mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-12-1

today I am reintroducing a bill for the private relief of Shirley Constantino Tan. Ms. Tan is a Filipina national living in Pacifica, CA. She is the proud mother of 20-year-old twin boys, Jashley and Joriene, who are U.S. citizens. She is married to Jay Mercado, a naturalized U.S. citizen. prgtoken Ms. Tan faces deportation to the Philippines, which would separate her from her family and jeopardize her safety. I believe Ms. Tan merits Congress's special consideration for this extraordinary form of relief because her removal from the United States would cause serious, undue hardship for her and her family. prgtoken Ms. Tan experienced horrific violence in the Philippines before she came to the United States. When she was only 14 years old, Ms. Tan's cousin murdered Ms. Tan's mother and sister and shot Ms. Tan in the head. The cousin was eventually prosecuted, but he received a short jail sentence. Fearing for her safety, Ms. Tan fled the Philippines just before her cousin was due to be released from jail. She entered the United States legally on a visitor's visa in 1989. prgtoken Ms. Tan faces a deportation order because of negligent counsel. Ms. Tan applied for asylum in 1995. When her case went before the Board of Immigration Appeals, her attorney was supposed to file a brief in support of her case, but the attorney failed to do so. As a result, the Board of Immigration Appeals dismissed Ms. Tan's case and granted her voluntary departure from the United States. prgtoken However, Ms. Tan's negligent counsel never notified Ms. Tan that the Board of Immigration Appeals issued an order granting her voluntary departure. Because she did not know about the order, Ms. Tan did not depart the United States, so the grant of voluntary departure automatically led to a removal order. She learned about the deportation order for the first time on January 28, 2009, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents took her into immigration custody. prgtoken Because of her attorney's negligent actions, Ms. Tan was denied the opportunity to present her case in immigration proceedings. She later filed a complaint against her former attorney, who had similar complaints from other clients, with the State Bar of California. prgtoken On February 4, 2015, Ms. Tan's spouse, Mr. Mercado, a U.S. citizen, filed an approved spousal petition on her behalf. On August 20, 2015, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services denied her application due to the fact that she still had a final order of removal. Ms. Tan must go back to the immigration court and ask for the court to terminate her case and then reapply for her green card. Ms. Tan still faces the threat of deportation while she seeks to close her case before an immigration court. prgtoken In addition to the hardship that would come to Ms. Tan if she is deported, her deportation would be a major loss to her community and would cause serious hardship for her two children, Jashley
MAKING TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO CERTAIN PROVISIONS CLASSIFIED TO TITLE 7, TITLE 20, AND TITLE 43, UNITED STATES CODE
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-12-1

as important as this legislation is, my brief remarks were enough to explain the bill for the record. prgtoken Therefore, with the time remaining, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Perry Apelbaum for more than 30 years of tireless service to the House Judiciary Committee. prgtoken As you know, , the Judiciary Committee is entrusted with a wide and diverse set of issues, ranging from constitutional law and the Federal criminal code to immigration and intellectual property. prgtoken In his three decades with the committee, as a trusted counsel and staff director, Perry has left his mark on nearly every area of law within that broad jurisdiction: protecting the right to vote, securing our basic civil liberties, and holding the powerful to account where necessary. prgtoken All of official Washington knows Perry as a brilliant attorney, a selfless friend, and a voice of calm in a crisis. He earned that reputation leading the country through some of the toughest moments in our recent history. prgtoken He has worked as senior staff on three impeachments. He coauthored three books with his longtime boss, Chairman John Conyers, Jr.: ``What Went Wrong in Ohio,'' ``The Constitution in Crisis,'' and ``Reining in the Imperial Presidency.'' prgtoken After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Perry worked across the aisle to keep us safe in a manner that would be consistent with our civil liberties. prgtoken After the attacks of January 6, 2021, he spent many sleepless nights ensuring that our democratic institutions would endure. prgtoken What strikes me, , is that Perry's most important and lasting contributions to the committee have gone to secure a better life for the Americans who need our help most. These accomplishments include the Innocence Protection Act, the Matthew Shepherd-James Byrd, Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, the Second Chance Act, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, and the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. prgtoken All told, these accomplishments have benefited countless citizens. They have made our social contract more just and our justice system more fair the Talmud teaches us that whosoever saves one life has saved an entire world. By this measure, worlds upon worlds owe a debt of gratitude to Perry Apelbaum. prgtoken Perry is, of course, far from finished in his work for the American people. He has told us repeatedly that he intends ``to run all the way through the tape'' on his last days on Capitol Hill. prgtoken He leaves us with a clear sense of mission. He has laid the groundwork for our most important prerogatives, including but not limited to comprehensive police reform, commonsense checks on the scourge of gun violence, and the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. prgtoken Perry will continue his public service in the Department of Justice as a senior counsel in the Antitru
SENATE SHOULD MOVE SWIFTLY
Carolyn Bourdeaux (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2021-12-1

