mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NEVER FORGET THE WORST GENOCIDE IN HISTORY
Daniel S. Goldman (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-1-27

we often say the words ``never forget.'' Never forget the worst genocide in history, we say. prgtoken Today, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we must acknowledge the uncomfortable reality that we as a country are not adequately passing the critical lessons from the Holocaust on to the next generations. prgtoken As the Representative of Borough Park in Brooklyn, with the largest population of Holocaust survivors and their families in the country, and as a proud American Jew from New York State, this is deeply personal to me and my constituents. prgtoken We must continue to educate the next generations of Americans to understand the importance of the Holocaust so that it is not lost and that we never forget. prgtoken I would like to stand here and read the names of my neighbors, those in my community who lost family and other loved ones in the Holocaust, but that list is just far too long. prgtoken Instead, I ask that each of us take a moment to reflect today, to confront our past, and to acknowledge the work that must be done in the future to make sure that we truly never forget.
FIGHTING FOR YOUR REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM
Eric Sorensen (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-1-27

this past Sunday, we marked the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. I remain outraged by the Supreme Court's decision to rip away the fundamental right to safe and legal abortion. prgtoken Already, States have implemented abortion bans, leaving women desperate to access reproductive healthcare. Thankfully, States like Illinois have access still available. prgtoken In the wake of the Supreme Court's extreme decision, I have heard from women all across central and northwestern Illinois, mothers and grandmothers, who are devastated that their daughters and granddaughters will grow up in a country with fewer rights than they had. prgtoken , I tell them that I will never stop fighting for a world where everyone has the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions. prgtoken Uncle Sam has no place in a doctor's office. prgtoken Finally, to the women in my district and across this great Nation: I am with you. I will fight for your rights and your freedoms to be protected.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Becca Balint (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2023-1-27

over 65 million Americans rely on Social Security benefits. They shouldn't have to choose between essentials like medication, food, or housing. That is why it is our job to expand and shore up Social Security and not gut it. prgtoken Cutting these programs hurts the poorest and most vulnerable among us. We must support seniors to age with dignity. We must ensure that Americans with disabilities receive the security they depend on. Social Security is an essential tool that lifts up 9 million American women out of poverty. prgtoken Two-thirds of my home State, Vermont, are middle-aged or older. We need to expand the infrastructure and funding to fully support them in their retirement. We owe them this. prgtoken I want Vermonters and all Americans to know I will not stop fighting to protect their hard-earned benefits.
WOMEN'S ACCESS TO MEDICATION ABORTION
Deborah K. Ross (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2023-1-27

I rise today to defend women's access to medication abortion. prgtoken In the wake of the Dobbs decision, the Justice Department reaffirmed that States cannot ban the abortion pill, which now accounts for the majority of abortions nationwide. prgtoken Medication abortion is safe and effective. It is healthcare. prgtoken However, in North Carolina, women face unnecessary limitations that not only allow treatment to be delayed by 72 hours but require counseling before medication abortion. prgtoken This week, a brave physician in North Carolina, Amy Bryant, filed a lawsuit challenging these dangerous restrictions. prgtoken Let's be clear. Any State that limits a physician's ability to prescribe abortion medication is causing harm to women and creating needless barriers to healthcare. prgtoken We cannot give up on the fight for full reproductive autonomy.
SUPPORTING WORKING FAMILIES
Jasmine Crockett (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-1-27

I rise today gravely concerned about the passage of H.R. 21. prgtoken Texas' hardworking families sent me to Washington to represent them in good faith, and dozens of them fear the passage of this bill. prgtoken My constituents are working every single day to make ends meet and took time out of their day to share their fears of this bill becoming law. prgtoken Why? prgtoken Because this bill will raise costs on working families across the country. prgtoken When Hurricane Gustav hit my home State of Texas, key energy supplies went offline, and we relied on the quick response from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to avoid catastrophe. prgtoken The SPR has been used countless times to keep the lights on during emergencies. H.R. 21 will make it impossible for our government to quickly respond to emergencies, leaving Americans abandoned in the dark when they are most in need. prgtoken After going a week without electing a , I think Congress should get its own House in order before trying to claim the powers of the President or interfere with the energy market.
REPUBLICAN ECONOMIC SCHEME HURTS WORKING FAMILIES
Shontel M. Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-1-27

