mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 650
Peter Welch (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2023-3-8

reserving the right to object, the Senator is working very diligently to achieve a goal that all of us share. The basic question right now is going to be whether to have a 60-day extension that has been agreed to by the House or to have an extension, as the Senator is proposing, until the end of the fiscal year. prgtoken The bottom line--and it is the judgment of many--is that sticking with the 60-day extension is beneficial to achieving the goal of having the parties who are now negotiating come to a longer term resolution even beyond the end of the fiscal year. We have got to extend, ultimately, the spectrum authority beyond 60 days or beyond the end of the fiscal year. We really have to extend it for a much greater period of time in order to achieve the goals that are shared between all of us. prgtoken Senator Rounds' bill, of course, as I mentioned, would extend things until September 30. We think that is going to take pressure off negotiators, and we have some confidence that if we keep that 60-day status, we are going to get to that long-term goal. prgtoken Further, the House has made it clear that they are not going to take up any bill that moves the date to September 30. So that is just the reality we have to deal with. Others may agree with Senator Rounds to push it to September 30, but the best information we have is that the other body has no intention of taking up that bill. If that were the case and we were to pass a bill extending to September 30 but the House doesn't take it up, then the spectrum authority expires, and that is bad for everybody. It sends the wrong signal, obviously, as well, to our allies and our competitors. prgtoken We just can't afford to risk a lapse of authority. Given the reality of the time constraints we are under, even if the Senate were to pass Senator Rounds' bill, we would have a situation where it would be rejected by the House--that is our best judgment--and there would be a lapse in authority, which would be very threatening to the well-being of all of us concerned. prgtoken So, on that basis, I offer this objection to the unanimous consent request of my colleague from South Dakota.
PROTECTING SPEECH FROM GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE ACT
Lois Frankel (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-3-8

my, my, my. If you want to talk about protecting speech from government interference, let's talk about my home State of Florida because nowhere in this country is free speech more endangered than in the Sunshine State. prgtoken Florida: Where s are erasing Black history and gender studies from our schools; where s are threatening teachers and librarians with jail time--jail time--if they put books on their shelves that celebrate the likes of Rosa Parks or Roberto Clemente; Florida, where s have made it illegal--illegal--for businesses to promote a culture of diversity, inclusion or respect; Florida, where progressive thinkers are being fired from colleges, and rightwing donors are being appointed to their boards. prgtoken It is Florida where s actually punished Disney World because Disney World opposed the State's homophobic legislation. It is the great State of Florida where free speech is only free if you agree with our governor. prgtoken If you want to talk about protecting free speech from government interference, let's talk about Florida.
DISAPPROVING THE ACTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COUNCIL IN APPROVING THE REVISED CRIMINAL CODE ACT OF 2022
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-3-8

