mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EVELYN HICKMAN
Brittany Pettersen (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2024-1-11

I rise today to recognize Evelyn Hickman for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award. prgtoken Evelyn has achieved great things, all while overcoming adversity and challenges along the way. Students like Evelyn, who strive to make the most of their education, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Evelyn's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Three Creeks K-8 School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future. prgtoken It is my honor to congratulate Evelyn Hickman on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL UNDER THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION RELATING TO "WAIVER OF BUY AMERICA REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS"
David J. Trone (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2024-1-11

today I rise in opposition to S.J. Res. 38 and urge my colleagues to do the same. prgtoken For months, my colleagues across the aisle have strongly opposed efforts to support clean energy jobs, fight climate change, and deliver investments in our future. prgtoken The proposed legislation is no different. This resolution undermines efforts to expand our Nation's electric grid by weakening Buy America requirements and reverting back to outdated manufacturing guidelines of 1983--40 years ago. prgtoken This will allow taxpayer dollars--including $7.5 billion for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act--to be spent in competitor nations like China instead of right here in the U.S. by American workers. prgtoken This legislation will harm American manufacturing jobs and communities and worsen our country's reliance on foreign supply chains. prgtoken Currently, 44 manufacturing facilities in the U.S. are dedicated to making EV charger components, amounting to a combined investment of $313 million and approximately 6,000 manufacturing jobs. We must let American innovation and technology protect good-paying jobs.
REMEMBERING HERB KOHL
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-1-11

over the holiday recess, the U.S. Senate and the people of Wisconsin experienced a profound loss: the passing of Herb Kohl. prgtoken I had the pleasure of serving with Herb in the Senate for 15 years. He was a tremendous Senator and an even better man. Born in Milwaukee to two Jewish immigrant parents, Herb went to school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and later earned a master's degree from Harvard University. He went on to serve in the Army Reserve. prgtoken In many ways, Herb's story is the American dream personified. A Midwestern boy from humble roots who teamed up with his father and brothers to grow a family business into an iconic retail chain, becoming a successful businessman and philanthropist in the process. Herb took what he learned from the world of business--hard work, integrity, and humility--and pivoted to politics. Getting his start in Wisconsin politics in the 1970s, he went on to chair the Wisconsin State ic Party. And in 1988, he ran for the U.S. Senate. Unsurprisingly to all of us who knew Herb, he was a beloved candidate, and he faithfully served the people of Wisconsin for four terms. prgtoken In his conduct and commitment to his constituents, Herb proved that the Midwest's reputation for kindness and loyalty does not stop at the doors of the Senate. He had a quiet manner about him, with little ego. In many ways, he was an anomaly. He put his head down, and he focused squarely on how he could improve the lives of those who entrusted him to serve. prgtoken Even with his success, Herb never forgot his roots and used every position he found himself in to give back to his beloved Wisconsin. In 1970, he was instrumental in bringing a professional baseball team to Milwaukee. When Milwaukee's professional basketball team, the Milwaukee Bucks, threatened to leave town, Herb purchased the team to ensure they remained in his hometown. When he saw educational need in his State, he founded the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation to provide scholarships and fellowships to students, teachers, and schools. When his alma mater found itself in need of a new athletic facility and arena, it was Herb's donation that helped bring it to life. prgtoken A fellow Midwesterner, Herb and I worked together on many issues. He was a colleague, a friend, and above all, the resident dairy expert. I can still recall when Herb retired in 2013, I quickly realized I had lost my most trusted adviser on all things dairy. It was important to his constituents, so it was important to him. And no one knew more than Herb. prgtoken Notably, we also served together on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where we worked to confirm fair and qualified judges and pass legislation that made this Nation more just and equitable. Specifically, in 2011, he cosponsored the DREAM Act, legislation that is very close to my heart. prgtoken I send my deepest condolences to Herb's family, friends, and constituents. With
COMMEMORATING MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2024-1-11

