mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DENOUNCING TREATMENT OF AMERICAN HERO AND VETERAN, AIRMAN BRIAN KOLFAGE
Paul A. Gosar (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2022-5-6

. Madam , I rise today to expose the shameful treatment of Iraq war veteran Brian Kolfage by the U.S. Government. prgtoken Airman Kolfage lost three limbs defending our country in the Iraq war. While serving a second tour of duty in Iraq in 2004, a rocket shell exploded 25 feet from him. Due to his tenacity and determination, he shocked his doctors and left Walter Reed after only 11 months. He earned a Purple Heart and is the most wounded airman ever to have survived a war in the history of our country. prgtoken Brian Kolfage's service to country did not end with his military valor. Incredibly, he ran a prgtoken private organization that helped build 3 miles of border wall along the Rio Grande river, a place where construction is difficult due to the great potential for erosion. prgtoken So how do our corrupt elites treat this hero? They respond like they did to the many peaceful protesters on January 6, to the pro-life protesters facing over 10 years for trying to save the unborn, or to anyone who disagrees with their globalist, America-last agenda. They persecute them; they make their lives a living hell; they ruin them. prgtoken As our ruling elites were not happy that the illegal hordes could not continue to stream across the border, they activated their deep-state machinery and sent their secret police to arrest Airman Kolfage. Fifteen Federal law enforcement goons dragged him out of his house without a wheelchair, subjecting him to utter humiliation and pain in front of his family. No thought whatsoever was given to his disabled status. And in prison, the VA refused him pain medications, without which he suffers unbearable pain. prgtoken Mr. Kolfage had worked tirelessly, 12 hours a day, for several years to get this 3-mile section of wall built. He ran and operated the organization that got it done. For taking a salary, the Federal Government arrested him, saying he had no right to get paid anything because his website said any money raised would go to build the wall. In my view, he was part of getting the wall built. There was nothing wrong with him getting a salary and saying the money would be used to build the wall. Without him, it would not have been complete, and no real American would object to a man getting paid to devote himself to a selfless project like this one and succeeding. prgtoken Airman Kolfage was just intimidated into taking a plea deal by our third-world, kangaroo-court judicial system. This veteran and activist should be celebrated as a hero in so many ways. Instead, he will rot in a Federal prison. A greater injustice is hard to imagine. To his wife, Ashley, and two children, my heart goes out to them. I am praying for them all. Please know that I will continue to fight against the injustice done to her husband.
HONORING MARTHA HEIDE FOR HER SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHWEST OHIO
Michael R. Turner (Republican, OH) \u2014 2022-5-6

. Madam , I want to pay tribute to a long-time staff member and dear friend, Mrs. Marty Heide, who left my office at the end of April to begin her well-deserved retirement. prgtoken Marty and I have worked together for over 33 years. She started her career as an employee at my downtown Dayton, Ohio law firm, and worked in my office during my two terms as mayor of Dayton. prgtoken After I was elected to Congress in 2003, Marty spent the next 19 years serving the citizens of Southwest Ohio as a caseworker in my district office, and as District Outreach and Director of Special Events for Greene County. prgtoken Marty Heide has touched the hearts of everyone who has had the good fortune to know her and to work with her. She has earned a reputation as an experienced, knowledgeable and sympathetic caseworker who never hesitated to go above and beyond the call of duty to help a constituent, listen to their concerns, work toward a solution--and more often than not, a successful outcome. prgtoken Marty was responsible for organizing the annual Congressional Art Competition, to showcase the artistic talents of high school students in the Dayton area. She also directed my Military Service Academy Board, spending countless hours mentoring some of our best and brightest young people, and selecting the future leaders of our Armed Forces for nominations to our Nation's military academies. prgtoken Marty has helped literally thousands of my constituents cut through the maze of the Federal bureaucracy--whether they were seniors having trouble obtaining their Social Security or Medicare benefits, or helping to expedite the renewal of a passport, or solving problems with tax returns, or helping a future citizen obtain a green card. prgtoken Madam , I cannot tell you how many times a happy constituent has told me about how Marty helped them, or a close family member, resolve a problem. prgtoken The president of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra once contacted my office with an urgent request for an expedited visa to allow a musical group from Canada, Jeans n Classics, to perform for Dayton's annual Summer in the City Musical Festival. He sent me a message, saying that ``Marty did a fantastic job in getting this issue resolved quickly and efficiently. We are very, very grateful for Marty's prompt, helpful, and courteous assistance.'' prgtoken A retiree from Beavercreek recently needed help gaining access to funds from his Thrift Savings Plan, which were needed to cover vital living expenses during the coronavirus pandemic. Marty jumped right into action, and the matter was cleared up in a very short period. ``Without Marty's skillful intervention,'' he wrote, ``I may still be waiting for TSP to complete my requested transfer of these funds.'' prgtoken After Marty helped expedite the renewal of his son's passport for a trip to Tokyo, a man from Dayton wrote: ``My son and I couldn't have completed the Transpacific business/personal tri
RECOGNIZING MR. MICHAEL KOBITO AS GEORGIA'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Barry Loudermilk (Republican, GA) \u2014 2022-5-6