I rise today to urge the extremists in this Chamber to stop playing political chess with the lives of working people and families. prgtoken In 2021, 85 percent of Americans over the age of 50 opposed cuts to Social Security and Medicare to reduce the national debt. prgtoken Clearly, the economic scheme proposed by the GOP is in direct opposition to the people's will: slashing Social Security and Medicare for the working class while giving tax breaks to the wealthy. prgtoken The GOP scheme also proposes a ridiculous 30 percent--yes, 30 percent--national sales tax, a huge setback for working families, increasing the cost of everyday essentials and raising gas prices. prgtoken As if that wasn't enough, this scheme is holding the reputation of our Nation hostage to extremist demands for cuts to Social Security and Medicare. prgtoken stand with the people. Dismantling Medicare and Social Security will never be up for debate.
MOMENTS IN TIME THAT IMPACT THE REST OF TIME
Al Green (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-1-27

and still I rise. prgtoken Today, I would like to thank the of the House, McCarthy, and the leadership on the side as well as Minority Leader Jeffries and the leadership on the ic side for affording me this opportunity to be heard. prgtoken And still I rise, , and I rise today because there are moments in time that impact the rest of time. January 27 of 1945 was such a time. prgtoken January 27, 1945: It is said there are days that will live in infamy. This has to be at the top of the list of such days because today we will commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day because of an event that took place on January 27, 1945. prgtoken Please allow me to share with you, , some information that I have from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. prgtoken On January 27, 1945, the Soviet Army entered Auschwitz and liberated more than 7,000 remaining prisoners who were mostly ill and dying. It is estimated, , that at minimum, 1.3 million people were deported to Auschwitz between 1940 and 1945. Of these, at least 1.1 million people were murdered. prgtoken One person who survived--whose name I shall not reveal but is available to me for those who might want to make a further inquiry-- indicated: ``So I was hiding out in the heap of dead bodies because in the last week when the crematoria didn't function at all, the bodies were just building up higher and higher.'' prgtoken Another person indicated: ``And they said, `From now on you do not answer by your name. Your name is your number.' And the delusion, the disappointment, the discouragement that I felt, I felt like I was not a human person anymore.'' prgtoken This is what happened to people at Auschwitz--human beings being reduced to numbers and sentenced to death, innocent people. prgtoken Another article from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust in the U.K. indicates: 27 January 1945, liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. On 27 January 1945, Soviet soldiers liberated Auschwitz- Birkenau the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp. prgtoken , many people focus on the concentration aspect of what happened there, and we should. But the horrific occurrence included extermination. This means in everyday language the murder of innocent people. prgtoken This article goes on to indicate: ``When Soviet soldiers arrived, they found several thousand emaciated survivors and the smoldering remains of gas chambers and crematoria after the Nazis had attempted to destroy evidence of their crimes.'' prgtoken An article from ``This Day in History'' on history.com indicates, on January 27, 1945, Auschwitz is liberated. ``On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops enter Auschwitz, Poland, freeing the survivors of the network of concentration camps--and finally revealing to the world the depth of the horrors perpetrated there. ``Auschwitz was really a group of camps, designated I, II, and III. There were also 40 smaller `satellite
CONDEMNING AZERBAIJAN'S BLOCKADE OF LACHIN CORRIDOR
Tony Cárdenas (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-1-27

I rise today to condemn Azerbaijan's ongoing blockade of the Lachin Corridor. prgtoken For more than 6 weeks, under the guise of an environmental protest, Azerbaijan has conducted a blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. prgtoken The blockade has left thousands of people without access to critical medical supplies, food, and essential goods. prgtoken This is needless and malicious and is part of a larger pattern of violence by the Azerbaijani regime against the people of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. prgtoken I urge the administration to use every tool at its disposal to ensure the safety of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and put an end to this needless and violent blockade. prgtoken We must provide direct humanitarian assistance through this administration and every Member of Congress so that we can help the people who are suffering through this atrocity.
GRAVE CONCERNS FOR TRICARE BENEFICIARIES
Rick W. Allen (Republican, GA) \u2014 2023-1-27

. Thanks to my friend and colleague from Georgia, Mr. Carter, for organizing this Special Order and for your leadership on this issue. prgtoken This is an important issue. You know, growing up and then, of course, now, you know, my pharmacist is a dear friend of mine. prgtoken I don't want to go to another pharmacist, although you get all these offers to get this through the mail and all that. To me, your pharmacist is kind of like choosing your doctor. prgtoken I mean, they do so much for the communities that they serve, particularly in rural America. prgtoken But what we are talking about here, and as Congressman Carter said, it is about the American troops, our veterans and their families that are at risk of losing access to lifesaving prescriptions. prgtoken In October, the Defense Health Agency's pharmacy benefit manager, Express Scripts, cut nearly 15,000 pharmacies from its network, all because they wouldn't accept Express Scripts' outrageous terms. prgtoken Why does this happen? prgtoken I mean, of course, obviously we are shining a light on this because the entire country needs to know about this, particularly our veteran communities. prgtoken This decision left a quarter of a million people with few or no local, in-person options to access the medicine and treatments they need. prgtoken Countless Americans choose to get their prescriptions filled at their local or independent pharmacy specifically because of the quality of service they provide. prgtoken Like I said, it is a personal thing. It is a relationship. Your pharmacist has knowledge of your medical history, and the relationship that patients have with their community pharmacist is important, and it must be allowed to continue. prgtoken This choice is important, especially for veterans who have sacrificed so much. This decision has negatively impacted scores of veterans, particularly those living in rural areas like the ones I represent in Georgia 12. prgtoken My colleagues and I will continue to put pressure on this administration to do the right thing and step up to ensure that community and retail pharmacies are able to continue to serve our military by offering reliable, local access to their medicine. This is critical.
HONORING THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF SERGEANT STEVEN ROBIN AND OFFICER BRANDEN ESTORFFE
Mike Ezell (Republican, MS) \u2014 2023-1-27

