mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CELEBRATING R&R PARTNERS FOR 50 YEARS OF ADVERTISING EXCELLENCE IN SOUTHERN NEVADA
Dina Titus (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2024-2-15

I rise today to acknowledge and congratulate R&R Partners for 50 years of promoting Las Vegas around the world. prgtoken On January 18, 1974, Sig Rogich founded R&R Advertising. The firm quickly made a name for itself by landing casino accounts and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. A short nine years later, Sig Rogich hired Billy Vassiliadis, then a 26-year-old Chicagoan and fellow Greek American. I had the pleasure of teaching Billy at UNLV where he was a political science major and already engaged in local politics. prgtoken Just as Southern Nevada grew from a population of 350,000 in 1974 to 2,300,000 in 2024, R&R Partners has grown from a small firm to an advertising and public affairs institution with hundreds of employees in offices around the country and in Mexico. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 1999, R&R Advertising changed its name to R&R Partners, emphasizing the full service that R&R provides to clients. In addition to advertising, the agency offers legislative advice and often works pro bono for good causes. prgtoken In a 2004 profile, the New York Times declared Billy, ``The Pied Piper of Las Vegas'', saying that, ``Every dream needs a merchant, every myth a mythmaker. In Las Vegas, the job falls to Billy.'' I've always said that while other congressional districts make cigarettes or cars, in Las Vegas we make dreams come true. And Billy and R&R Partners have played a key role in spreading that message around the world. prgtoken In 2003, R&R developed their most famous advertising campaign, one that has made Las Vegas the international tourism destination that it is today. ``What happens here, stays here'' is heard in movies, music, and even commercials for nonrelated products. prgtoken This simple and suggestive slogan ushered in a new era of tourism for Las Vegas. The iconic tagline was honored on Madison Avenue's Advertising Walk of Fame and won R&R Partners and LVCVA Brandweek magazine's Grand Marketer of the Year Award. prgtoken Billy and R&R have not only created winning campaigns for Las Vegas's casino and tourism industry, but also for causes like the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, and ``Flip the Script'', a state-wide anti-bullying campaign. R&R has also assisted various public entities like the Southern Nevada Water District in its compliance campaign, ``It's a desert out there. Be water small.'' prgtoken Today, R&R remains at the forefront of advertising and public affairs in Las Vegas and around the world. Whether it is the 2020 remix of their famous slogan for LVCVA, ``What happens here only happens here''; campaigns for the Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Grand Prix, and Super Bowl LVIII; or innovative work for Fortune 500 companies, and non- profits and government entities, R&R continues to deliver for its clients and for Southern Nevada. prgtoken I am honored and pleased to call Billy Vassiliadis a longtime friend a
AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM
Bill Foster (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-2-15

I rise today to urge my thoughtful colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join to continue funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program. prgtoken Affordable internet is essential to participating in our modern economy and ensuring a high quality of life for workers, students, seniors, and families. prgtoken That is why our ic majority first launched the Affordable Connectivity Program in 2021. Since then, it has helped lower internet costs for millions of Americans and nearly 700,000 households in Illinois, including 17,000 in my district. prgtoken Nonetheless, unless s join at the table, the ACP will expire in just 2 months, which would increase broadband costs and put internet access at risk for millions of Americans. We cannot let that happen. prgtoken So I will continue fighting to ensure this critical program remains funded, and I hope my colleagues will join me in this effort to keep all of our communities connected.
REMEMBERING THE CITY OF WRANGELL, ALASKA
Mary Sattler Peltola (Democrat, AK) \u2014 2024-2-15

I rise today to mourn with the city of Wrangell, Alaska. At 9 p.m. on November 20, 2023, 37 acres of land descended on three houses at mile 11 of the Zimovia Highway in Wrangell. The landslide scattered everything, cutting off 55 homes and 71 people from their community. prgtoken Navigating wind, rain, and snapping trees, first responders went straight into the debris to find their neighbors. prgtoken With no cell service, firefighters went door to door. Local fishing boats transported survivors back to the city. prgtoken In the days following, the Coast Guard, State geologists, State troopers, and other public servants joined the search and rescue teams. prgtoken Like Alaskans always do, the Wrangell community pulled together in the face of adversity. Christina Florschutz was rescued from the debris and, for that, Alaskans are grateful. prgtoken Tragically, her husband, Otto, and the neighboring Heller family with three children aged 16, 12, and 11 did not survive. prgtoken Their loss will forever change this small community, and it should remind us of our duty. From better monitoring systems to faster FEMA responses, Americans expect the Federal Government to be ready when disaster strikes. prgtoken I hope that my colleagues will join me in making that a reality and remembering the story of Wrangell.
BENNETT COLLEGE
Kathy E. Manning (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2024-2-15

