mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
MONOPOLY MOMENT
Lori Trahan (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-9-29

we find ourselves in a monopoly moment as a country. Multibillion-dollar corporations have grown into behemoths, eliminating any real competition in their industries and using their dominance to hurt small businesses and consumers. prgtoken Meta's monopoly power has enabled it to harm women, children, and people of all ages without recourse. Amazon has used its dominance to copy competitors' products and run small businesses into the ground. prgtoken This slide has happened under the watch of ic and governments alike, and it is on us to stop it. That starts with giving the FTC the resources necessary to enforce our antitrust laws. prgtoken It starts with the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is simple. It requires that a billion-dollar corporation looking to acquire or merge with a competitor pay a fee for the FTC to review the deal. That is it: a one- time fee to help ensure we don't slide further back to the times of the railroad and steel monopolies that abused workers, hurt consumers, and killed competition. prgtoken Families are hurting enough right now. They deserve competition, not capitulation to corporate interests. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this long-overdue bipartisan package.
BULK INFANT FORMULA TO RETAIL SHELVES ACT
John B. Larson (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2022-9-29

. Madam , s Earl Blumenauer, Adrian Smith, Dan Kildee, and Drew Ferguson for their work on this bill. I especially thank Congresswoman DelBene for her tireless leadership in advocating for this issue and bringing Members together in a bipartisan manner. prgtoken For our listeners out there, that isn't as rare a thing as one might think. But when you have exceptional leadership, and when you have the grandmother-to-be of an infant on the way, you have a sense of urgency that this Congress and this Nation desperately needs. prgtoken I can't thank her enough for her leadership on this, as well as my colleagues across the aisle, because we all know that increasing access and lowering costs for importing base powder is especially important, as Congresswoman DelBene described, for WIC families because we know that means lower costs for working families. prgtoken This is a prime example of what can happen when we all work together for the common good. Nothing could be more important than making sure that Suzan DelBene's future grandchild has appropriate baby formula.
MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS ACT
Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-9-29

. Mr. Chair, such time as I may consume. prgtoken , the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the mental health crisis among American students, educators, and families. prgtoken In 2021, 44 percent of students experienced persistent feelings of hopelessness; almost 20 percent seriously considered suicide; and 9 percent of American kids attempted suicide. prgtoken Regrettably, 80 percent of youth in need of mental health services do not have the access to heal in their communities. As a result, educators have been forced to play an outsized role in supporting and responding to students' mental health needs, leading to increased depression and trauma among educators, their students, their families, and the community. However, our schools do not have the specialized staff necessary to respond to the increased prevalence and complexity of students' mental health needs. prgtoken According to a 2019 ACLU study, no State met the student-to-social worker ratio of one social worker for every 250 students, as recommended by the National Association of Social Workers. Not one State. prgtoken On top of that, the national ratio of school psychologists per students during the 2020-2022 school years was one psychologist per every 1,162 students--more than double the ratio recommended by the National Association of School Psychologists. Clearly, this is unacceptable. prgtoken The rise in mental health challenges is not isolated to students and educators. Nearly half of the United States workforce now suffers from mental health issues since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Yet, many workers are denied the mental health and substance use disorder benefits they are legally entitled to receive under their employer- sponsored health plan. prgtoken In a recent report to Congress, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury found widespread violations of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act by group health plans. Unfortunately, some of these plans are failing to maintain parity between behavioral health benefits and physical health benefits as required by statute. prgtoken The report recommended that Congress enhance the Secretary of Labor's capacity to enforce the parity law, including providing authority to impose civil monetary penalties for violations. prgtoken Notably, the same recommendations were made by former President 's Commission on Combating the Opioid Crisis, which was led by then-New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie. prgtoken In response to these violations and the national mental health crisis, I introduced the Mental Health Matters Act, which includes proposals championed by several committee members. prgtoken This legislation helps Head Start agencies implement evidence-based interventions to improve the behavioral health of children and staff in Head Start programs. prgtoken It improves trauma-informed services in schools by developing innovative initiatives to
RECOGNIZING THE CAREER OF MAUREEN BELLODY
Joe Courtney (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2022-9-29

