mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CELEBRATING THE BICENTENNIAL OF THE CITY OF ANN ARBOR
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2024-5-23

I rise today to recognize the City of Ann Arbor on the 200th anniversary of its founding. The contributions its residents have made to the State of Michigan and to the Nation over the last two centuries are worthy of commendation. prgtoken Originally the Village of Annarbour, this community was named after the wives of its two founders, who were both named Ann, and was also inspired by the large forest in the area. Founded in 1824, historic Ann Arbor predates the establishment of the State of Michigan by thirteen years. prgtoken Ann Arbor is home to one of the most prestigious universities in the world: The University of Michigan. The University of Michigan was originally established in 1817 as Catholepistemiad Michigania in Detroit, then a fledgling capital of the Territory of Michigan, and later relocated to Ann Arbor in 1837. Since its founding, the university has brought defining cultural, economic, and intellectual growth to greater Ann Arbor. The students, staff, and faculty come from all 50 American states and over 100 countries globally, contributing to the worldly and diverse culture of this community. In addition to its numerous accolades for its academic prestige, University of Michigan Athletics continues to make Ann Arbor proud. Just this past January, the University of Michigan Football Team defeated the Washington Huskies, bringing a national championship title back to Ann Arbor for the first time since 1997. prgtoken It is not just the University of Michigan that makes Ann Arbor special. The cultural and religious diversity of the city has been a source of strength and has also led to Ann Arbor being the site of many monumental political and civil rights activities. From traditional denominations to more contemporary organizations, there is something for everyone in this vibrant city. Beth Israel, one of the oldest synagogues in the state, was founded in 1916. The city was also the home of the first meetings of the Students for a ic Society in 1960, a national student activist group. That same year, President John F. Kennedy set in motion the development of the Peace Corps on the steps of the Michigan Union. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson gave his ``Great Society'' speech at the University of Michigan's commencement. In 1965, the city was the location of the first American ``teach in'' in protest of the Vietnam War. prgtoken Ann Arbor has long been known as a hotbed for technological innovation and start-ups. The International Radio Corporation, established in Ann Arbor in 1931, was responsible for the first mass- produced AC/DC radio as well as the Argus C3, one of the top-selling cameras in history. ProQuest, founded in 1938 as University Microfilms, has been at the forefront of the preservation of documents for research purposes since their founding. Thomas Knoll, an Ann Arbor native, created Adobe Photoshop in 1987 while completing his Ph.D. at the University of Michiga
PROHIBITING VOTING BY NONCITIZENS IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ELECTIONS
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2024-5-23

had I been present for the vote today on Roll Call No. 227, Ogles Amendment No. 1, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present for the vote on Roll Call No. 228, Mooney Amendment No. 2, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present for the vote on Roll Call No. 229, Davidson Amendment No. 3, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present for the vote on Roll Call No. 230, H.R. 5403, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present for the vote on Roll Call No. 231, the ic Motion to Recommit on H.R. 192, I would have voted ``aye.'' Had I been present for the vote on Roll Call No. 232, H.R. 192, I would have voted ``no.''
CBDC ANTI-SURVEILLANCE STATE ACT
Stephen F. Lynch (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2024-5-23

. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman from California for yielding. prgtoken As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 5403, the so-called CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act. prgtoken At the expense of U.S. global economic leadership, this misguided legislation would effectively prevent the Federal Reserve from researching or issuing a central bank digital currency, also known as a CBDC. prgtoken Unfortunately, the facts surrounding the development of a central bank digital currency have been obscured by disinformation and infected by wrongheaded political ideology. Earlier this year, former President vowed to protect Americans from tyranny and never allow the creation of a central bank digital currency. prgtoken God help us. prgtoken In Congress, Members of the House and Senate have also followed suit, introducing bill after bill to block the development and even the examination of a central bank digital currency based on unfounded claims that it violates user privacy and will be used as a surveillance tool by the Federal Government. prgtoken The gentleman is correct when he says that China has developed a CBDC and conducts full-spectrum surveillance of their population. That is what they do. China is China. There is no Bill of Rights. There is no U.S.-like constitution that prohibits their government from doing that. They live in a communist regime. They don't have individual rights. prgtoken That is not the case here in the United States. We have the ability to require any architecture that was developed for a central bank digital currency to preserve the individual rights of citizens in this country. This is like saying somebody used a car to rob a bank, so we are just going to ban cars because we don't want them to be used in that fashion. prgtoken This is a technology. There is an architecture that underlies every CBDC. China does use their CBDC to conduct that surveillance, but we don't want that to be the dominant model. We prgtoken would like to have the Federal Reserve have the ability to develop a CBDC that actually protects the privacy of American citizens. prgtoken In my own congressional district, the Boston Federal Reserve recently partnered with the Digital Currency Initiative at MIT on Project Hamilton, an initiative to build a potential CBDC whose architecture maximizes privacy, cybersecurity, and infrastructure resilience. According to researchers, CBDC architecture can serve as a rigorous privacy-preserving tool. prgtoken I have also introduced legislation called the ECASH Act which would require the incorporation of the same security features associated with physical cash, which today is anonymous, into the development of a digital dollar. That would also be the goal of a CBDC. prgtoken Currently, there are more than 130 countries, representing 98 percent of the global GDP, who are exploring the implementation or going forward with the impl
HONORING FRED R. DOSTER
Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-5-23