today South Africa will present its case against the Israeli Government at the International Court of Justice. prgtoken , I include in the Record the link for the case: https:// d12t4t5x3vyizu.cloudfront.net/tlaib.house.gov/uploads/2024/01/192- 20231228-app-01-00-en.pdf prgtoken It is incredibly powerful to witness people who defeated apartheid in their own country hold the Israeli apartheid regime accountable for its crime of genocide in Gaza. prgtoken Today, I am thinking of Nelson Mandela's powerful words: ``We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.'' prgtoken In the past 3 months, Israeli forces have killed over 23,350 Palestinians, including more than 9,600 children. They have injured more than 59,400 Palestinians. More than 8,000 Palestinians are still missing under the rubble. prgtoken This week, Secretary of State Blinken called the case meritless. Let me read directly from the case file starting on page 59: ``Expressions of Genocidal Intent Against the Palestinian People by Israeli State Officials and Others'' so you can hear directly from the Israeli officials in their own words, not mine. prgtoken President Herzog said: ``It's an entire nation out there that is responsible. It's not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware not involved. It is absolutely not true. . . . and we will fight until we break their backbone.'' prgtoken He is one of the many Israeli officials to have handwritten messages on the bombs to be dropped on the children of Gaza. prgtoken Netanyahu said in his own words: ``A struggle between the children of light and the children of darkness, between humanity and the law of the jungle.'' And he continues to say: ``This is a battle not only of Israel against these barbarians, it's a battle of civilization against barbarism.'' prgtoken Israel's Minister of Defense said: ``imposing a complete siege on Gaza. No electricity, no food, no water, no fuel. Everything is closed. We are fighting human animals . . .'' Again, that is a direct quote from the Minister of Defense. prgtoken He continues on to say: ``Gaza won't return to what it was before. We will eliminate everything.'' prgtoken Israeli Minister for National Security--again, an official within the Israeli Government--speaking of those living in Gaza said: `` . . . they're all terrorists, and they should also be destroyed.'' prgtoken Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure said: ``All the civilian population in Gaza is ordered to leave immediately. . . . They will not receive a drop of water or a single battery until they leave the world.'' prgtoken Israeli Minister of Heritage said: ``The north of the Gaza Strip, more beautiful than ever. Everything is blown up and flattened, simply a pleasure for the eyes . . . we will hand over lots to all those who fought for Gaza over the years.'' prgtoken I am not done. prgtoken The Israeli Minister of Agriculture said: ``[w]e are now actually ro
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR--Continued
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2024-1-11

the weapons that we send to Ukraine aren't used in military parades. They don't sit in warehouses. They are used by the Ukrainians to fend off the brutal Russian invasion of that country. They are used by Ukraine to maintain that country's sovereignty and independence. prgtoken At the height of the summer offensive, Russia was firing 10,000 artillery rounds per day at Ukraine. In response, Ukraine was firing back 7,000 rounds per day. But by the end of last year, just a few weeks ago, Ukraine's stocks were so low that they were firing just 2,000 rounds per day. Russia is still firing 10,000 rounds per day. prgtoken I want my colleagues to step back for a moment and imagine you are in a duel with an opponent where, in each round, your opponent has five bullets for every one that you have. You are not going to survive that fight. That is not a fair fight. Soon, you won't even have one bullet. How long do you think that fight continues for you? prgtoken Right now, ammunition levels are so low that a Ukrainian artillery brigade that used to fire 50 to 90 shells per day is now forced to ration its supplies down to 10 to 20 shells per day. That is barely enough for them to just defend themselves, let alone push forward or reclaim any additional territory. prgtoken And it is not just ammunition that Ukraine desperately needs right now. It is supplies for their air defense system as well. prgtoken For 2 years now, Russia has not had air superiority, except once, in the city of Mariupol, and there Russian bombs flattened the city. In 2 months, 95 percent of the city was destroyed, and 25,000 people were killed. But, elsewhere in Ukraine, the casualties are much more limited because Russian planes were being shot down. prgtoken So, perhaps, it is no coincidence that, just a few days ago, Russia launched a major missile barrage at Kyiv in what was the single largest attack since the start of the war. prgtoken Why do I say that perhaps it wasn't a coincidence? Well, maybe it is because Russia is pushing all its chips in on a bet that Ukraine is not only going to run out of ammunition, but it is going to run out of air defense missiles. prgtoken And with no American funding to replenish those systems, Russia would then be able to destroy the missile defense batteries themselves, finally giving them a free hand to completely decimate every single Ukrainian city. They will apply the Mariupol tactics--the Mariupol playbook--to Odessa, to Kharkiv, and to Kyiv. And millions will die, and Kyiv will become a Russian city. prgtoken While this body hesitates to resupply Ukraine, Russia is putting one- third of its entire budget for 2024 toward its war effort. Russia is receiving new ballistic missiles, artillery rounds, military equipment, and attack drones from its allies--North Korea, China, and Iran. And yet we are still deciding whether we, as Ukraine's primary ally, are going to support them in the fight to come. <|p|
STOP SETTLEMENT SLUSH FUNDS ACT OF 2023
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-1-11

