mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Tribute to Patrick J. Leahy (Executive Session)
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2022-12-1

while the distinguish leader is still on the floor, let me thank him for those remarks. And I know Marcelle will thank him too. Of course, our spouses have spent a lot of time together, and we know who the real leaders are in the house. prgtoken I think of what the leader has said, and he speaks of the time when we worked together. And I appreciate very much--I have told him privately, but I will say it publicly: I have appreciated the friendship and the work together. prgtoken We did go back and forth over a period of years. Part of the time he was chair, and part of the time I was chair, but in a very, very important subcommittee. prgtoken In Foreign Ops we had everything from foreign aid to a lot of the things we did around the world. But that bill would pass on the floor, oftentimes on a Friday afternoon, when everybody would say: Bring it up; we have got to get out of here. prgtoken And it passed, virtually, unanimously. We would work out a couple of differences. First, we talked about them, and then they were gone, and off we went. prgtoken I remember speaking at a symposium put together by the distinguished leader, and I was given and presented with a Louisville Slugger with my name on it. Now, throughout the course of any Senator's career, and certainly one of 48 years, you get presented with a lot of things, which you thank people for, and you put them in the closet or the attic. This, I would tell the distinguished Senator, has stayed in public view in my office ever since I came home with it. And I loved showing it off at a time when we have to be back together on more things. But we have on that. You talked about the landmine legislation and the war victims legislation, and I appreciate your work on that, Mr. Leader. prgtoken And it reflected such good in this Senate but also the people who were helped by it. There are no eradicating landmines, there is no victim of landmines that is going to come in and say: Well, we can support your next campaign. prgtoken No, they don't even know who we are. They know we helped them. prgtoken When the leader talked to me about Burma, I finally got educated on Burma. And I was an easy sell--I think he would agree on that--because of the case he made but also because of the history he gave me. prgtoken I don't want to hold up the Senate. I will speak longer about these things on the day I leave, which will be soon. prgtoken I look forward to leaving because Marcelle and I can be back home all the time, but I will miss so many friends I have made--the well over 400 Senators I have served with. And I think the distinguished leader has served with hundreds also. Some were here for a long time. Some were here for, sometimes, I think, in a couple of instances, a matter of a month or two. I prefer a long time to a month or two. It is easier to get to know each other. prgtoken I will speak further about this. But I was honored to be on the floor when this happ
PAYING TRIBUTE TO MARGARET ``PEGGY'' PALMER
Madeleine Dean (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-12-1

. Madam , I rise to pay tribute to a devoted community leader and friend, Margaret ``Peggy'' Palmer, who passed away on October 27. prgtoken A native of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, Peggy gave her time, her energy, and her love to our community in Montgomery County. prgtoken She was guided by her strong faith and was a committed member of the First Baptist Church of Crestmont. She was also a guiding light for civic engagement, serving as a committee person with the ARDC. Peggy was a relentless volunteer for ic candidates that began when she volunteered with her beloved mother, Lillian, for President 's 2008 campaign. She also worked as court crier and served as a member of the Willow Grove NAACP. prgtoken No matter the role, Peggy worked harder than anyone, always with her signature kindness, humility, Jolly Ranchers, and red lipstick. She greeted everyone the same, with a hug and a kiss and ``hey, baby.'' prgtoken She was loved by her family. Until the day she died, Peggy cared for her whole family, especially her dear brother, Johnny. prgtoken I join Johnny and the rest of our community in mourning her passing. Her legacy lives on in the lives of the people she inspired, including me.
Nomination of Jerry W. Blackwell (Executive Calendar)
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2022-12-1

I rise in support of the nominee to be the next U.S. district court judge for the District of Minnesota--that would be Jerry Blackwell. prgtoken I would like to thank Senator Durbin, chair of the Judiciary Committee, and all the members of the Judiciary Committee, including yourself, , for shepherding Mr. Blackwell's nomination through the committee, and I would like to thank Leader Schumer for making time for the Senate to consider his nomination, and my colleague Senator Smith for her work as well in support of the nomination. prgtoken Jerry Blackwell is one of the most respected and accomplished litigators in the State of Minnesota. He has nearly 35 years of trial experience, has been named Minnesota Attorney of the Year five times, has argued over 1,000 motions in State and Federal court, and served as lead counsel in over 100 cases. prgtoken This is why he received a bipartisan vote in the Judiciary Committee, including with the support of the ranking member, and why I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will support his confirmation. prgtoken Jerry has always been driven by his commitment to serve others--a commitment that started early in his life. His dad was a truckdriver who started working after the 10th grade, and his mom worked in a textile mill. She struggled with health conditions and was on dialysis from the time Jerry was 5 years old. They raised Jerry in a textile mill town in North Carolina in a home without running water. And although they did not have much, they raised their kids to believe that no matter what their life circumstances were, it was their responsibility to give back to their community. As Jerry said at his nomination hearing, his mom taught him at a young age that ``in serving others we find our own well-being.'' Those words inspired Jerry's brother to serve as a police officer and led Jerry to use his skills as an attorney to improve the lives of others. prgtoken He was the first in his family to attend college. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a recipient of the prestigious Morehead Scholarship. He went on to earn his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law and then had the wisdom to move to Minnesota to begin his legal career at a firm in Minneapolis. prgtoken After working at several prominent Minneapolis law firms, Jerry went on to found Blackwell Burke, one of the largest minority-owned trial law firms in our State. The firm was, at one point, the second-largest Black-owned law firm in the United States of America. It is highly regarded by the Minnesota legal community and has been rated Minnesota's top litigation firm by Benchmark Litigation for 4 years in a row. prgtoken Jerry is also known for his humility--so much so that I did not learn until after his nomination hearing, when his aunt told me, that Jerry has never lost a case in the nearly 35 years he has been practicing. prgtoken
PREGNANT WOMEN IN CUSTODY ACT
Lois Frankel (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2022-12-1