. Madam , I rise today in strong support of the Build Back Better Act. prgtoken This bill increases access to affordable healthcare by expanding Medicaid in States like Georgia and significantly reducing the cost of health insurance premiums on the exchange. prgtoken With this bill, we will finally ensure that every Georgian has access to quality, affordable healthcare. prgtoken This bill will also ensure that nearly 200,000 additional 3- and 4- year-olds in Georgia will have access to universal pre-K. prgtoken The Build Back Better Act is the largest effort to combat the climate crisis in American history and realigns our tax code to support economic growth in our clean energy economy. prgtoken These are just some of the highlights in this critical bill that is fully paid for and makes long-overdue investments in our community and in our country. prgtoken I urge the Senate to act swiftly to pass the Build Back Better Act and invest in the future of all Americans.
NETHERLAND-AMERICA FOUNDATION
Derek Kilmer (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2021-12-1

. Madam , 100 years ago today a group of Dutch Americans, including future President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, established the Netherland-America Foundation to strengthen ties between our two great countries. Over the past 100 years the Netherland-America Foundation has accomplished this mission through organizing and sponsoring cultural exchange programs on topics as varied as art and science to business, public affairs, and historic preservation. prgtoken As the son of a Dutch immigrant, I am honored to cochair, with my colleague Representative Huizenga, the bipartisan Dutch Caucus which shares NAF's goals of growing and deepening the exchange of ideas and culture between America and Holland. prgtoken A similar message of friendship and goodwill is being delivered to the Dutch Parliament today, speaking to the ever-deepening bond between our two countries and great democracies. prgtoken I know I speak on behalf of all members of the Dutch Caucus when I congratulate the foundation on their achievements over the past 100 years and the lasting impact they have had in encouraging the unique friendship between our two countries. I look forward to another century of the U.S. and Netherlands sharing, growing, and working together.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Cory A. Booker (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2021-12-1

today should not be a normal day. Today should be a day of national grief and pain and horror at what happened yesterday. prgtoken Yesterday, in Oxford, MI, there was yet another school shooting. Within the span of just 5 minutes, four children were shot dead by a fellow student; seven more people--six students and one teacher--were wounded. prgtoken Reports are that more than 100 9-1-1 calls were made in the span of minutes. Imagine the horror, imagine the fear, imagine the terror, imagine the pleas for help on those 9-1-1 calls as students listened to gunshot after gunshot ring out, killing their fellow students. The students huddled in corners as their teachers desperately tried to lock doors, barricading them with desks, fearful of what was happening outside--some escaping through windows and sprinting and running for safety. prgtoken And what should outrage every single American is that this is not unusual in our country. This was not a one-time occurrence. We know the names--that should be hallowed names of pride--of our children, but, no, they are names that speak to horror when we think about Parkland and what happened there, when we think about Newtown and what happened there, and so many other communities that have been ripped apart by that nightmare that happened yesterday. prgtoken We live in a distraught present in America. More people have died in my lifetime from gun violence than have died in all of our American wars combined--from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, to World War I and II, and Vietnam and the 20-year war on terror. More have died in gun violence in just the last 50 years. prgtoken Our gun murder rate is 25 times higher than the next closer country-- not double, not triple, not quadruple, but 25 times more high than the next closest country. And 90 Americans are dying every day from gun violence, not to mention the many more like the seven from Oxford, MI, who have had their health shattered by gunshot wounds tearing through their bodies. prgtoken And our kids, our American children. According to Everytown for Gun Safety, firearms are the leading cause of death for American children and teens--the No. 1 cause of death. We know that teens are dying at alarming rates due to gun violence and suicide rates, which are rising faster and faster than in any other group, near an all-time high. prgtoken So the question that I must ask today--the urgent question that we must ask is: What will be our response? prgtoken We cannot keep telling our children that we will protect you and then the only thing we are doing throughout our schools is teaching them how to hide--these drills that are now as common as fire drills, that are teaching our children that we won't stop the gun violence but we are going to teach you how to barricade yourself in, how to hide under desks, how to shelter for cover if someone comes through your school that should never have had a gun in the first
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-12-1