. Madam , I rise today to honor the continued career of Maureen Bellody, a lifelong Connecticut resident, recently- turned-Eastern-Connecticut native, who has quietly but effectively used her talents and empathy for people in the practice of law to make a positive difference in her community. Maureen will recognize her career accomplishments as a paralegal working for Mader, Roberson & DeFelice on October 3, 2022, following more than 37 remarkable years with the firm. prgtoken Born in East Hartford in 1959, Maureen remained a member of her hometown community for most of her life. Even prior to starting and raising a family of her own in East Hartford, she attended Goodwin University--then Goodwin College--earning her business certification in 1985. I had the first privilege of meeting Maureen in that same year, when she joined the team at the law firm of what was then Flaherty, Marder, Kallet, Meisler, and Courtney. I saw firsthand what a quick study she was even at a young age, to navigate the complexities of the law and the endless variety of clients that populate a small-town general law practice. Her poise with clients, sometimes in very emotional circumstances was remarkable. prgtoken Maureen has remained with the firm even though its principals have changed, including myself. Her expertise, loyalty and efficient work ethic have helped keep the firm on track and well organized throughout her tenure. This week the firm, her family and many friends and clients are celebrating her service--a very well-deserved honor. prgtoken Outside of her time dedicated to the firm, Maureen has also been moved by a commitment to and strong bond with her family. This has been a guiding force throughout her life, even before her time working in the legal field, since bearing and raising her daughter, Jessica, in East Hartford. prgtoken In 2011, she moved to Ellington of the Second District of Connecticut, where she remains close with her daughter, son-in-law, Joseph, and two grandchildren, Landon and Mia. prgtoken As we appreciate her dedication to serving families throughout Tolland and Hartford County, we also wish that she may continue to impact our region through her work with the firm Marder, Roberson & DeFelice. To that end, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing the career of Maureen Bellody, wishing her the upmost, continued success in her career.
MERGER FILING FEE MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2022
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-9-29

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , H.R. 3843 is bicameral, bipartisan legislation that consists of three distinct titles, each of which would make modest, but important improvements to modernize our antitrust system and to help protect competition. prgtoken Title I of the bill updates the filing fees that merging parties pay to the Federal antitrust enforcers that review their transactions. These fees have not been updated in two decades, which has left these agencies in desperate need of more resources to complete their increasingly heavy workload. prgtoken This bill raises the fees that parties pay for large transactions and lowers the fee that parties pay for small- and medium-sized transactions, which ensures that larger deals pay their fair share. prgtoken Critically, this legislation raises revenue to support necessary antitrust enforcement while also saving taxpayers $1.4 billion over the next 5 years. prgtoken Title II of the bill requires merging parties to notify the antitrust agencies if they are subsidized by countries or entities that are strategic or economic threats to the United States. prgtoken This notification requirement gives the agencies immediate access to the information they need to assess the full competitive consequences of subsidized transactions and enables them to better protect U.S. economic interests when they review proposed mergers. prgtoken Title III of this legislation ensures that States do not have to waste precious time and taxpayer dollars when they litigate antitrust suits in Federal courts. It does this by exempting State enforcement of the Federal antitrust laws from the often time-consuming and costly multidistrict litigation process. Federal antitrust enforcement agencies are already exempt from this process, and the bill simply puts State antitrust enforcement on equal footing with the Federal Government. prgtoken Each element of this legislation enjoys bicameral, bipartisan support. Titles I and II have already passed the House as part of the America COMPETES Act, and title III passed the Senate by unanimous consent. prgtoken Together, they would help ensure that our antitrust agencies have the resources they need to protect competition, would provide important disclosures about foreign economic adversaries, and would strengthen State enforcement of our antitrust laws. prgtoken I thank Mr. Neguse for sponsoring this important package of bipartisan legislation. I also thank Mr. Cicilline and Mr. Buck, the chair and ranking member of the Antitrust Subcommittee, for their leadership on these bills and on competition issues generally. prgtoken I urge all Members to support this legislation, and .
NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-9-29