I rise today to recognize and honor the lives of 2 fallen heroes, Bay St. Louis Police officers Sergeant Steven Robin and Officer Branden Estorffe, who were shot and killed in the line of duty this past December. prgtoken Sergeant Steven Robin served 3 years with the Bay St. Louis Police Department after prior service with the Hancock County Sheriff's Office. Officer Branden Estorffe served 2 years with the Bay St. Louis Police Department. prgtoken During their law enforcement careers, both men received numerous accolades for their dedication to protecting their community. prgtoken Sergeant Steven Robin received Overall Top Academic Honors with the Hancock County Law Enforcement Training Academy. Sergeant Robin took on supervisory roles during his tenures with both the Waveland Police Department and the Bay St. Louis Police Department, serving as a Field Training Officer and Sergeant with both departments. prgtoken Officer Branden Estorffe was recognized for Top Academics with the Combat Readiness Training Center. Officer Estorffe also earned the Firearms Award with the on County Law Enforcement Training Academy and maintained high firearms standards with the National Rifle Association and the Hancock County Sheriff's Office Special Response Team. prgtoken Sergeant Steven Robin is survived by his wife, Amy, his parents, Michael and Julie Robin, his son, Brandon Boudreaux, his 2 special girls whom he considered daughters, Tessa Delsied and Emmaleigh Melton, his granddaughter, Rosie, his 2 brothers, Brian and Glenn Robin, his father-in-law, Lester , his mother-in-law, Mary , his brother- in-law, Brad , his sister-in-law, Stephanie , and his 2 godchildren, Braeleigh, and Addilyn Delsied. prgtoken Officer Branden Estorffe is survived by his parents, Ian and Heather Estorffe, and his siblings, Lilly and Sophia Estorffe, Jordana and Chloe Gilkerson, and Andrew Porter, his grandparents, Rex and Lynda Estorffe and Tommy and Sheila Burkett, and his aunts and uncles, Lauren and Greg Walters, Jennifer and Jason Polk, and Chad Goodfellow. prgtoken May we remember their selfless commitment, their service, and ultimately their sacrifice. Their families are in the thoughts and prayers of myself, this body, and everyone in Mississippi.
CONGRATULATING VANESSA WYCHE, DIRECTOR OF NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
Brian Babin (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-1-27

I rise today to congratulate an exceptional public servant. NASA Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche, on receiving the prestigious Quasar Award for Economic Development Excellence from the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership (BAHEP). BAHEP presents its renowned Quasar Award to an outstanding elected official or business leader who has demonstrated a strong and continual effort to support the business foundations of the greater Bay Area Houston communities. prgtoken Serving as the 13th Director of Johnson Space Center (JSC), Vanessa Wyche oversees the home of America's astronaut corps, Mission Control Center, International Space Station, Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, Orion and Gateway programs, and the more than 11,000 civil servants and contractors in Houston and the White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Among her many responsibilities, Wyche manages a broad range of human spaceflight activities, including the development and operation of human spacecraft, commercialization of low-Earth orbit, and JSC's role in landing the next American on the surface of the Moon. Under her leadership, JSC was recognized by Forbes and Statista as the number one best employer among Texas' major employers. prgtoken Vanessa previously served as deputy director at JSC for 3 years, starting in 2018. Her previous leadership positions include assistant and acting deputy director of JSC, director of the Exploration Integration and Science Directorate, flight manager of several missions of the Space Shuttle Program, executive officer in the Office of the NASA Administrator, and led several other center-level technical and program organizations. Prior to joining NASA, Vanessa worked for the Food and Drug Administration in Washington, D.C. prgtoken Director Wyche is a native of South Carolina. where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Master of Science in Bioengineering from Clemson University. In 2019, she was inducted into the Thomas Green Clemson Academy of Engineers and Scientists at Clemson University. As a dedicated advocate for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, Vanessa serves as a member of Clemson University's College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences advisory board, the University of Houston's C. T. Bauer College of Business advisory panel, and is a past chair of the Space Center Houston board of directors. Additionally, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Science degree from Coastal Carolina University in 2022. prgtoken Throughout her distinguished career, Vanessa bas been recognized for her outstanding service. She is the recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, 2 NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals, 2 NASA Achievement Medals, a JSC Innovation award, a Woman at NASA award, a Rotary Stellar Nomination, a national Women Worth Watching honoree, and a Coastal Carolina University Inspiring Woman nomination. Vanessa is an American Inst
INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY
Michael Lawler (Republican, NY) \u2014 2023-1-27