first, I want to thank Senators Murray, Baldwin, Blumenthal, and so many of the others who have spoken on this issue. It is so vital to our country, to the women of our country, and to all of us in this country. prgtoken For nearly 50 years, Roe v. Wade safeguarded Americans' fundamental right to choose. From the moment Roe was decided in 1973, the most extreme elements of the Party made it their mission to reverse Roe and eliminate the freedom of choice. prgtoken Last summer, tragically, that doomsday scenario became true when the MAGA Supreme Court overturned Roe and declared that there was no constitutional right to access abortion. Eight months later, the consequences of the Court's decision have been severe. One in three women has lost abortion access, and over 17 million individuals can no longer access the full range of reproductive care. prgtoken The MAGA Supreme Court's decision means our children will grow up in a world where they have fewer liberties than previous generations. prgtoken Today, as I mentioned, Senators Baldwin and Blumenthal, along with many others of us, are reintroducing a salve to this terrible injustice: the Women's Health Protection Act. prgtoken This legislation only dropped this morning, but Senate already have a record number of cosponsors, 49 in total. Let me say that again. The legislation only dropped this morning, but Senate already have a record number of cosponsors, 49 in total. This is the most united Senate have ever been on pro-choice legislation, while s remain hell-bent on eliminating women's choice. prgtoken After Americans rejected MAGA s' anti-choice agenda last fall, you would think they would have gotten the message, but they have not. Today, 14 States have enacted near-total abortion bans. Florida s, meanwhile, introduced a bill this week to ban abortions after just 6 weeks, before many women even know they are pregnant. prgtoken How can you say the Florida bill is anything but cruel and inhumane? prgtoken And for those who think s' abortion hostility is about States' rights, nearly every in the Senate sponsored and voted in favor of a nationwide abortion ban. That is what this is all about. s, deep down, want to ban abortions for everyone, everywhere. prgtoken As bad as all this is, the worst injustice is that those who suffer most are often low-income Americans, rural Americans, people of color, LGBTQ Americans, particularly the trans community, and especially Black Americans. In fact, research shows that States with the harshest abortion bans have some of the highest rates of Black maternal death, as much as 38 percent higher in States with abortion restrictions. There is only one word to describe this: shameful. It is a stain, a blot, a blemish on America's soil. prgtoken So passing the Women's Health Protection Act is the right thing to do for
HONORING AND CELEBRATING DR. ANTONIA PANTOJA
Nydia M. Velázquez (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-3-8

I rise today on International's Women Day to honor and celebrate in memoriam Dr. Antonia Pantoja, a Puerto Rican educator, social worker, organizer, prolific author, and resilient social justice activist. Her contributions to the Puerto Rican community and American society are immeasurable. prgtoken From a humble upbringing on the outskirts of San Juan, Barrio Obrero, Puerto Rico--Dr. Pantoja emerged as one of the most vocal and passionate advocates for the Puerto Rican Diaspora, inspiring and guiding emerging leaders in New York City since the 1960's. Believing that education and cultural pride were crucial to healing and lifting the community out of poverty, she committed her life to the difficult and necessary awakening of public consciousness. She was a key figure in the fight to resolve the educational and social injustices plaguing the Puerto Rican community in New York. Her contributions were many and include the establishment of bilingual and culturally relevant education in New York and across the U.S. prgtoken Despite growing up impoverished, she was a determined student and grateful for the opportunity to pursue her education. She received a teaching certificate from the University of Puerto Rico in 1942. prgtoken In 1944, at the age of 22, she emigrated to New York City to further her education. She landed her first job as a wartime welder where she quickly helped form a union that negotiated better work conditions for employees. The seeds of grass-roots activism, that she learned from her grandfather, a union organizer for a tobacco company, would become part of the basic tools for her future work. prgtoken Antonia graduated from Hunter College (1952) with a bachelor's degree in Sociology. She went on to earn a Master's Degree from Columbia University School of Social Work (1954) and her Ph.D. from Union Graduate School in Cincinnati, Ohio (1973). prgtoken Early organizing work led to the founding of the Hispanic American Youth Association (HAYA) in 1957 to address the unmet education, healthcare, and employment needs of her community. Shortly thereafter, the organization was renamed the Puerto Rican Association of Community Affairs (PRACA) to address the unique plight of the Puerto Rican Diaspora. prgtoken In 1961, Dr. Antonia Pantoja and a group of Puerto Rican educators and professionals created ASPIRA to address the exceedingly high drop- out rate and low educational attainment of Puerto Rican youth. Sparked by the high dropout rates and low educational attainment of Puerto Rican children, Dr. Pantoja worked prgtoken with ASPIRA of New York to sue the NYC Board of Education (1974). They were successful, and the resulting consent decree is considered a major landmark in the establishment of bilingual education in the United States. prgtoken Dr. Pantoja helped establish some of the most influential stateside organizations of the time including the National Puerto Rican Forum (1957), ASPIRA (1961
HONORING KEENAN DARNELL ANDERSON, A LIFE LOST TOO SOON
Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-3-8

