda prgtoken Frank was one of the first officers hired by the Town of Tonawanda Police Department. He became Constable for the Town, and during his years of service risked his life to protect those in Tonawanda on many occasions. In one instance, he incurred a gunshot wound to the head, but later returned to duty. prgtoken Frank would be killed in a hit-and-run incident while on his motorcycle, ending his watch over the Town of Tonawanda on April 8, 1923. prgtoken Frank had no children, but his commitment to service lived on through his family. His brother, Elmer G. Pfonner, would serve in the First World War. Upon his return, Elmer served as a Constable much like Frank. However, Elmer resigned when his parents became distraught at the thought of losing another son. prgtoken Elmer went on to have five children, who would have been Frank's nieces and nephews. Two of Frank's nephew served in the Korean War, and the youngest of the nephews would go on to have four children. As a symbol of the legacy of Officer Pfonner, the youngest of the children was named Frank H. Pfonner, after his great uncle. prgtoken Town of Tonawanda Supervisor Joseph Emminger, the Town Board, and Police Chief James Stauffiger are to be commended for remembering the life and legacy of Officer Pfonner through rededication of the Town of Tonawanda Police Headquarters in his honor. prgtoken This tribute will serve as a lasting reminder of the great sacrifices made by Officer Frank H. Pfonner and all police past and present who risk their own lives to serve our communities.