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in opposition to H.R. 788, the so-called Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2023. prgtoken This harmful legislation would prevent the Justice Department from negotiating settlements to include payments to third parties, primarily nonprofits and community-based organizations, that are best positioned to remedy harms to society at large that were caused by a corporate wrongdoer's violation of Federal environmental, labor, consumer, and financial protections. prgtoken This bill is nothing short of a gift to large corporations that would leave victims of their misconduct out in the cold. prgtoken No credible facts justify H.R. 788. This bill is based on the false premise that the Justice Department uses these types of settlements as illegitimate favors for an administration's political allies, with the bill's supporters describing such settlements as politically motivated slush funds. prgtoken This is an outlandish attack on a perfectly legal and constitutional type of remedy and is an argument that both the Government Accountability Office and the Congressional Research Service have thoroughly debunked. prgtoken Yet, House s have spent countless hours and taxpayer dollars over several Congresses, going back at least a decade, chasing the conspiracy theory that the Justice Department is attempting to fund liberal activist groups and causes through negotiated settlements. prgtoken This included a multiyear investigation of the settlements that the Justice Department entered into with several big banks following the 2008 financial crisis, banks whose greedy appetite for mortgage-backed securities led to predatory lending practices that ultimately left millions of homeowners facing foreclosure. The big banks turned a blind eye to these practices, while they packaged mortgages that they knew were of questionable value as securities and sold them to individual and institutional investors alike. prgtoken Although the big banks' illegal conduct led directly to the 2008 financial crisis, it was difficult, if not impossible, for individual borrowers or homeowners to hold them legally accountable for the harms they suffered from the bank's near implosion of the Nation's financial system. prgtoken In response, roughly 1 percent--a tiny fraction--of the settlement monies in suits brought by the government ultimately went to third- party organizations specializing in aiding private homeowners to obtain mortgage relief or other related community services--a perfectly reasonable way to help remedy the harm caused by these large financial institutions' irresponsible behavior. prgtoken Unsurprisingly, the House investigation into these settlements produced not one shred of credible evidence to support their allegations that this represented some sort of improper action--a common result when it comes to the majority's oversight priorities it seems. <|p
Government Funding (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2024-1-11

as the Senate begins its work for the year, the most immediate need on the calendar is avoiding a government shutdown and fully funding the government for fiscal year 2024. prgtoken A shutdown is looming over us starting on January 19, about a week away. For the most part, both parties-- and s--agree we don't want a shutdown. Instead, we want to work together to pass the 12 appropriations bills based off top-line funding levels that Congressional leadership agreed to last Sunday. prgtoken Chair Murray, Vice Chair Collins, Chair Granger, and Ranking Member DeLauro are all committed to working as quickly as possible to make that happen. Unfortunately, it has become crystal clear that it will take more than a week to finish the appropriations process. prgtoken So, today, I am taking the first procedural step for the Senate to pass a temporary extension of government funding, so the government does not shutdown on January 19. What I am doing today is filing cloture on a shell bill we can act on next week. Members should be ready to take the first procedural vote on this vehicle upon our return after the Martin Luther King, Jr holiday. I am taking this step because even a temporary extension of government funding takes about a week to pass through the Senate. So we want to act with enough time before the January 19 deadline. prgtoken I urge my colleagues in the Senate to work with us to keep this process moving quickly on the floor. Leader McConnell and I are in discussions about this very issue. The vast majority of us are all on the same page that a government shutdown would be a recipe for chaos. prgtoken Now, there are those on the hard right, over in the House, who think they can bully their colleagues and the House and the country into a shutdown. Amazingly, this band of hard-right extremists actually say a shutdown would be a good thing. prgtoken But to those 30 or so hard-right extremists, how on earth would it be good for the country to freeze, for example, nutrition programs that benefit 7 million women, infants, and children--many of those women pregnant? How would it be good for the country prgtoken to close regional VA offices and keep our veterans who served us--many of whom risked their lives for us--waiting in line to get the benefits they are entitled to? How would it be good for the country to furlough food inspectors to ensure that the groceries we buy don't make us sick, or delay new applicants for military retirement benefits? prgtoken These are just a few of the things that will happen if we shut down next week. When the hard right says they want a shutdown, they are saying they want these things--VA closures, no food inspections, delayed military benefits, and so much more. This shows you that the hard right is not serious about governing. The only tactic in their playbook is to try and bully the rest of Congress and the country to bend to their extr
FIRST-YEAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Donald G. Davis (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2024-1-11