I rise to recognize the life of Keenan Darnell Anderson. Mr. Anderson was a father, a life partner to his fiancee, a teacher, and a proud Angeleno. Mr. Anderson was taken from us earlier this year by the brutality and violence of the LAPD. Today, we stand here to honor Mr. Anderson's life, legacy, and contributions to his family and his city. prgtoken Mr. Anderson grew up in Los Angeles and from a young age, demonstrated his commitment to his family across Southern California. He was known as the ``life of the party,'' always livening up family cookouts and picnics. Mr. Anderson was a linchpin of his close-knit family. From the time that he was young, Mr. Anderson knew he wanted to dedicate his life to helping others. In college, he focused this dedication on a career in law enforcement, double majoring in criminal justice and sociology. Later, he translated this desire to do good for the world into educating, earning a graduate degree in education. prgtoken Mr. Anderson's passion for teaching led him to dedicate his career to educating his community's youth. As a teacher, he taught English to juniors and seniors in high school and even chaired the English department. Mr. Anderson was also invested in the creativity of his students, teaching drama classes that served as an introduction to the arts to many Angeleno youth. He was also a charismatic member of his church where he led family game nights and injected his infectious energy and enthusiasm. prgtoken At the time of his untimely death, Mr. Anderson had just moved to Washington, D.C. to teach at Digital Pioneers Academy. Washington, D.C. will forever miss out on the contributions, energy, and inspiration he could have brought to the young people here. prgtoken Washington, D.C. students are not the only ones that will forever miss Mr. Anderson. He is survived by his fiancee, Domonique, to whom he was deeply devoted, and his 5 year-old son, Syncere. Mr. Anderson doted on his son, proud to be a father and proud to have his son by side. Mr. Anderson's wrongful murder robbed Syncere of years with his father. On February 7, 2023, Domonique joined me as my guest at the State of the Union, where we continued to highlight the unjust and tragic death of this doting and dedicated father, partner, friend, educator, and member of my community. prgtoken Today, we should be celebrating Mr. Anderson's great achievements as a father and a teacher, and the strength and resilience he imbued in his communities. Instead, we must confront the tragedy of his murder at the hands of the LAPD. prgtoken , this commemoration of the life of Keenan Anderson, a life gone too soon, adds yet another name to America's tainted legacy of violence against the Black community at the hands of individuals charged with protecting and serving. I honor the memory of Mr. Anderson and commit to working to eliminate the inhumane violence and brutality that took him from us too soon.
DISAPPROVING THE ACTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COUNCIL IN APPROVING THE REVISED CRIMINAL CODE ACT OF 2022
Cory A. Booker (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2023-3-8

I want to just say that I respect and am grateful for the generosity of the chairman, the Senator from Oregon, for allowing me to slip in and say some remarks. prgtoken I want to thank Senator Van Hollen for his incredible leadership on this issue. prgtoken I have the distinction of being the only one of the 100 Senators who was actually born in Washington, DC. This is the city my parents met in. This is the city they married in. My mom worked for the DC Public Schools. My father was one of the first Black salesmen hired in the entire DC region by the company IBM. I owe this city so much, and I am disappointed that there is nobody in this body who was officially elected to speak for this city. prgtoken Washington, DC, is suffering, as it has, from a violation of one of our most sacrosanct principles of the country, which is this idea that this democracy is rooted in the ideal of representative democracy, the separation of powers, and most certainly the idea that you can't have taxation without representation. In fact, DC residents pay more prgtoken per capita in Federal taxes than any other State, but yet they have no say in the Federal Government. prgtoken , 700,000 Americans, in one of the only expressions of representative democracy available to them, have 13 council people who were part of a process. As was said already by my colleague, the council members completed the monumental task of modernizing the 120- year-old DC Criminal Code to make it more consistent, clarifying conflicting provisions, and bringing it in line not just with current best practices reflected in the majority of States' criminal codes but in trying to address the urgencies of the moment wherein you have a city that is deeply concerned about the crime in its community. prgtoken DC's efforts are not unique. There are 37 States that have gone through similar processes--so-called red States, so-called blue States, and purple States. prgtoken The process was spearheaded, as my colleague said, by the independent DC Criminal Code Reform Commission, which was a nonpartisan agency that was very representative of prosecutors and victims' rights advocates. All of these nonpolitical people came and unanimously endorsed what we have before us today. prgtoken Now, the first time any partisan politician got involved was with the City Council just voting to confirm this nonpartisan body's unanimous recommendations. It was to that process that the leader said: Oh, it looks like, with what they did, they are in need of adult supervision. prgtoken Think of how patronizing and paternalistic that is for this body, not being any part of this process, now suddenly saying they need adult supervision as if they are children. prgtoken The DC Criminal Code was about keeping DC safe. It is what the prosecutors involved said and what the U.S. Attorney's Office said: We need to do this to create a safer city because of the conf
DELIVERING FOR RHODE ISLAND'S COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY
Seth Magaziner (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2023-3-8