this Black History Month, I am highlighting the long and rich history of Bennett College, an all-woman HBCU in my hometown, Greensboro, North Carolina. prgtoken For over 150 years, Bennett College has been a beacon of social justice in the South. prgtoken In the 1930s, the Bennett Belles protested racism in the film industry with protests at our local Carolina Theatre. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Bennett Belles played a key role in the civil rights movement. prgtoken In 1958, when Martin Luther King, Jr visited Greensboro and struggled to find a place to speak, Bennett College president, Willa B. Player, gave him a stage. She said: ``Bennett College is a liberal arts college where `freedom rings,' so King can speak here.'' prgtoken Two years after Dr. King spoke on campus, the Bennett Belles staged a sit-in at the segregated Woolworth's lunch counter with The Greensboro Four. Their actions sparked a nationwide sit-in movement that forever changed the course of history. prgtoken Today, Bennett College students and alumni continue to be changemakers. I am proud to recognize the immense contributions of the Bennett Belles this Black History Month.
UNLOCKING OUR DOMESTIC LNG POTENTIAL ACT OF 2024
Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2024-2-15

I rise today in opposition to this handout for Big Oil and Gas producers. prgtoken This bill removes a requirement that DOE first determine LNG exports are to be in the public interest before approving export applications to non-free trade agreement countries. It is basically saying all LNG exports are in the public interest. This is simply not true. prgtoken Study after study has found that increased LNG exports directly lead to higher natural gas prices here at home. prgtoken According to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, LNG exports cost American consumers more than $100 billion over a 16-month period. After doubling our LNG exports in the last 5 years, natural gas prices in 2022 more than tripled. prgtoken If enacted, this bill will only compound those burdens on middle- class families trying to make ends meet while enriching big corporations. This doesn't sound like legislating in the public interest. prgtoken For this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee. prgtoken If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill. My amendment would prevent the bill from taking effect until the Secretary of Energy can certify that the bill will not increase domestic natural gas prices. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment in the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.
IN MEMORY OF THE HONORABLE N. SCOTT MOMADAY
Teresa Leger Fernandez (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2024-2-15

I rise to honor N. Scott Momaday for his remarkable and unforgettable life, a legend to the last word. Mr. Momaday passed away on Wednesday, January 24 in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the age of 89. I offer my sincerest condolences to his family. They are in my prayers to find peace and healing. prgtoken Mr. Momaday was born in Lawton, Oklahoma on February 27, 1934. After moving to Arizona, his family moved to Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico, also known as Walatowa--meaning the ``people of the valley.'' There is no surprise in my mind as to why N. Scott Momaday was inspired by this beautiful place, which was often featured in his brilliant works. prgtoken Indeed, Mr. Momaday received the 1969 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his House Made of Dawn, which is largely credited with igniting a wave of modern Native American literature. He showed us the power of storytelling and the oral tradition--of bringing imagination to life-- and shed light on the Native experience and culture. As he once said, ``Our very existence consists in our imagination of ourselves.'' prgtoken Mr. Momaday also reminded us of the importance of the land. He wrote, ``We Americans must come again to a moral comprehension of the earth and air. We must live according to the principle of a land ethic. The alternative is that we shall not live at all.'' prgtoken Today I say thank you to N. Scott Momaday for these stories that preserve the beauty of our lands so that in a changing world, they remain indispensable to our collective well-being for years to come. prgtoken Mr. Momaday will be forever remembered across Native America and New Mexico. His writing sparked our imagination and took our hearts to places our bodies have never touched. He had the ability to paint the picture of a story through the finesse of power in his words. He created space necessary for creative culture to follow. For all this and more, we recognize N. Scott Momaday for his indelible influence on the state of New Mexico and to the United States of America.
UNLOCKING OUR DOMESTIC LNG POTENTIAL ACT OF 2024
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2024-2-15