as we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, we join together to acknowledge and express our appreciation for Hispanic communities across America and their innumerable gifts to our diverse Nation. Hispanic individuals have been critical in making this country a more inclusive and pluralistic union. In Maryland, Hispanics are the second-largest minority group, comprising more than 12 percent of our population, according to the 2020 Census. Hispanics in every corner of our State continue to engage in and strengthen our economy, educational and cultural institutions, and government. prgtoken National Hispanic Heritage Month, first established in 1968, recognizes these achievements while encouraging the pursuit of new ones. This year, we particularly recognize the sacrifices made by Hispanic educators, essential workers, and healthcare professionals during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also honor those Hispanic veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and honorably protected the values and ideals that we hold so dear. prgtoken While acknowledging Hispanic contributions to American history, culture, and identity, we also pledge to combat xenophobia and ignorance in all its manifestations. We support Hispanics as they seek fair access to equitable healthcare, affordable education and housing, and equal representation and in the private and public sectors. We also renew our commitment to pursuing comprehensive immigration reform and to protecting immigrant populations who call this Nation their home, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals--DACA--and Temporary Protected Status--TPS--recipients. As Americans, we all share a responsibility to treat one another with respect, decency, and compassion. Moreover, as we approach the 2022 midterm elections, we must recognize the need to address the disproportionate targeting of Hispanic voters with election-related disinformation. prgtoken During the remainder of National Hispanic Heritage Month and throughout the year, let us renew our commitments to a diverse society and mark the unique contributions Hispanics have made in every area of American life, culture, and history. Let us continually celebrate these achievements with appreciation and joy.
MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS ACT
Jahana Hayes (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2022-9-29

. Mr. Chair, as a teacher, I rise in strong support of the Mental Health Matters Act. prgtoken This crucial legislation will help rebuild schools and address the mental health crisis plaguing our country by providing schools with resources to help students and educators heal and recover after this pandemic. prgtoken I am excited that this package includes my legislation, the Supporting Trauma-Informed Education Practices Act. My legislation specifically will help develop and improve prevention, screening, referral, treatment, and support services to students. It will implement schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and provide professional development to school personnel. This legislation will also engage with families and communities to increase awareness of child and youth trauma. prgtoken The broader impact of the pandemic on students and their families is often overlooked. We talk about the number of children who were lost as a result of being low, but I remind everyone that those children lost parents, grandparents, neighbors, and community members to the COVID-19 pandemic. That loss has taken a tremendous toll on their ability to learn and thrive in school. prgtoken The impact of trauma is greater than just one incident. No person, especially a child, should ever have to carry that weight alone. prgtoken As students continue to heal from the most traumatizing interruption to their academic journeys, they need strong, reliable, and accessible support services. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this bill to ensure students recover completely.
AMERICANS DESERVE TO LIVE IN A SAFE COMMUNITY
Brendan F. Boyle (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-9-29

are working for safer communities by investing in safety and justice. We believe that every American deserves to live in a safe community where they and their families can thrive. prgtoken That is why we are fighting for strong, commonsense action to give our law enforcement the tools they need to prevent crime. Just this month, passed the: prgtoken Invest to Protect Act, which funds the police with grants to help small, local law enforcement agencies retain and recruit officers. prgtoken The Mental Health Justice Act, which helps send unarmed mental health professionals to respond to mental health crises and save lives from potentially fatal encounters with armed police officers. prgtoken The Break the Cycle of Violence Act, which invests in effective, evidence-based community violence intervention initiatives. prgtoken And fourth, and finally, the VICTIM Act, which bolsters the ability of police to solve homicides, sexual assaults, and other violent crimes. prgtoken , we do not have to choose between safe communities and justice for all. We are delivering on that promise with these bills and more.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2022-9-29

