mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-11-17

I rise to make a unanimous consent request in regards to legislation that has already been passed by the committees of authorization. prgtoken This is a bill that deals with fighting corruption globally. I need not remind prgtoken my colleagues that ``corruption threatens the United States' national security, economic equity, global antipoverty and development efforts, and democracy itself.'' prgtoken That was a quote in regards to President 's published memorandum of establishing the fight against corruption as a core United States national security interest. prgtoken We have heard this over and over again. I was in the White House a few years back, and the National Security Council was convened because of the spread of corruption globally. It presents a national security threat to the United States of America, and we find that many countries are moving in the wrong direction in anticorruption measures, and there are identifiable issues--independent judiciary, dealing with antibribery status, dealing with public disclosure-type requirements. There are things that are pretty well-identified internationally as necessary in fighting corruption. prgtoken Yesterday, I was in a hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with one of our closest allies, Georgia; and their judiciary is no longer independent, presenting real problems for our national security interests. prgtoken So I have worked in a bipartisan manner with colleagues on the and ic sides to develop a system whereby we would be able to determine which countries in the world need our attention in our bilateral relations and in the tools we have available to help them deal with creating an anticorruption system in their own governments. prgtoken And we worked together to figure out how we can do this in a manner that would implement the types of results we need from our State Department. prgtoken So the legislation that we crafted would have the State Department rank countries in the world as to whether they are in tier 1, 2, or 3. prgtoken Tier 3 would be the countries of our concern. These are the countries that are not taking steps to deal with systemic corruption that they have in their system that does not comply with international standards. prgtoken Tier 2 are countries that have not met those international standards, but they are taking the right courses. prgtoken And tier 1 are those countries that have met these international standards. prgtoken Now, this is not unique. We have done similar types of work in our State Department identifying problems with trafficking, trafficking in humans. We have similar types of work in our State Department to identify religious tolerance and freedom. We have similar efforts to deal with basic human rights. So this is a system that we have worked in the past. prgtoken But it goes even further than that. The legislation gives the capacity in the State Department, in the mission
GRANTING A FEDERAL CHARTER TO THE NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN VETERANS, INCORPORATED
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2022-11-17

reserving the right to object--Senator Rounds, I do not object to the substance of your bill. As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I am very much in favor of the contributions made to our country by Native Americans and certainly the Native American veterans. However, for a long time, I have been trying to get a very simple technical fix to the Violence Against Women Act that would allow Native Hawaiian organizations to serve Native Hawaiian women. prgtoken As we all know, VAWA provides support to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, dating violence, and stalking. Tragically, Native women across the country--that would be Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians, American Indian women--experience disproportionately higher levels of sexual violence, which is why VAWA includes STOP grants to provide funding for eligible Native organizations, nonprofits, including Native Hawaiian organizations, to serve Native women. prgtoken However, in spite of the fact that Native Hawaiian women are represented among the disproportionately high number of survivors of gender-based violence and sex trafficking, and despite the fact that Native Hawaiian organizations are eligible for these grants, because of a drafting oversight, these Native Hawaiian organizations eligible for these grants cannot serve the Native Hawaiian community. prgtoken It would likely shock many of my colleagues to learn about the gender-based violence and sex trafficking numbers in Hawaii and of sex trafficking survivors in Hawaii. Over 70 percent are Native Hawaiian women and girls. But yet, Native Hawaiian organizations cannot actually serve Native Hawaiian women through these grants. prgtoken By passing this simple technical fix, we can ensure that Native Hawaiian women can access the benefits and support included in the critical Violence Against Women Act. prgtoken I am very glad that my colleague from Hawaii is presiding as we have this debate. prgtoken So now I would ask if the Senator would modify his request so that immediately following the disposition of S. 1725, the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 7, which was introduced earlier today; further, that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate?
FEMA IMPROVEMENT, REFORM, AND EFFICIENCY ACT OF 2022
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-11-17