I rise in opposition to H.R. 7176, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024. This bill would open the floodgates for gas exports that enrich our adversaries, raise consumer energy costs, and accelerate the climate crisis. prgtoken , why would s want to export our natural resources to foreign adversaries without even considering if those exports will harm everyday Americans? This bill does just that. H.R. 7176 removes the requirement that the Department of Energy (DOE) first determine if liquified natural gas (LNG) exports are in the public interest before approving export applications to countries with whom the U.S. does not have a free trade agreement. By removing essential safeguards, this bill will allow our adversaries, like China, to purchase even more of our natural resources to use against us. prgtoken This bill is nothing more than a giant handout to s' big oil and gas friends, and hardworking Americans will pay the price with higher home energy costs. H.R. 7176 is detrimental to my constituents who already have to deal with volatile fossil fuel costs and gas prices being manipulated by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Big oil and gas corporations don't need another handout from Congressional s. They already enjoy billions in taxpayer-funded subsidies and continue to rake in record-breaking profits. prgtoken The U.S. is the number one exporter of LNG worldwide, and U.S. exports are expected to double by the end of this decade. Last November, I joined my colleagues in the House and Senate in sending a letter to DOE urging the agency to update how it determines if new licenses for LNG exports are in the public interest. I was pleased to see the administration's announcement in January that DOE would pause approvals for pending and future applications to export LNG from new projects until the agency can update the public interest analyses for authorizations. President 's decision will ensure that impacts on costs to American families and businesses, climate impacts, and environmental justice are factored in when approving LNG exports. I commend President for his commitment to leading the way in ambitious climate action. prgtoken This is the third time that I have voted on this bill on the House Floor in the 118th Congress. For the third time, I urge my colleagues to reject H.R. 7176 and the s' radical agenda that puts polluters over people.
UNLOCKING OUR DOMESTIC LNG POTENTIAL ACT OF 2024
Diana DeGette (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2024-2-15

I am so confused. President took action to ensure that future LNG exports are actually in the interest of Americans. His action had no impact on current production of LNG. prgtoken Let me say that again. The projects that President 's order impacts are future projects. We are going to see if, in the future, those projects are in America's best interest. prgtoken What this bill does is not just overturns this pause on future actions; it goes so much further. It says all LNG exports must be in the public interest, and it prohibits the Department of Energy from finding otherwise. prgtoken Let's say, for example, these increased exports lead to higher rates for ratepayers, which may happen. The bill says to forget about any kind of public interest review. It must be approved even if ratepayers' rates are higher. prgtoken If the increased exports all went to China, that would be in the public interest, too. If the exports lead to an exorbitant release of pollution, that would be in the public interest, too. prgtoken That simply defies logic and sense. It is a fundamentally unserious policy proposal. In fact, I would call it not really a policy proposal at all but a campaign-year idea to try to somehow make people think we are trying to stop LNG exports. Nothing could be further from the truth. prgtoken We have already permitted enough LNG exports to triple our export capacity by the 2030s. That is under current law. That is not something that President 's order is going to impact. That is more than enough LNG to assist our European and Asian allies. prgtoken The U.S. is already the world's top LNG exporter and will be for years to come, not to mention that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle know the Senate is never even going to take up this bill. Even if the Senate somehow did pass this, they know the President would never sign this bill into law. Also, this bill has already come up on two other occasions. prgtoken Like I said, we need to be clear about why the s are bringing this bill to the floor. They think this will be some good campaign ads or something else. Like so much of what else we have done on the floor, this is not going anywhere. prgtoken I came here on behalf of my constituents to legislate. I came here to make the lives of the American people better. This bill doesn't do that. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''
TRIBUTE TO THE LATE CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ICON, THOMAS N. TODD
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2024-2-15

today, I want to pay tribute to a remarkable civil rights leader and social justice icon, Thomas N. Todd. Although his name may not be familiar to everyone, his contributions to social justice and equality in this country are remarkable and have benefited millions of people in ways few others have accomplished. Tom Todd was one of the most electrifying speakers of our time. His impressive oratorical skills were so impactful that his initials ``T-N- T'' became synonymous with the powerful effect he had on his audiences. prgtoken Tom Todd was born in Demopolis, Alabama, in 1938. He later moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he married Janice Roberts. They had two children together, Tamara Nicole and Tracey Newborn. Tom lived in Chicago until he passed away on February 8, 2024. prgtoken As a child in Demopolis, Tom's family was poor. His father passed away shortly after his birth. Tom was raised by his mother and stepfather. Unfortunately, his mother also passed away when he was only 20 years old. Due to his stepfather's illiteracy, Tom stayed in Mobile to help with the funeral and burial arrangements. He even considered dropping out of school to assist further. However, he eventually enrolled at Southern University in 1959, where he studied political science and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. prgtoken After graduation, Todd returned to Mobile and worked odd jobs for nearly a year until a friend suggested he apply to law school. Todd returned to Southern University for law school in 1960 and was admitted solely on the recommendation of a dean who met Todd as an undergraduate and recognized his potential. There, law professors and students represented other students who had been arrested for sitting at whites- only lunch counters at five-and-dime and drug stores--an act of civil disobedience aimed at protesting segregation in Baton Rouge. Todd actively participated in the first lawsuit regarding these protests to reach the U.S. Supreme Court, Garner v. Louisiana (1961). He graduated magna cum laude and passed the bar exam on his first attempt in 1963. prgtoken Todd then secured a position at the solicitor's office in the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C leaving that job in less than a year to train for the Judge Advocate General's Corps. He practiced law while serving in the United States Army from 1964 to 1967. That same year, he was appointed an assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago. In 1968, he made history by filing the first federal criminal case against a Chicago police officer for violating an individual's civil rights. prgtoken According to United Press International, Todd's case was also the first indictment in the country against a law enforcement official under a new civil rights amendment to the federal criminal code. Chicago police officer Joseph Fine was accused of beating up Eldridge Gaston outside a South Side restaurant. Gaston died as a result of his injuries. Although the case ended
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF VICKI MODELL
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2024-2-15