reserving the right to object, this bill is yet another attempt by our colleagues to stoke fear about the migrations we are seeing at the southern border rather than work collaboratively with us to actually address the issue and their stated concerns. prgtoken For a decade now, we have seen increasing arrivals at the southern border, especially of vulnerable populations. I am talking about families and unaccompanied children, many who are fleeing horrific conditions in their home countries, such as gang violence, drug trafficking, corruption, a global health pandemic, or the devastating effects of climate change, if not a multitude of these dangers. It is unsafe for many of them to remain in their countries, and so they make the arduous journey to the United States to seek asylum and, heaven forbid, a better future. prgtoken Asylum seekers aren't just seeking a better life; they are simply trying to not die or to not be killed. Too many policymakers act like asylum seekers are simply choosing to come here, but, given the horrific conditions in their home countries, it is really no choice at all. So I am deeply disappointed to see s in both the House and the Senate distorting these desperate young children and families at the border into some sort of threat to our Nation. prgtoken Responsibly addressing migration requires going beyond partisan finger-pointing. We must, instead, thoughtfully address the root causes of migration and reform our border to ensure an orderly, secure, and well-managed process that treats migrants fairly and humanely. I have been frustrated that, despite numerous--and I mean numerous--bipartisan meetings on immigration reform, our colleagues seem more interested in scoring political points rather than in pursuing meaningful solutions. They simply refuse to truly engage. prgtoken This bill would create onerous, repetitive, and unnecessary reporting and investigative requirements for the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security and require the inspector general to report on these items every 60 days for the foreseeable future, not to mention that many of the requirements in the bill are frivolous, irrelevant, or duplicative. For example, the bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to report on the number of migrants resettled when the DHS isn't even the Agency that handles the resettlement of migrants. The DHS already has an Office of Immigration Statistics that does report on many of the same statistics that this bill would now require the inspector general to report on. prgtoken Finally, much of the rhetoric from my colleagues has centered around the prgtoken large increase on the number of encounters at the border. Let me emphasize the word ``encounters'' at the border. However, these numbers ignore the large rates of recidivism that we are seeing. The ongoing use of title 42 to block and expel asylum se
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2021-12-1

today I remember and honor Dr. Robert William Finberg, a highly esteemed virologist, researcher, clinician, professor, and resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. prgtoken Dr. Finberg was an example for countless across the Commonwealth. He was internationally known for his indispensable work on infectious diseases, where he focused much effort on influenza and coronaviruses. prgtoken Dr. Finberg received his undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago, after which he pursued his career in infectious disease. He obtained his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine with AOA honors, then went on to complete his internal medicine residency at the New York University School of Medicine. He also completed an Infectious Disease Fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. Finberg finished his postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Baruj Benacerraf at Harvard University where he made groundbreaking contributions to immunology. Over the course of his career, he was awarded numerous grants to continue his transformative research. prgtoken Dr. Finberg used his experience and expertise to the benefit of the Commonwealth, where he played an instrumental role in protecting our communities from COVID-19. He served in Governor Charlie Baker's COVID- 19 Vaccine Advisory Group and spearheaded research on both COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. He labored heroically to ensure that the public remained informed about the pandemic. His work was unparalleled, and his accomplishments will stand the test of time. prgtoken Dr. Finberg also shared his knowledge with those who carry on his legacy. He was an integral member of the UMass Medical School community, where he spent more than 20 years as the chair of the department of medicine. His passion for medicine and educating future healthcare providers is best exemplified by the achievements of his students and the patients who have benefited from their care. Dr. Finberg was a dedicated medical professional, mentor, and advocate. prgtoken Dr. Finberg cherished time with his family and friends and will be remembered for his warmth, compassion, and curiosity. He deeply impacted the lives of those around him. His service to his community, the Commonwealth, and the country will never be forgotten.
HEALTH BILLS UNDER CONSIDERATION
Anna G. Eshoo (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-12-1