. Madam , last month, I had the opportunity to visit the Port of Galilee in Narragansett, Rhode Island, one of the most productive commercial fishing ports in the entire Northeast. Galilee is home to more than 270 commercial fishing boats, supporting 3,500 jobs and landing more than 16 million pounds of seafood per year. prgtoken As a member of the Natural Resources Committee, I am committed to fighting for resources for America's ports and to supporting the commercial fishing industry, which is vital to how we feed our Nation and support our economy. prgtoken I am also introducing a bill to secure a voice for the Rhode Island fishing industry in the Mid-Atlantic Fishery prgtoken Management Council. I am proud to support and fight in Congress for Rhode Island's fishermen, and I encourage everyone to try the best seafood in America, which is Rhode Island seafood.
HIRZEL CANNING COMPANY AT 100 YEARS
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-3-8

I rise to say hurray and recognize a northwestern Ohio institution, Hirzel Canning Company and Farms, on its 100th anniversary. prgtoken Headquartered in Northwood, Ohio, the Hirzel family rose from humble beginnings to become a major player in the national canned produce market, particularly canned tomato products. They are the best you will ever eat. prgtoken Carl Hirzel was a Swiss immigrant who lost his job as a brewer during Prohibition and moved to northwest Ohio to find opportunity. In 1923, he began farming a 60-acre plot in what is now Northwood. prgtoken He initially had trouble selling fresh products in the established produce market, until a local butcher who liked his sauerkraut told him there was an untapped canned vegetable market. prgtoken As their CEO, Joe Hirzel, always says, ``Whatever you guys do, do not forget quality.'' That is the Hirzel way. prgtoken So today with plants in Northwood, Pemberville, and Ottawa, and a farming operation near Luckey, Hirzel now distributes in 36 States nationwide. Their company is top quality, grown right in northern Ohio, and especially top quality are the people who operate and work there. prgtoken I just want to congratulate Hirzel again. Our entire region is so very, very proud of them and all of their accomplishments.
DISAPPROVING THE ACTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COUNCIL IN APPROVING THE REVISED CRIMINAL CODE ACT OF 2022
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2023-3-8