. Madam , I rise in support of the House amendment to S. 3092, the Federal Emergency Management Agency Improvement, Reform and Efficiency Act of 2021. prgtoken This legislation addresses the federal government's approach to wildfires by setting a standard for implementing proactive plans of action for responding to wildfires, and by requiring reports on the effectiveness of FEMA programs. prgtoken These plans must include studies on providing housing assistance to survivors of major disasters to resolve challenges, such as the lack of proof of ownership, and to contract the National Academy of Sciences to study potential solutions to address the availability and affordability of insurance for disasters. prgtoken As the consequences of climate change become our new reality, it is our responsibility to be prepared in accordance with those changes. prgtoken Climate change exacerbates wildfires and vice versa, like a vicious cycle that can't be extinguished. prgtoken According to a report from the United Nations Environment Prgramme, the number of wildfires worldwide is projected to grow 50 percent by the year 2100. prgtoken The UN Environment Programme experts also reported that governments are not prepared for this shift. prgtoken This is no longer a matter of prevention, but rather a matter of preparation for what is ahead of us and for generations to come. prgtoken Across the nation, wildfires have disproportionately affected low- income families and people of color. prgtoken Disaster insurance for those in rural areas, low-income neighborhoods, and immigrant communities are often inaccessible, even though they are most at risk. prgtoken Native Americans are six times more vulnerable to the impacts of wildfires than their white counterparts due in part to the fact that they were forced to settle in fire-prone areas. prgtoken The FIRE Act would assess the need for the federal government to produce maps that identify wildfire zones. prgtoken This bill would also allow Indigenous tribal governments to apply for grants to better equip emergency operations centers. prgtoken Disaster prevention insurance has increasingly become inaccessible, especially to low-income families. prgtoken Disaster insurance is often beyond the reach of family budgets that are burdened with the skyrocketing prices of rent and food. prgtoken In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, tens of thousands of families were displaced after their homes were destroyed. prgtoken According to community advocates, about 50 percent of those households impacted by Harvey were low-income households and many of those damaged homes were in Black and Latino neighborhoods. prgtoken I worked tirelessly alongside the Houston Housing authority to reverse a FEMA decision prgtoken to not provide any fundings for the 428 Program, which would repair public low-income housing damaged by the Hurricane. prgtoken In cases of disaster, S. 3092 would require initiation of a process to determine t
RECOGNIZING MASJID MUHAMMMAD
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-11-17

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Masjid Muhammad, the Nation's Mosque, as they celebrate their 85th year of establishment. prgtoken Representing one of the oldest established Muslim communities in the country and the first mosque built in the District of Columbia, Masjid Muhammad has long been a beacon for community service, religious freedom, and human rights. prgtoken With their motto of ``Our Community, Our Responsibility,'' Masjid Muhammad has been a central force in their service to the people of DC. They frequently distribute hundreds of pounds of food each month to those in need. They work to build affordable housing and develop programs to address violence, substance abuse, recidivism and countless other social justice issues. They also sponsor several programs including senior citizen support, after school youth activities, vocational training, job placement and more. prgtoken Masjid Muhammad has been a pioneer in breaking down barriers for the Muslim community across this country. They established the nation's first Muslim American Veterans Association (MAVA) over 25 years ago with several chapters growing around the nation. They produced the first Islamic Chaplains in the U.S. Military and Department of Justice, the first Muslim Judge for the State of Maryland, the first Muslim Woman to work on a White House Staff, and the first Muslim Boys and Girls Scouts programs in DC. prgtoken In addition to their work domestically, Masjid Muhammad has facilitated and participated in numerous conferences and forums on human rights, interfaith peacebuilding, and international religious freedom in over a dozen countries--cementing them as an international voice for peace and justice for all. prgtoken Please join me in recognition of Masjid Muhammad's 85 years of service and their contributions to this city, this country, and the world.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-11-17

I rise today to speak about the Respect for Marriage Act. prgtoken I was proud to introduce this bill earlier this summer with Senators Baldwin, Collins, and Portman. I am greatly encouraged by yesterday's bipartisan vote of 62 to 37 to advance the bill and continue moving this important legislation forward. prgtoken The Respect for Marriage Act would guarantee legal protections for millions of marriages in the United States by repealing the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act and ensuring that marriages entered into legally are given full faith and credit by every State and the Federal Government. prgtoken Simply put, Americans should be free to marry the person they love, regardless of sexual orientation or race, without fear of discrimination or fear that their marriages will be invalidated. This is a straightforward bill. It merely codifies the existing requirement that the Federal Government and every State recognize legal marriages. prgtoken In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to marry for same-sex couples. And 55 years ago, in Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court ruled that ``the freedom to marry . . . a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State.'' prgtoken These decisions also reflect the will of the American people. Over the past few decades, public support for same-sex marriage and interracial marriage has grown exponentially. In fact, recent polls have found that 71 percent of Americans support same-sex marriage and 94 percent approve of interracial marriages. This bill has been endorsed by hundreds of organizations, including nonprofits, corporations, and religious organizations that span the ideological spectrum. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that a list of endorsing organizations be printed in the Record.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-11-17