I rise today to recognize the life and service of Fred R. Doster. prgtoken Born on June 7, 1937, Fred was a real estate broker who formed his own business, Contra Costa Properties, in 1965. He remained involved with the business until his passing. Fred served in the United States Marine Corps and served his local community as Planning Commissioner for the City of Concord. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Concord Jazz Festival, which evolved prgtoken into what we now know as the Concord Pavilion. prgtoken Prior to his successful real estate business, Fred constructed boats, one of which was a wooden ski boat he built in 1958 and which is still owned by his family. In line with his passion for dirt bike racing, he also started Motorsport, a chain of motorcycle parts and accessory stores. Throughout his life Fred enjoyed water skiing, snow skiing, dirt bike racing, and recreational sailing and racing. He also enjoyed traveling in general. Fred and his wife Carol spent many years together traveling by air, land, and sea. Fred's many passions made for a dynamic and fulfilling life. prgtoken Sadly, Fred passed away on April 28, 2024 at the age of 87. He is survived by his loving wife Carol; his devoted children: Bradley Doster, Greg Doster, Julie Opp (Doug), Karen Harless (Roger, predeceased); grandchildren Bethany Doster, Allison Doster; Rebecca Stuart-Doster, Hailey Doster, Jeremy Opp, Joshua Opp (Jen), Danae Boyle (Matt); Jessica Brook, Martin Harless, Kelsie Navarro (Felix), and great grandchildren, Caden, Calvin, and Zoe Opp, Oliver, Amelia and Finn Boyle; and Sophia and Claire Brook. He is also survived by his stepchildren. Donald Babcock, Michelle Wheeler, and Susan Bennett, and their children and grandchildren. prgtoken He will be remembered for his devotion to his family, love of travel, and insightful guidance Please join me in honoring Fred R. Doster for his many contributions to the East Bay.
TRIBUTE TO FLO DAPICE
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2024-5-23

I am honored to recognize Flo Dapice of Hopkinton as May's Granite Stater of the Month. At just 16 years old, Flo is working to improve environmental sustainability at her school and in her town by leading her school's Environmental Action Club efforts and by serving in local government positions. prgtoken Flo's long-time interest in sustainability made her a perfect fit for the Environmental Action Club at her high school. She led the club in applying for grants from the New Hampshire Energy Education Project and the Hopkinton Public Schools Foundation. The club was awarded more than $11,000, which allowed it to start a compost program at their school for lunch food waste. The club has evaluated the program and already found a decrease in how much compostable waste is ending up in the trash from last year to this year. Now, Flo and her fellow club members are continuing to work to strengthen the program and, in turn, lead to less food waste at the school. prgtoken The next project that Flo and the club are planning is a transition to using metal silverware in the school's cafeteria, instead of disposable plastic utensils. They have already purchased the silverware through more grant funding and are recruiting students to help wash the extra dishes. Flo is also planning to continue her involvement with the New Hampshire Energy Education Project, which works with students and teachers to build a deeper understanding of energy and climate; she recently helped lead a middle school summit with the program. prgtoken In addition to sustainability efforts at school, Flo has sought out additional opportunities for public service so that she can make more of a difference. She became interested in local government in middle school during the Covid-19 pandemic, and she now serves as one of two student representatives on the Hopkinton School Board and as a member of Hopkinton's Energy Steering Committee. Her service on the school board strengthened her efforts to apply for grants for her school's compost program, and on both the School Board and the Energy Committee, she has pushed for more ways to reduce carbon emissions. prgtoken Flo's dedication to serving her community through combating climate change is a great example of the Granite State spirit of working to make a difference, no matter your age. Her passion for bettering her school and her town is why I am honored to recognize her as Granite Stater of the Month.
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 4403 (Executive Session)
Ben Ray Luján (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2024-5-23