this amendment makes one addition to the bill to ensure that incarcerated women have access to essential postpartum healthcare and support. prgtoken The Pregnant Women in Custody Act includes a provision related to women who give birth while in custody or immediately prior to incarceration. This provision requires that women be given access to counseling services related to parental rights and family preservation. prgtoken The amendment will add an additional component to ensure women also receive counseling services related to postpartum care because we know that women are physically and emotionally vulnerable after giving birth. prgtoken This addition to the bill will help women navigate that often complex and difficult time period and ensure adequate access to healthcare. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and .
PREGNANT WOMEN IN CUSTODY ACT
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-12-1

the balance of my time. prgtoken , H.R. 6878 is bipartisan legislation that would support the health and safety of women in Federal custody by establishing a national standard of care and prohibiting the use of restrictive housing for incarcerated pregnant women. prgtoken , I urge all of my colleagues to support this important legislation. I also want to take this opportunity to express my dual feelings--on the one hand, the sponsor of this legislation, Ms. Bass of California, will no prgtoken longer be with us in the next Congress, which is, on that level, unfortunate. On the other hand, the reason she won't be with us is because she is the mayor-elect of Los Angeles, and that is not unfortunate. I am very happy about that, but I have mixed feelings because we won't be seeing her here again. prgtoken , I urge all of my colleagues to support this important legislation, and .
PREGNANT WOMEN IN CUSTODY ACT
David N. Cicilline (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2022-12-1

I rise in strong support of H.R. 6878, Pregnant Women in Custody Act of 2022. prgtoken While Congress made important progress on this issue through the First Step Act, which prohibited the use of restraints on pregnant women in the Bureau of Prison's custody, more clearly needs to be done to protect pregnant women. prgtoken Many incarcerated women do not have access to the prenatal care they need. They are often unjustly placed in restrictive housing, which can lead to unfair and unequal treatment just because a woman is pregnant. Shockingly, this is still legal and widely used in Bureau of Prison facilities. prgtoken By passing H.R. 6878, we will establish a much-needed and long- overdue national standard of care to address pregnancy-related needs of incarcerated women while also ending the Bureau of Prison's restrictive housing policies for pregnant women. prgtoken Being incarcerated should not strip these expectant mothers of their dignity. prgtoken , I strongly support passage of this legislation and thank Congresswoman--and future mayor--Karen Bass for her leadership on this issue.
WORLD AIDS DAY
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-12-1

. Madam , today is World AIDS Day, and lest we forget, it is not over yet. prgtoken In 2021, 1.5 million persons became infected with AIDS and 600,000 died; a pandemic or an epidemic. As we fought and scurried to save lives against COVID-19, let us not forget. prgtoken I rise to thank all the AIDS advocacy groups and my particular center, the Thomas Street Clinic, which will hold a World AIDS Day ceremony today, one that I never miss except when in Washington. prgtoken I remember the days of standing at the bedsides of those who were dying alone. We must continue to research, we must continue to acknowledge, and we must continue to eliminate the stigma, for all of those infected and affected AIDS must have human dignity. prgtoken I am reminded of my early engagement standing with the late Senator Orrin Hatch and, of course, the late Senator Ted Kennedy when they announced the Ryan White CARE Treatment Act, and what an amazing impact. prgtoken We have lost many souls. Many families have suffered, but as Americans, let us continue to fight against the scourge of AIDS and to embrace those who are fighting and living with AIDS. prgtoken World AIDS Day. We should never forget. It is not over yet.
WORLD AIDS DAY 2022
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-12-1