I listened to the statement of my colleague and friend from Texas Senator Cornyn on the issue of immigration. It would seem that we are miles apart, and s, on this issue. prgtoken Let me state from my own personal point of view, speaking just for myself, what I think we are facing and what we should do to address it. Here are the basics as far as I am concerned: We need an orderly process for immigration in America, both at the border and off the border. That means laws and rules, numbers that work for both the immigrants as well as the economy of America. prgtoken No. 2, we should never knowingly allow anyone dangerous to come into this country; or, if they are here in immigrant status and pose a danger to our country, they have no right to stay, as far as I am concerned. prgtoken No. 3, it is a great compliment that so many people all over the world are desperate to come to our country. If the opposite were true and people were flowing out of the United States, it would be a sad commentary. But America has always been a magnet of opportunity, and so the fact that so many people want to come here is a compliment, in a way. prgtoken But the reality is this: We cannot absorb everyone who wants to come into America from all over the world in a limited period of time. It can only be considered, in an orderly fashion, over a longer period of time. prgtoken No. 4, we haven't touched this immigration set of laws in 30 years. So to blame for this is to ignore the obvious. There wasn't much, if anything, done under the administration that was helpful and, going back years and years before, very little, if anything, to show for it. prgtoken The only time we finally did a bipartisan bill and brought it to the floor of the U.S. Senate, I was part of the Gang of 8, and we brought it to the floor. We debated it at length in the committee and on the floor, and it passed with a vote, I believe, of 65 here in the U.S. Senate, a bipartisan vote. prgtoken We sent it over to the House of Representatives, which was under control with Ryan. They never raised the issue. They never brought it to the floor. They never discussed it in committee. So that was the end of the effort. prgtoken So to argue that we haven't tried--we have. On various individual bills, like the DREAM Act, which I introduced 21 years ago--I brought it to the floor of the Senate five times and got a majority vote all five times. But that is not enough in the Senate. It didn't get 60 votes. So we lost the bill to a filibuster each and every time. prgtoken So to argue that the effort has not been undertaken is not quite accurate. prgtoken The question is: Where do we go from here? Title 42 was basically a public health announcement that we could deny access to the United States to people based on public health considerations. This week, a DC judge, Federal judge, concluded that whatever our initial ration
RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2022-11-17

I come to the floor today to ask for a unanimous consent request on the confirmation of a highly qualified nominee standing ready to help lead the greatest military this world has ever known. prgtoken Last month, I had the opportunity to go to Eastern Europe. I had the opportunity to visit with folks, to visit with our troops who are out there on the frontlines. I could not have been prouder of these folks who are placed far, far, far away from the United States, fighting the fight, stopping Russian aggression, and doing what they need to help protect our democracy and, quite frankly, the democracies around the world. prgtoken It is our responsibility, as the U.S. Senate, to ensure that these folks have the support they need to protect our national security and defend our country against foreign adversaries like Russia. prgtoken It is going to happen with the appropriations process. Hopefully, we will get a top-line number very, very soon, and we will get that done in December. prgtoken But equally important is the kind of leaders we have in our military. We have to have capable leaders; otherwise, things won't happen as Congress intends them to. When these positions are left open, the military has their hands tied behind their back. I might add, this is the biggest budget by far in the United States of America. prgtoken I had a visit with Senator Lee, and he is going to raise some important points today. I understand where he is coming from. I also got notification today that the Secretary of Defense is going to meet with Senator Lee on the 23rd of November. I intend to hold them to that so that Senator Lee can bring up the challenges that he sees, and hopefully there will be good faith involved on both sides and a solution can be found, if there is a solution to be found. prgtoken I can't emphasize enough how, if we want to hold people accountable to spend the money right, that we appropriate--if we want to hold people accountable for doing the job of protecting this country and defending democracy and our freedoms, we have to have people in these critical positions. prgtoken For that reason, we have a nominee before us today as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Security and Intelligence--let me say it again--Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Security and Intelligence. This is a very, very important position when it comes to our security. prgtoken Milancy Danielle is her name. She has an incredible resume within the intelligence community. She has proven leadership within the DOD. There is no doubt in my mind that she will make the world a safer place, and that is why it is critically important today to confirm this nominee. prgtoken I am a U.S. Senator, just like the good Senator from Utah, and I can tell that you when we ask questions, we want answers. When we have problems, we like to find solutions. prgtoken I am willing to commit to the Senator from Utah today that I will work w
TURNING TRANSGENDER AWARENESS INTO ACTION
Mark Takano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-11-17