during the first year of the 118th Congress, my focus was clear: ensuring the people of eastern North prgtoken Carolina were seen and heard in Washington, D.C and not forgotten. prgtoken It was essential to champion healthcare, and I am glad North Carolina expanded Medicaid, securing over 3,000 jobs, making healthcare accessible for 95,000 residents, and saving rural hospitals in eastern North Carolina. prgtoken I voted to support our community health centers and twice to keep the government open, realizing the devastating impact a shutdown would have on eastern North Carolinians. prgtoken I am proud to say our office resolved over 970 constituent cases. We held over 1,000 meetings, returned over $3 million to families, distributed over $260 million in grants, and submitted more than $16 million in community project funding. I crisscrossed our district and visited all 19 counties multiple times hearing from constituents. prgtoken We are working to create a brighter future in eastern North Carolina by empowering young leaders, and that is why I visited schools in all 19 counties to talk to students as a part of our Live the Dream Down East Tour. prgtoken We honored Sarah Keys Evans, an American hero, highlighted the aviation sciences program at Elizabeth City State University, and Lady Pirate Marissa, the first live female pirate mascot at East Carolina University. prgtoken We stood staunchly with our farmers, servicemembers, veterans, and their families. prgtoken , we must secure the border, so it was essential to travel to the southern border and speak with Border Patrol agents within my first 4 months of office to hear from those on the ground about their challenges. prgtoken I made it clear that we must always stand with our ally, Israel, in their fight against Hamas terrorists and keep our F-15 Strike Eagles at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. prgtoken I have proudly sponsored 17 bills, 12 bipartisan, and cosponsored over 350 bipartisan pieces of legislation. prgtoken As we now forge ahead in 2024, I will continue to provide hope and keep the American Dream within reach for Eastern North Carolinians.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL UNDER THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION RELATING TO "WAIVER OF BUY AMERICA REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS"
Rick Larsen (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2024-1-11

such time as I may consume. prgtoken I rise in opposition to this resolution. On the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, we know that investing in infrastructure means jobs for American workers and economic growth. prgtoken Our goal is for taxpayer dollars to deliver returns at home, not just for those who travel on the roads and bridges but for the women and men who build our highway infrastructure. prgtoken The administration shares that goal and has made Buy America one of the centerpieces of its infrastructure policy as we build out modern transportation systems that are cleaner, greener, safer, and more accessible. prgtoken There is strong bipartisan support in Congress for strengthening Buy America, rebuilding the U.S. industrial base, and creating jobs. prgtoken We saw the result of this broad support with the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, or BIL, which included a new domestic content requirement for all Federal infrastructure spending. prgtoken Congress should be focused on supporting implementation of these new Buy America and domestic content requirements so we can maximize the return of our infrastructure investments and support job creation. prgtoken Instead, we are here today debating a resolution that would undercut the BIL and the administration's aim to bolster a domestic EV charger supply chain. prgtoken Federal highway and transit programs have had Buy America standards for decades. These standards have insured that any investment in U.S. infrastructure is also an investment in U.S. workers. prgtoken Since 1983, all manufactured products have been exempted from Buy America under the Federal highway programs. prgtoken Under this policy, EV chargers funded by the Federal Highway Administration would not have been required to be built in the U.S. prgtoken Further, there would have been no requirements for those chargers to include any domestic content beyond the iron and steel components. prgtoken If this policy had been applied to the $7.5 billion for EV charging included in the BIL, we would have supported jobs overseas instead of jobs for U.S. workers. The administration took action to make sure that would not happen. prgtoken First, it deemed that the general manufactured products Buy America waiver would no longer apply to EV chargers. prgtoken Further, the administration created a new, stronger standard for domestic content in EV chargers. Under the new policy, and for the first time, all federally funded EV chargers must be manufactured in the U.S. prgtoken The new policy also includes domestic content requirements for all components, not just those made of iron and steel. prgtoken The domestic content requirements ramp up over time to allow manufacturers to expand their capacity in the U.S. prgtoken The policy is working. Since 2021, private companies have announced $500 million in investments across the country in EV charging manufacturing facilities