it is with a heavy heart but fond memories that I rise today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of an extraordinary woman and my good friend, Vicki Modell. Along with her husband, Fred, Vicki became a respected leader and fierce advocate for those diagnosed with Primary Immunodeficiency and their loved ones. Though she will no longer be a daily presence in our lives, those fortunate enough to have known and worked with her will most certainly carry on her legacy. prgtoken In 1986, Vicki and Fred Modell lost their only son, Jeffrey, to Primary Immunodeficiency, a genetic disorder that leaves the body unable to fight off infections. Not long after their son passed away, the Modells created the Jeffrey Modell Foundation--not to commemorate Jeffrey's death, but rather to celebrate his life by giving life to others who suffer from the same illness. Today, the Foundation is a global organization devoted to early and precise diagnosis, meaningful treatments, and research toward a cure. Vicki was the heart and soul of the Foundation, and its continued mission to meet its ultimate goal--to find a cure--is her legacy. prgtoken I first met Vicki and Fred when they came to me to advocate for increased federal investments in research of Primary Immunodeficiency. From our very first meeting, I was impressed, not only with their determination but their passion. They transformed the devastating loss of their child into a lifelong advocacy effort. Today, the Jeffrey Modell Foundation is recognized as a respected voice for advocacy, education, and research. I could not be more proud of the work we have done together to ensure federal investments in this critical work. prgtoken In one of many remembrances, Vicki's family recounted the story of Jeffrey asking his parents to ``do something.'' Through her work at the Foundation and her unwavering advocacy, that was just what Vicki did. Whenever faced with challenges or obstacles, Vicki never took no for an answer--she just kept going. In doing so she made such a difference in people's lives. One of her favorite programs, Roots & Wings, provides lifesaving travel and related support to families whose child has prgtoken been identified with a potentially life-threatening Primary Immunodeficiency requiring lifesaving medical care far away from home. Jeffrey asked Vicki to ``Do Something,'' and she did. prgtoken As I stand today and extend my heartfelt condolences to Vicki's husband, Fred, as well as her family, friends, and colleagues, I am inspired to continue to work with them and the Jeffrey Modell Foundation to honor Vicki's memory by making a difference in the lives of those diagnosed with Primary Immunodeficiency and their loved ones. I look forward to the day when we realize her ultimate dream of finding a cure. I know I, like so many others, will keep the memory of Vicki Modell close as we continue this important work.
UNLOCKING OUR DOMESTIC LNG POTENTIAL ACT OF 2024
Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2024-2-15

I thank Ranking Member Pallone for yielding. prgtoken , do we want to talk about gifts to Putin? prgtoken Which party is preventing any aid going to Ukraine to fight Putin and Russia? prgtoken , don't come up here and talk about the hypocrisy of who is giving a gift to Putin because it is your party, the Party, that is doing that. prgtoken Today, I rise in opposition to H.R. 7176 which would strip away the Department of Energy's ability to examine the full impacts of liquefied natural prgtoken gas export projects on our climate, consumer energy costs, and communities. prgtoken LNG exports are an environmental injustice and a climate disaster. They pollute minority and low-income communities along the Gulf Coast. prgtoken We have heard directly from communities in these regions that they do not want any LNG facilities to be built in their backyards. prgtoken Roishetta Ozane, a mother of six in Sulphur, Louisiana, is surrounded by oil and gas infrastructure, including three LNG export facilities. She has said: ``Our air smells like rotten eggs. There is constant flaring. . . . It sounds like trains are coming back and forth. I have two children who suffer with asthma. I have children who suffer with other respiratory and skin conditions. . . . There are several families dealing with the same thing.'' prgtoken For far too long, her community's voice has been ignored as these LNG export facilities were built. prgtoken I commend the administration for taking an important step to pause the consideration of new permits for LNG export terminals. It gives us a chance to make sure that people like Roishetta have a voice. prgtoken The bill in front of us is an attempt to silence communities overwhelmed by pollution. It forces the Federal Government to ignore what is in the public interest and instead blindly approve LNG export projects to create profits for the fossil fuel industry. prgtoken , I urge my ic colleagues to oppose this bill and stand up for our consumers, our climate, and the health of our communities.