I rise today to recognize International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Together, we must all honor the millions of lives that were lost to the unspeakable atrocities committed by the Nazi regime. prgtoken The Holocaust claimed the lives of over 6 million Jews and millions of other residents of Europe. It was one of the most horrific genocides to ever occur on our planet, perpetrated by an evil and twisted group of fanatics. prgtoken The horrific violence and campaign of death that the Nazis waged on all fronts is a stark reminder of the fragility of human life and the importance of defending it. prgtoken My district, New York's 17th District, is home to one of the largest per capita Jewish populations in the United States. On this day, in particular, my heart and thoughts are with them as we remember those in our own community who have lost loved ones during the Holocaust. prgtoken We must all recommit ourselves to confronting anti-Semitism wherever it rears its ugly head and continue to work toward a safer and brighter future for all.
HONORING FORMER REPRESENTATIVE JAMES T. KOLBE
Darrell Issa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2023-1-27

I rise today in honor of the life and public service exemplified by former Congressman James Thomas Kolbe. prgtoken With deep sadness, we mourn the loss of Congressman Jim Kolbe, who passed away on December 3, 2022 after a dedicated career of service to the Congress, his community, and his beloved Arizona. prgtoken A teenage Senate Page, Kolbe graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1965 and received a master's degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1967. He entered the Navy that year and served in combat duty on gunboats in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War for which he was awarded the Congressional Medal for Valor. After working as a Special Assistant to the Governor of Illinois, in 1976 he was elected to the first of his 3 terms as a member of the Arizona State Senate. 1984 saw his first election to the House of Representatives and Arizona's Fifth Congressional District. He represented his constituents with true distinction, a creative and conscientious legislator who consistently reached across the aisle and worked closely with colleagues across the political spectrum. A fierce champion of free trade and free markets, Pima County and Southern Arizona could always count on Jim Kolbe. prgtoken I extend sincere condolences to his spouse, Hector Alfonso, his family, and loved ones. I am grateful to have served with a public servant and public leader like Jim Kolbe. He will be missed.
GRAVE CONCERNS FOR TRICARE BENEFICIARIES
Jack Bergman (Republican, MI) \u2014 2023-1-27

I thank the gentleman for taking leadership on this; and I have to just correct one thing for the Record. I was born in Minnesota, but now I represent Michigan; and that is okay. I have roots in both because I was raised by a Minnesota farm girl, and now I am married to an Iowa farm girl. So now if we can get Iowa in there at some point, we will be in good shape. I will be happy at home. prgtoken When I just referenced my mom and my wife, my dad was in World War II. My father-in-law was in World War II. When we think about the sacrifices everyone in our country made, it was really the families that sacrificed on the front end to ensure that their loved ones, servicemembers deployed around the world to end the tyranny of World War II, that the family members at home sacrificed to ensure their servicemembers could fight the fight. prgtoken I think, today, it is true, and still is true, that when you talk about TRICARE and all the services that it provides, it is not about the servicemember, it is about the servicemember and their family because without the comfort of knowing that the family is being taken care of by the TRICARE system; that it is a system that does not institute change for the wrong reasons. prgtoken What we are hearing today, this is change for profit's sake, and that is the wrong reason. prgtoken So when you think about, what is readiness? Our troops have to be trained and ready to deploy at a moment's notice to protect our national security. That readiness includes family readiness. prgtoken Family readiness includes the availability of TRICARE, the availability of prescriptions, especially in my district, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and northern and lower Michigan, where we have a lot of rural and remote families that can't get to the pharmacy every day; that cannot--whether it is snowstorm, whether it is age, whatever it is, we need to ensure that our TRICARE system is robust, it is complete, it is fair pricing to make sure that, in the end, everybody wins, not just a couple. prgtoken We have got roughly--the Department of Defense requirements--TRICARE supports about 9.4 million servicemembers, retirees, and their families around the world. That doesn't seem like much in a Nation of 330 billion. But guess what? It means everything to that 9.4 million servicemembers and their families. prgtoken The comprehensive nature of TRICARE, as we saw during the COVID time, advancement of telehealth, the advancement of diagnosis, the advancement of treatments, prescriptions, and all of that, it all blends the work going forward and what we need to do to support our servicemembers and their families. prgtoken It is incumbent upon us, as Members of the House of Representatives, and the Senate, and the President, to ensure that no policy is put into place that gives any entity an unfair advantage when it comes to their priorities versus the needs and the priorities that we have and our commitmen