let me begin by quoting Senator Orrin Hatch, the primary author of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. In his final years, Senator Hatch said: Updating this legislation is a moral imperative. RECA, as it is currently written, extends benefits only to uranium miners, millers, and transporters who worked until 1972. But an updated bill would extend benefits to those who worked after 1972, many of whom have developed cancer as a result of radiation exposure. prgtoken Let me repeat that. Senator Orrin Hatch said it was a moral imperative to provide justice to what are called Post-71 miners. And what does this bill offer to these Americans who have suffered for our country? Nothing. What does this bill offer to downwinders in Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, Montana? Again, nothing. Instead, this exercise is an attempt to undermine the strong bipartisan coalition that passed historic RECA legislation. prgtoken I hope no one misreads what is happening today. There is a bipartisan coalition, there is a bipartisan group of advocates across the country that is growing and growing. There are more cosponsors in the House. The strongest vote that has ever taken place in the U.S. Senate has already passed this bill. prgtoken Let me be clear. Our bipartisan coalition will work with anyone who wants to meaningfully help the victims of all radiation and uranium exposure illnesses--including those that voted no when the Senate passed the RECA to the House just a few months ago. But we should help all of them, every one of these families that qualifies. prgtoken By the way, just because a community is included as a downwind county, it doesn't mean all the people living there benefit from the program. They still have to fight and prove that they lived in this community for a number of years, that their critical illnesses and cancers are those that science shows were due to this exposure. They have to fight. It is not just given to them. There is a whole process associated with the science, and study after study continues to show how these families deserve this help. prgtoken As a matter of fact, in committee this week, we were having a hearing to help coal miners in America. And some of the experts that were in that room, I asked them about exposure with uranium and the kind of cancers that we should expect, and I asked them specifically about uranium mine workers. And it wasn't surprising when that witness told us that the same uranium mine workers who worked 1971 and before--their cancers--it turns out that the uranium mine workers that worked in 1972 had the same cancer as well. prgtoken Senator Orin Hatch, through his wisdom and his words and in my conversations with this great leader, said: We have to fix these mistakes. prgtoken I will close with this. A few years ago, a Navajo elder--and I have shared this with our colleagues before--when she spoke before the House o
CBDC ANTI-SURVEILLANCE STATE ACT
Maxine Waters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-5-23

. Mr. Chair, I urge Members to oppose the Mooney amendment, which explicitly bans CBDC pilot programs. Like the last amendment we just considered, this amendment bans something that H.R. 5403 already bans. Oddly, this amendment would exacerbate the confusing drafting in H.R. 5403, by prohibiting something in two places but in slightly different ways. prgtoken In fact, all three of these amendments that we are considering for this bill overlap with existing provisions in the underlying bill, which leads me to believe that s simply don't understand what their own bill does. prgtoken Let me again try to explain their own bill. This amendment and the bill both prohibit the Fed from conducting a study on how to design a central bank digital currency using a pilot program. In case the public is wondering, the New York Fed is currently conducting a pilot through its New York Innovation Center to test the benefits and drawbacks of a wholesale CBDC in collaboration with U.S. banks and the Monetary Authority of Singapore. prgtoken This pilot does not mean that at the end the Fed will issue a CBDC or that Americans will have one. In fact, the Fed has made it abundantly clear that it wants Congress to authorize it to do so, but how is Congress going to be able to make this decision if we don't have any research as to how a CBDC could be designed that reflects our values? prgtoken Again, importantly, to counter misinformation from the other side of the aisle, wholesale CBDCs are not used by individual consumers. They are only used by institutions to transfer funds, so there are no consumer privacy issues with wholesale CBDCs because consumers are not directly involved. prgtoken If the point of this bill is to protect consumer privacy, the sponsor should have directed the Fed to ensure that it only tests a CBDC that does that. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge Members to oppose this harmful amendment and H.R. 5403, and .
TRIBUTE TO MRS. JANIE B. RANDOLPH
James E. Clyburn (Democrat, SC) \u2014 2024-5-23

I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable mother, humanitarian, and beloved community figure as she celebrates a milestone in her extraordinary life. Mrs. Janie B. Randolph will celebrate her 100th birthday on June 4, and I join family and friends in celebrating this significant occasion. prgtoken Mrs. Randolph was born on June 4, 1924, in Congaree, South Carolina. She attended Richland County Public Schools and achieved her lifelong goal of obtaining her high school diploma in 1970 from the Richland County Adult Education Center. She furthered her education by attending Midlands Technical College, where she took classes in fashion design. Her interest in fashion led her to become a highly skilled seamstress and develop a passion for knitting and crocheting. prgtoken Mrs. Randolph is the proud mother of six children--Barbara, Romeo, Joyce, Nancy, Jacqulyn, and Kenneth--plus two additional children by love, Tom Adams and Sheriff Leon Lott. All of her children attended college and served in the military. She is also a grandmother, great- grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and a surrogate mother to many. Her four beloved cats, Lilibeth, Corabell, Marthann, and Cleolynn, are her constant companions. prgtoken As a founding member of the Good Shepherd Holiness Church, Mrs. Randolph holds the esteemed title of Mother of the Church. For years, she was an active participant in various church activities, including the Musical Choir, Youth Department, Missionary Society, Vacation Bible School, and Women's Ministry. Her dedication to her faith community is a testament to her unwavering spirit and love for service. prgtoken Beyond her contributions to the church, Mrs. Randolph is the former owner of Brooks Grocery Store, a cornerstone of her community. A Gold Star Wife and a member of the Tuesday Rockers and United Order of Tents, Mrs. Randolph has always been active in community service and is a former member of the Hopkins Adult Senior Citizens Program, where she volunteered with Meals on Wheels. She also loves socializing, entertaining, gardening, and reading scripture. prgtoken Mrs. Randolph's motto, ``Helping Others to Help Others,'' reflects her life's work. Her favorite hymns, ``Rock of Ages'' and ``Nearer My God To Thee,'' and her cherished scripture, ``The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want'' (Psalms 23), are a testament to her deep faith and guiding principles. Her favorite saying, ``If you know better, you will do better,'' encapsulates her belief in the power of knowledge and self-improvement. prgtoken , I ask that you and our colleagues join me in celebrating the tremendous life of Mrs. Janie B. Randolph on the occasion of her 100th birthday. I thank her for her tireless efforts to better our community and her unwavering dedication to helping others. May her legacy continue to uplift and inspire us all.
ORDERS FOR FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2024, THROUGH MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024, AT 3 P.M.
Cory A. Booker (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2024-5-23