I have come to the floor this afternoon to speak about Mike Evans, the Finance Committee's chief counsel, who is retiring at the end of this week. This is going to bring to a close 27 years of extraordinary Senate service and almost 9 years on the Finance Committee staff. prgtoken It is not an atomic secret that I am very, very much involved in basketball with my children and still dreaming about how it didn't work out to play in the NBA. But to just paraphrase one thought with respect to the way this place works in terms of actually getting results the way Mike Evans did on the IRA--a hugely important bill, where the major pieces came from the Finance Committee, where we had extraordinary work done by the president of the Senate--if you speak in the parlance of basketball, Mike Evans will long be remembered as one of the all- stars--the NBA all-stars, so to speak--in Senate service. prgtoken He has, without any doubt, for millions of people in Oregon and across the country, caused them to have a better life because of his work in the Senate. And to just tick off a few of the reasons why I feel that way, let me just give a bit of history. prgtoken In early 2014, I had a brief tenure as chairman of the Finance Committee. And to the Senate's great fortune, Mike agreed to return to be the Senate Finance Committee's chief counsel. His experience goes back to days when he did good work for Chairman Baucus. prgtoken And the reality is, since then, you name a big legislative accomplishment in the areas of healthcare, tax policy, support for working families, Mike has been right at the heart of it. A few examples: Not long after Mike's return, the Senate passed the largest set of tax cuts for working families in many years. prgtoken There was the 2015 trade debate that was all about what I call getting trade done right: strong enforcement, serious protections for workers in the environment, more sunlight in our trade policy than ever before. prgtoken Many members had said we had never approached trade in that way. With Mike's good work, there were colleagues on our side of the aisle who said this is the first trade bill we are voting for. prgtoken Starting in 2017, there was a shift in our work as Finance Committee focused on protecting vulnerable Americans from the administration's policies that singled out the vulnerable. We stopped the effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act and destroy Medicaid in its tracks. We showed the American people that the tax law was not a middle-class tax cut. Above all, it disproportionately favored billionaires and corporations. And we saw that all through the years. prgtoken Mike was absolutely crucial developing a strong, innovative, progressive prgtoken agenda for the next time led the committee. When the pandemic hit, the committee stepped up and sprung into action. We came up with historic legislation to support workers and small b
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-9-29

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-9-29

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 1154, 1155, 1156, 1157, 1158, 1159, 1160, 1161, 1162, 1163, 1164, 1165, 1166, 1173, 1174, and all nominations on the Secretary's desk in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force, with the exception of PN2653, Amy M. Respondek; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to any of the nominations; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
Tribute to Greg Dotson (Executive Session)
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2022-9-29

I am delighted to rise today to salute a member of my committee staff who has made literally invaluable contributions to not just the Congress but to our Nation and not just for a couple of months or years but for literally decades. prgtoken Greg Dotson, the chief counsel for the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, which I am privileged to chair, will be retiring on September 30 following a distinguished career in service to this country of ours. On this occasion, I want to take note of his remarkable legacy and extraordinary service to the people of America. prgtoken As many of my colleagues will attest, true leaders in this body and true leaders elsewhere are only as good as the team that works for them. Like I say, I hire people smarter than me, and that is one of the reasons I think I have had some success. But good leaders are always looking for the best people they can find. prgtoken For many of us who are elected officials in this body and others, those teams of staff members too often toil in the background and are rarely recognized publicly for their service. prgtoken While all the members of the Environment and Public Works Committee staff that I am privileged to lead are wonderful public servants, there are sometimes rare individuals who stand out as having made an extraordinary prgtoken impact on the American people and on this country as a whole. Greg Dotson is one of those exceptional people. He has emerged as an invaluable leader in the effort to address the urgent threat of climate change and has dedicated his life to that vital calling. prgtoken Greg first joined this mission as a staffer to Congressman Henry Waxman in 1996. Greg followed Congressman Waxman to the House Oversight Committee and, later, the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which Henry led. prgtoken During his nearly 20 years in the House, Greg Dotson helped lead a team that produced the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, a landmark, comprehensive climate change and energy bill that passed the House of Representatives in June of 2009. prgtoken He has worked on a number of major legislative achievements, including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007; the Energy Policy Act of 2005; the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996, and many, many more. Greg also spearheaded vital congressional oversight and investigative efforts with environmental significance, including high- profile inquiries into political interference with climate science, the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, and the energy market abuses of Enron. prgtoken After his illustrious service in the House of Representatives, Greg went on to share his wisdom and passion with young people who are eager to follow in his footsteps and protect our planet. In 2017, he became a professor in environmental policy at the University of Oregon's Environmental and Natural Resource