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Mr. Michael Kobito of Bartow County, Georgia as the 2023 Georgia Teacher of the Year, and to commend his exceptional service to students in Bartow County, as well as his incredible contributions to their academic enrichment. prgtoken Mr. Kobito teaches AP Music Theory at Woodland High School; and, in addition to providing students with a top-notch instruction in the performing arts, Mr. Kobito leads four concert bands, a 200-member marching band, the school basketball pep band, a jazz band, and the winter guard. prgtoken Mr. Kobito's AP Music students achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the AP exam within his first year of teaching, a result of his dedication to their education, as well as their enthusiasm for his class. His teaching philosophy emphasizes the potential of each individual student and encourages them to treat every day as an opportunity to learn and achieve. prgtoken As the 2023 Georgia Teacher of the Year, Mr. Kobito will serve as an advocate for Georgia students and educators, and as an ex-officio member of the Georgia State Board of Education. Furthermore, he will compete for the recognition of 2023 National Teacher of the Year. prgtoken Once again, I commend Mr. Kobito for his exceptional work as a Georgia educator and congratulate him on achieving this important honor within the Georgia education system. I would also like to acknowledge the runner up, Katie Blum of Sugar Hill Elementary, and all Georgia's Teacher of the Year finalists for their tremendous work and dedication to educating our next generation of successful Georgians.
Business Before the Senate (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-5-9

. Now, , I have just filed cloture on the Women's Health Protection Act. This week, the Senate will be confronted with a simple but urgent question: Do women in this country have a basic right to make their own choices when it comes to seeking an abortion, yes or no? It will be one of the most important questions this Chamber confronts in decades because, for the first time in 50 years, women in America face the real possibility of living in a world where the protections of Roe v. Wade are a thing of the past. It will set up a situation where our children, female children, have less rights than their grandparents--something that is so un-American, taking away rights, stepping backward from rights in such a dramatic way. prgtoken So, tonight, I will set up a vote for Wednesday on legislation that will codify the fundamental right to an abortion into Federal law. Every American is going to see where every Senator stands on protecting one of the most important rights a woman has regarding her own body. prgtoken I want to be clear. This week's vote is not an abstract exercise; this is as real and as high stakes as it gets. And Senate s will no longer be able to hide from the horror they have unleashed upon women in America. After spending years packing our courts with rightwing judges and Justices, after changing the rules of the Senate to push three rigidly conservative Justices, after stealing the nomination of Merrick Garland, the time has come for s, this new MAGA Party, to answer for their actions. prgtoken If Senate s allow the Supreme Court's decision to stand, it will be open season--open season--on women's rights in America. prgtoken A few days ago, Leader McConnell himself acknowledged that a Federal ban on abortions is now possible should the Supreme Court overturn Roe and s take control of the Senate. prgtoken Let me say that again because it is so dreadful. In light of the Supreme Court's decision--upcoming decision--Leader McConnell acknowledged that a national ban on abortion is now possible without Roe if s reclaim the majority. prgtoken Hear that, America? A total ban--a total national ban on abortion, stated by not any but by the leader. Every single American needs to hear what Leader McConnell said. prgtoken For years--for decades--s have tried to disguise their hostility to abortion by claiming that all they really want is to let the States decide for themselves how they will treat the issue. It is an old claim from the right: This is about States' rights. This argument has always been hypocritical, and Leader McConnell's comments make it perfectly clear why. prgtoken The game here is not about States' rights; the goal has always been a national ban on abortions altogether. States' rights is a smokescreen, nothing more than a distraction, a ruse to hide from the true claims of the hard right,
ORDERS FOR TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022
Tina Smith (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2022-5-9