. Madam , I rise in strong support of seven bills that originated in the Health Subcommittee of Energy & Commerce. I'm proud of my Subcommittee's bipartisan work on these critical bills which tackle hard problems, including substance use treatment, vaccine access, and the social inequities that result in poor health outcomes, especially for mothers and people of color. prgtoken Two of the bills we're considering help address the overdose crisis our nation currently faces. According to the CDC, overdose deaths spiked after the start of the pandemic. There were 93,000 overdose deaths in 2020, a 30 percent increase from the year prior, making 2020 the deadliest year for overdoses on record, with synthetic opioids the primary driver of the overall increase in overdose deaths across America. prgtoken H.R. 2355, the ``Opioid Prescription Verification Act of 2021,'' enables HHS and the CDC to help combat this urgent overdose epidemic by facilitating responsible, informed dispensing of controlled substances. s Reps. Rodney Davis, Gus Bilirakis, and Ann Wagner for authoring this legislation. prgtoken H.R. 2364, the ``Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act,'' directs the CDC to conduct a public awareness campaign on the dangers of synthetic opioids and available treatments. It also requires the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to make educational materials for first responders about synthetic opioid exposure prevention. s Reps. Andy Kim and Chris Pappas for authoring this legislation. prgtoken The next three bills aim to ensure that every American, no matter their age. race, or income, are empowered to receive the ``dose of hope'' from vaccine protection. As we've seen during the pandemic, there are lifesaving benefits of safe, effective, and free vaccines. prgtoken H.R. 951, the ``Maternal Vaccination Act,'' helps to enhance maternal health care quality and outcomes. It authorizes $2 million annually for the next four years to increase awareness of the importance of combatting vaccine-preventable infection diseases during pregnancy. In the United States, pregnant women and infants are disproportionately susceptible to complications of infectious diseases such as influenza and whooping cough. Available vaccine data shows that vaccinations against these diseases confer protection to both mothers and newborns with no increased risk of adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes, and they are highly recommended by the CDC. Rep. Terri Sewell for authoring this legislation. prgtoken H.R. 550, the ``Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2021,'' will create a national policy framework and provide resources to improve immunization information systems allowing for better management of routine vaccinations and enhancing our public health response to future pandemics. s Reps. Ann Kuster and Larry Bucshon for their leadership a
FRANCIS PADILLA
Ed Perlmutter (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2021-12-1

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Francis Padilla, District Director of the Small Business Administration (SBA) in Colorado for her dedication and service to the people of the State of Colorado. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Francis went above and beyond by participating in many of my Telephone Town Halls to educate my constituents about small business support and resources. prgtoken Francis has served the constituents of Colorado in her current role since 2017. As District Director, she is responsible for directing the expansion and delivery of SBA's various loan and business training services throughout the State of Colorado. Prior to her current position, she was the Deputy District Director where she led the Entrepreneurial Development and Lender Relations divisions in the Colorado office and managed the agency's relationships with financial institutions, resource partners, local government officials, and economic development organizations. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Diana provided timely updates related to small businesses relief programs and made herself available to my staff and my constituents around the clock. Her insights and knowledge were invaluable to my constituents and small businesses in our communities. prgtoken It is because of local heroes like Francis that our state has been able to support small businesses and keep many of them afloat during this unprecedented time. I thank Francis Padilla for her service and her sacrifice during this difficult time, and I look forward to continuing to work with her as we work to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
Katherine M. Clark (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2021-12-1

. Madam , for almost 50 years, the law has recognized that the decision of whether to have or not have an abortion is protected by the Constitution. Yet, in the last decade, State lawmakers have pushed through nearly 500 restrictive laws that make abortion difficult and sometimes impossible to access. This fight has reached a breaking point. prgtoken The Mississippi law being challenged at the Supreme Court today would ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, well before viability. Anti- abortion policies are about power and control, control over our bodies and control over our families. We won't stand for it. We will defend our rights and freedom to access safe and legal abortion. prgtoken Keep your bans off our bodies. Keep out of our doctors' offices and family decisions. Keep our constitutional rights in place.