. Madam , I rise today in honor of Transgender Awareness Week. prgtoken Trans Americans made history this year by running and winning in more elections than ever before. Breakthrough representations in media have prgtoken led to historic numbers of transgender and nonbinary characters on screen. In many ways, transgender Americans are more visible than ever. prgtoken At the same time, the trans community has been forced to withstand severe attacks from laws that would strip fundamental rights to dehumanizing vitriol deployed by elected officials and public figures. These attacks treat trans people as threats to society rather than neighbors, parents, children, friends, and loved ones. prgtoken There are more than 2 million people in the United States that identify as transgender or nonbinary. Trans Americans exist in all walks of life all across the country. This transgender week, I call on my colleagues to turn awareness into action. prgtoken To the trans community, you have allies in Congress. Let it be known that there has been no greater friend of trans people in this country or LGBTQ people than Nancy Pelosi. prgtoken We will not cease the fight to protect and advocate for our transgender siblings, not just this week but all year long.
RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-11-17

I just left the floor of the House for one of the most emotional moments I have had in my career: the valedictory of Nancy Pelosi, one of the greatest legislators and greatest people I have ever met. prgtoken I first met Nancy Pelosi back in 1987. I was a Congressman, and we had a little dinner group that would go out to dinner every Tuesday night. One of the leaders of that group, George Miller, a Congressman from California, came up to me. He said: In a few minutes, I am going to introduce you to a new member of our group. She is the new Congresswoman from San Francisco, and she is going to become the first woman . prgtoken That was the first thing I heard about Nancy Pelosi, even before I met her, and the moment I met her, I saw what he meant. It was obvious that this new Member from the west coast of California had it all-- Nancy D'Alesandro Pelosi. prgtoken She is the proud daughter of Baltimore's Little Italy neighborhood, the estimable Representative from the State of California, and the first woman ever as of the U.S. Congress. prgtoken It was amazing. She did an amazing job, and I wanted to go over to the House floor where I had served 18 happy years, many of them as a colleague of Pelosi and a friend, to just say thank you for the amazing things she has done for our country. prgtoken Few in American history have been as effective, as driven, as successful as Pelosi. She has transformed practically every corner of American politics and unquestionably made America a better, stronger nation. You know, I am known as having a lot of energy, but I have never ever met anyone with more energy than Nancy D'Alesandro Pelosi. She is always moving in many directions at once, and she has a complete grasp of each direction in which she is moving even though she is moving at the same time. prgtoken She is just an amazing person. She never forgot why she is in the fight to begin with--as she said, the children, always her North Star, helping the children of America. She did so much--her passion to pass the ACA was for the children above all; and for women, where she broke, of course, one of the greatest glass ceilings we have had, becoming the first woman ; and the American Rescue Plan and the Lilly Ledbetter Act and the infrastructure bill and VAWA and pandemic relief; climate change; repealing don't ask, don't tell--just a few of her amazing achievements. prgtoken She taught me a whole lot. Nancy Pelosi paid attention to each of her Members--I try to do the same--and she always taught the Members to be unified. Her expression that she repeated over and over again, which I have repeated to my caucus on so many occasions: Our unity is our strength. prgtoken She would tell us, she would tell everyone: If everyone goes in his or her own direction, you will get nothing done, but if we all come together and everybody gives a little bit, we could get a lot done. And she sure did. prgtoken I remember
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2022-11-17

reserving the right to object, let me just say at the start, title 42 is a public health tool, and how it is used should be guided by public health experts, looking at data, looking at science--not politicians looking to score political points. prgtoken And let's be clear, drug trafficking is a serious problem and one we do have law enforcement agencies responsible for. We should leave that work to them and support their efforts. But instead of proposing real legislative solutions to address drug trafficking based on what will keep people safe, s want to use title 42 now as the means to keep out anyone seeking asylum and create a political talking point. prgtoken And while I welcome the opportunity to work with my colleague on serious bipartisan solutions to address drug trafficking, I object to this at this time.