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 10; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Phillips nomination postcloture; further, that the confirmation vote on the Phillips nomination occur at 11:45 a.m. and that the Senate recess following the cloture vote on the Berhe nomination until 2:15 p.m.; that if cloture is invoked on the Berhe nomination, all postcloture time be considered expired at 2:30 p.m.; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during Tuesday's session, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
Nomination of Ann Claire Phillips (Executive Session)
Maria Cantwell (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2022-5-9

I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the nomination of RADM Ann Phillips to be Administrator of the Maritime Administration. prgtoken Rear Admiral Phillips served in the U.S. Navy for 31 years, served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and held leadership positions such as the Director of Surface Warfare for the Chief of Naval Operations. Most recently, she served as special assistant to former Governor of Virginia Ralph Northam, where she focused on coastal adaptation and protection. prgtoken This nomination is so important to our maritime industry, especially as we are facing unprecedented challenges in the maritime supply chain. The Maritime Administration is responsible for supporting America's maritime transportation industry, including supporting the health of the U.S. merchant marine fleet, investing in port infrastructure, supporting American shipyards, and growing and training the maritime workforce. prgtoken Never before have maritime and shipping issues been more important to the health of our economy and consumers. Our ports are handling record amounts of cargo as COVID-19 has caused consumers to shift their spending habits to e-commerce. The arrival of these imports has led to record volumes at our U.S. ports. prgtoken In 2021, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach moved 10 million containers for the first time ever. In my State, the State of Washington, the Northwest Seaport Alliance saw a 15-percent increase in container volumes over the last year. So this unprecedented volume continues to cause massive challenges of ships backed up offshore and vessels anchoring or loitering in waiting areas near the Ports of L.A. and Long Beach. Twenty-two percent of sales have been lost by agricultural exports due to transportation delays and cancelations, with products like potatoes, milk, wheat, and seafood that are literally rotting on our port docks. prgtoken My colleagues and I have been working hard to pass the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. And we did that out of the Senate, and now, obviously, our colleagues in the House--we have different bills--hopefully, will either resolve this in USICA or, with the passage of one of these bills, with the Senate bill maybe being passed by the House. prgtoken But the Federal Maritime Commission needs tools to crack down on bad actors in the shipping industry and reduce costs facing consumers. Our bill that passed in March that, as I said, we are working to reconcile, we believe needs to become law as soon as possible. prgtoken But the bill is only a piece of the supply chain challenge. We need to make serious investments in our port infrastructure to handle the increasing capacity and get goods moving, and MARAD is charged with overseeing the Port Infrastructure Development Program, the primary grant program used to invest in our ports and help move our products. That is why it is so important to have this position. prgtoken Preside
The Economy (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-5-9

this last Friday, we learned that U.S. employers added another 428,000 new jobs in the month of April. The unemployment rate is down to 3.6 percent, which is just about what it was before the pandemic struck. April marked the 15th consecutive month of job growth under President , and the United States has now recovered more than 90 percent of the jobs that were lost during the coronavirus pandemic. To put it into context, when President took office, 20 million Americans relied on unemployment benefits just to get by. Now that number is down to slightly more than 1 million--from 20 million to 1 million. prgtoken This historic progress shows the resilience of American workers and small businesses that battled through more than 2 years of this unprecedented health crisis. This is truly an American success story. It is also the result of bold and decisive economic actions taken by the in Congress and President . prgtoken The American Rescue Plan you will remember well. It passed without a single voting in favor of it last year. That plan helped us get shots in the arms, and it provided economic relief to small businesses and unemployed Americans when they needed it the most. prgtoken The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and JOBS Act represented a historic investment in America, in our Nation's infrastructure-- everything from roads and bridges to expanding broadband and access in underserved communities. This legislation is creating jobs. We see it in the report. It is helping America stay connected at prgtoken home, at school, and with their doctors, and it is allowing us to meet 21st century demands like climate change and cyber attacks. prgtoken Even with last Friday's good news, we still have more work to do to make sure we have an economy that really works for everyone. Too many American families are still struggling to pay the bills and afford the basics amid global inflation caused by President Putin's unprovoked war in Ukraine and rising COVID cases in China that are disrupting our supply chains. prgtoken Last week, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by half a percentage point. That is the biggest rate hike in 22 years. They are trying to tamp down this inflationary pressure. We know, for many American families, a break in rising prices can't come soon enough, but we also know that the root causes of this challenge are complicated and that it will take a global effort and some good fortune for us to address it successfully. prgtoken are committed to taking action to lower household costs and combat rising prices, get kids back to school, and workers back to work. We need to give families a helping hand when it comes to the basics: medication, housing, gas for your car or truck. We need to think ahead and begin preparing and investing now for future COVID surges so we can save lives and minimize the potential disruption to our supply c
Abortion (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-5-9