I am proud but I am also saddened and angry to be here introducing a measure that should never be necessary in the United States of America. prgtoken The Women's Health Protection Act will, yes, offer protection to women who need and deserve it, but it is only because of a hideously misguided decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that we are here today. prgtoken When I first introduced this measure 10 years ago, the thought of overruling Roe v. Wade was unimaginable. It was a figment of fear dismissed by realistic scholars and advocates. It was unthinkable. And here we are. prgtoken The U.S. Supreme Court has handed down a death sentence to women across America. It has overturned 50 years of precedent, which I know well because I was a law clerk to the U.S. Supreme Court Justice who wrote that opinion in the year afterward. prgtoken We thought then--and so did most people in America--we have dealt with this issue, we have disposed of it, and it is done in terms of juris prudence. But this measure is now necessary to protect the rights of all people to seek the healthcare they need and deserve. prgtoken I will tell you why I believe this measure should be passed. I trust women. I trust women to make decisions about their own future. I trust women more than I do elected officials or judges or government bureaucrats to decide what is right for them individually. prgtoken This measure is necessary to stop all of the bans, prohibitions, and medically unnecessary restrictions that prgtoken have no purpose except to cut off care and stigmatize women seeking healthcare services and the dedicated healthcare providers who serve them. prgtoken Now, I have a message to the men of America. This fight is yours, too. This isn't a women's issue. This is an American issue. It is a family issue. And if you think you are spared the conscience and conviction that should require you to stand up and speak out, you are wrong. This issue is yours, too. prgtoken We have seen horror stories just in the month since Dobbs. You heard one from my colleague Senator Baldwin. I have a similar one--Amanda Zurawski in Texas, who sadly learned that her baby would not survive, but doctors would not treat her as she might have done in other States. They told her to go home. She almost died of sepsis. They brought her back to the hospital and rushed her to intensive care. prgtoken Her husband Josh learned that, as a result, they might never have children. He said: Amanda almost died. That's not pro-life. Amanda will have challenges having more kids. That is not pro-life. He called it ``barbaric.'' That is the Texas law--barbaric, inhuman. prgtoken Protecting access to abortion through the Women's Health Protection Act would not only help people like Amanda--women--it would help families. It would help countless people who simply choose access to abortion care because it is right for them and for their families, for other ch
DISAPPROVING THE ACTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COUNCIL IN APPROVING THE REVISED CRIMINAL CODE ACT OF 2022
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-3-8

the joint resolution we are considering tramples on the right of DC citizens to manage their own affairs, plain and simple. In fact, it is so intrusive, it provides a compelling argument for DC statehood. prgtoken DC statehood is long overdue. There is no justification for the denial of rights and representation for the 700,000 citizens of the District of Columbia. They deserve to have their voices heard in our democracy; they deserve true self-governance and the right to have a say in the policies that will affect their lives. prgtoken Our Nation's Capital is home to more than 700,000 fellow Americans who, despite our Nation's founding mantra--``no taxation without representation''--pay their share of taxes without full voting representation in either Chamber of Congress. In fact, despite paying more in Federal taxes per capita than citizens of any of the 50 States, DC residents have no say in how those taxes are actually spent. prgtoken This isn't a or ic issue; it is an American issue because the lack of fair representation for DC residents is clearly inconsistent with the values on which this country was founded. It is therefore incumbent upon all of us who enjoy the right and prgtoken the privilege of full voting rights and representation to take up the cause of our fellow citizens in the District of Columbia. prgtoken We must use our voices to call out this historic injustice and right this wrong. prgtoken DC has more residents than two States, Wyoming and Vermont. It has a population comparable to Alaska and Delaware. DC pays more in Federal taxes than 23 States. Yet it has no representation here in the Senate. Along with my colleagues who make up the informal ``National Capital Area'' delegation, I have worked over the years to advance the District's interests given its proximity to the two States and significant cross-border commuting and business activity. prgtoken Statehood for DC is not about taking away the power and representation of residents of other States. This is not and should never be interpreted as a zero-sum game. Instead, what we have here is a situation that clearly conflicts with our democratic ideals. prgtoken The District includes people of all backgrounds. However unique the District might be, its residents are hard-working people who do not differ from other Americans in their basic entitlement to representation. Taxation without representation is a compelling argument for statehood. It should be enough to move Congress to act. Instead, we are regressing here. prgtoken Rubbing salt into the wound of this intrusion is the fact that proponents of the joint resolution deliberately mischaracterize what the Criminal Code revision does, or fails to do. The Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022--the RCCA--comprehensively revises DC's Criminal Code, which had not been updated since its creation in 1901. We may agree or disagree with some of its provisions, but it