I ask again for the consent of all of my colleagues, unanimous consent, that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn to then convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business being conducted, on the following days and times: Friday, May 24, at 10 a.m.; Tuesday, May 28, at 10:30 a.m.; and Friday, May 31, at 4:30 p.m.; further, that when the Senate adjourns on Friday, May 31, it stand adjourned until 3 p.m. on Monday, June 3; that on Monday, following the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for both leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; that following the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Hanson nomination; and, further, that the cloture motions filed during today's session ripen at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.
CBDC ANTI-SURVEILLANCE STATE ACT
Brad Sherman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-5-23

. Mr. Chair, we are told to reject this because China is doing this. In China, they drink orange juice. Should we prohibit orange juice? Not everything that happens in China needs to be banned by statute in this Congress. prgtoken We are told we need to protect privacy, but this bill does not require anybody to use a digital currency. You are still going to have cash. You are still going to have a credit card. It is just one more option. prgtoken You may say the use of the credit card doesn't give you privacy because my wife then finds out I spent too much on a tie. So what do I do? I spend cash. You are going to have debit cards, credit cards, cash, and maybe a digital currency. If you want it to be private, don't use it. It is not mandatory.
EXTENDING AFFORDABLE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
Bradley Scott Schneider (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-5-23

. Madam , I rise today to talk about the Affordable Connectivity Program, a critical program that helps millions access affordable internet. prgtoken Families rely on the internet to do their jobs, go to school, meet with their doctors, and stay in contact with family and loved ones. Access to the internet is essential in the 21st century. prgtoken ACP, the Affordable Connectivity Program, helps more than 23 million households afford internet access. In Illinois, more than 700,000 households, 1 in 7, enrolled in ACP, including 21,000 in my district. prgtoken Despite this success, s refuse to extend this program. prgtoken We cannot delay. Through their inaction, s are forcing millions of families to face higher internet bills, or worse, to have their internet access cut off entirely. prgtoken If Johnson would bring the ACP extension to the floor for a vote, I know it would pass overwhelmingly. Instead, s are wasting time voting on bogus messaging bills. prgtoken I implore Johnson to save the Affordable Connectivity Program. Let's bring it to the floor for a vote for an extension. We can get this done.
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 3933 (Executive Session)
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2024-5-23

. That is correct. And, of course, this is a motion to just proceed to debate. prgtoken So this isn't final passage. If Members think there are imperfections in this bill, if they want additional restrictions on parole authority, they could vote to proceed, and then we could get into a process by which we could try to solve any remaining differences that have arisen since the announcement of the bipartisan bill with leadership with their designated negotiator. prgtoken I wish we could just get onto this bill so we could try to sort this out instead of allowing this issue to become a perpetual political football, as seems to be the interest of many of my colleagues.
HONORING STEPHANIE "SALLY" TIVADOR ON HER 100TH BIRTHDAY
Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-5-23

I rise today to honor a lifelong Chicagoan, Ms. Stephanie ``Sally'' Tivador who will celebrate her 100th birthday on Sunday. prgtoken Sally is the youngest of five daughters. She was born into a family of Polish descent just a couple of years before the Great Depression hit. And like so many children in that era, she worked full-time at a young age. She was only 14 years old when she started, and kept working for 24 years, until the birth of her first child in 1958. prgtoken Sally later married Edward Tivador of Pilsen in 1948, a relationship that lasted for 66 years until his passing in 2014. They had two children, Cynthia and Edward, two grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. prgtoken Sally is a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. And it is my honor to wish her a Happy 100th Birthday.