2 years ago, the Senate ic leader rallied a crowd on the steps of the Supreme Court and threatened Justices by name if they did not resolve an abortion case the way he wanted. Here was the quote: I want to tell you, Gorsuch; I want to tell you, Kavanaugh: You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions. prgtoken This incitement triggered rare public rebukes from the Chief Justice himself and even the liberal American Bar Association. But, apparently, the radical left heard their marching orders loud and clear. prgtoken Since the precedent-setting leak of a draft opinion last week, the left has set out to harass and intimidate sitting judges as they consider a pending case. We have seen angry crowds assemble at Justices' private family homes. Activists publish a map of their addresses. Law enforcement has had to install a security fence around the Supreme Court itself. prgtoken Trying--trying--to scare Federal judges into ruling a certain way is far outside the bounds of First Amendment speech or protest; it is an attempt to replace the rule of law with the rule of mobs. prgtoken It appears this may possibly be flatout illegal. There is a Federal law on the books that criminalizes ``pickets or parades with the intent of influencing any judge, juror, witness, or court officer'' at locations--listen to this--that include a judge's ``residence.'' prgtoken Last year, Attorney General Garland's Justice Department was quick to treat the concerned parents of America like potential domestic terrorists. But, curiously, I haven't heard any announcement about how the DOJ may handle these intimidation tactics aimed directly at Federal judges. prgtoken Washington have gone out of their way to fuel the hysterical, potentially dangerous, climate. The President's statement about the unprecedented leak didn't condemn it. His Press Secretary has repeatedly appeared to endorse rallies at judge's private family residences as long as they don't turn into outright violence. prgtoken The senior Senator from Massachusetts stood on the Supreme Court steps and shouted: We are gonna fight back. prgtoken are renewing their calls to break the Senate in order to pack the Court. They want to destroy two institutions for the price of one. prgtoken One liberal Georgetown law professor helpfully summarized their mission as follows: He explained this past weekend that the key moral difference between this pressure campaign and the January 6 riot is that, in this case--now listen to this--``the mob is right.'' prgtoken So what has generated this reckless outrage? What is the Armageddon over which want to break the Senate, pack the Court, and condone potentially illegal rallies outside judges' family homes? Here is the case in question: whether the State of Mississippi can enact an
TRIBUTE TO RYAN PFEIFER
Roger Marshall (Republican, KS) \u2014 2022-5-9

I rise today to honor and recognize Ryan Pfeifer of Topeka, KS. prgtoken Ryan was presented with a $25,000 Milken Educator Award at a recent Washburn Rural High School assembly. This award has an outstanding reputation in the teaching world. To some, it is known as the ``Oscars of Teaching.'' This award celebrates teachers' work with students and shines a light on their future work as educators. In addition to the financial award, he was given mentorship and support, along with an all-expenses-paid trip to a forum where other recipients come together. prgtoken The Milken Educator Award looks to honor unrecognized teachers. It has teams of administrators and State education departments vetting out finalists for the award. Teachers are unaware they are nominated, so when Pfeifer was called down to the gym floor to receive the award, he was thrilled. Ryan has a way with his students. Students describe him as relatable and dedicated, which is a great reputation to hold. He even gave up his regular planning and advising period to provide additional support for students. I truly believe that he deserved this award. He has helped so many students live up to their potential. A previous award winner, Brad Nicks, said ``He's always stood out as one of those exceptional educators, somebody that builds really important relationships with students.'' I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the wonderful impact Mr. Pfeifer has had on his students and to honor him for this great accomplishment.