on December 1, we mark the 34th anniversary of World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day calls on us to remember those lost to AIDS and support those who live with HIV/AIDS-related illnesses. On this day, we also raise awareness for the global health crisis and redouble our efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS. prgtoken Established in 1998, World AIDS Day marked the first international day for global health. Since then, World AIDS Day has adopted targeted themes to raise awareness and encourage international cooperation. This year's theme, ``Equalize,'' focuses on addressing persisting inequalities in the fight against AIDS. Vulnerable groups such as young women, gay men, transgender people, people of color, and sex workers struggle to access contraception, testing, treatment, and new technologies. Criminalization, discrimination, and social stigmas continue to target these vulnerable populations across the globe. The 2022 ``Equalize'' campaign reminds us that our fight cannot be won until such inequalities are eliminated. prgtoken Since the first U.S. cases of AIDS were reported in June 1981, over 700,000 people in the U.S. have died from HIV-related illnesses. As of 2019, nearly 1.2 million people were living with HIV. In 2020, 30,635 people received an HIV diagnosis in the U.S. and dependent areas. My home State of Maryland is not immune to this issue. As of 2021, over 32,000 Marylanders over 13 years old are living with HIV, with 773 new diagnoses that same year. Furthermore, recent data shows that minority populations remain disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDs. In 2020, Black Americans accounted for 42 percent of HIV diagnoses, while Hispanic/Latino Americans accounted for 27 percent of HIV diagnoses. This is evidence of the persistent health challenge HIV/AIDS presents Maryland and the U.S. prgtoken Fortunately, scientists have made significant strides in developing antiretroviral therapies--ART--against HIV infections over recent decades. Thanks to breakthroughs in the private and public sectors, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration--FDA--has now approved more than 30 medicines prgtoken to treat HIV infection. These treatment regimens help extend and stabilize the lives of those living with HIV while reducing further risk of HIV transmission. prgtoken I particularly applaud Maryland's scientific community and academic partners--including the National Institutes of Health--NIH--the Walter Reed Army Institute of Infectious Disease Research, the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland, and Johns Hopkins University--for their groundbreaking research initiatives. For example, NIH-funded research, including clinical trials, to develop pre-exposure prophylaxis--PrEP--medication designed to prevent high-risk individuals from contracting HIV. prgtoken Thanks to cutting-edge advancements in treatment, Maryland has reached significant milestones in reducing HIV case numbers. For the
Introductory Statement on S. 5168
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-12-1

I rise to introduce the Energy Security and Lightering Independence Act of 2022. This bipartisan bill would allow foreign crewmembers of lightering ships to obtain a visa for a time period consistent with the duties of their work in the United States. prgtoken This bill would amend the C and D visa categories in the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow foreign crewmembers who are involved in ship-to-ship liquid transfer to be granted nonimmigrant visas for up to 180 days. This affects those crewmembers who are involved in moving oil from one ship to another and then transporting it into the interior of the United States. prgtoken The bill also clarifies that these crewmembers are engaged in foreign trade and are not considered to be performing labor within the United States. prgtoken Many vessels carrying crude oil or liquid natural gas are too large to enter U.S. ports, so lightering crews transfer these imports onto smaller vessels capable of entering U.S. ports. Crews may also transfer oil and liquified natural gas from smaller vessels to larger ships to consolidate exports bound for foreign ports. Approximately 74 percent of all U.S. exports and 44 percent of all U.S. imports of crude oil or natural gas are conducted by lightering. prgtoken Currently, crewmember visas are granted for 29 days, which is an insufficient time for lightering crews to get their work done. Customs and Border Protection must parole crewmembers into the United States on a case-by-case basis, which is administratively burdensome on the Agency. In fact, it is estimated that this bill could save CBP $250,000 and 6,000 man-hours per year. prgtoken I want to thank Senator Cornyn for joining me in this effort, and I urge my colleagues to join us in passing this technical fix as quickly as possible.
Order of Procedure (Executive Calendar)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-12-1

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session and proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 570, H.J. Res. 100; that the only amendment in order to the joint resolution be the Sullivan-Cotton amendment No. 6503; that there be up to 20 minutes for debate equally divided between the leaders or their designees; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate vote on the amendment; further, that following disposition of amendment No. 6503, the Senate then proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 119, which was received from the House and is at the desk; that there be up to 20 minutes for debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees prior to a vote on the concurrent resolution; finally, that upon the disposition of the concurrent resolution, the Senate resume consideration of H.J. Res. 100 and that there be 2 minutes of debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees, and upon the use or the yielding back of time, the joint resolution be considered read a third time and the Senate vote on the passage of the joint resolution, as amended, if amended; and that the amendment, concurrent resolution, and joint resolution require 60 affirmative votes for adoption, all without further intervening action or debate.
RECOGNIZING TACKLE BOX 2
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2022-12-1

. Madam , I rise today to share another good news story from Ohio's Ninth Congressional District. prgtoken With the new Ninth District stretching from the Indiana border to Sandusky County and beyond, my team and I are wasting no time in getting out and introducing ourselves and making new friends. prgtoken Over the Thanksgiving break, I had the pleasure of stopping by Tackle Box 2 in Fremont, Ohio, an iconic fish house pub along the banks of the Sandusky River. That fish house is home to a remarkable array of fishing memorabilia, tasty food, especially the perch, and a very friendly and welcoming staff, as you will see here. prgtoken Pictured are Angela, Rose, Carla, and Linda, new friends I made who take pride in their hard work and their community. In the hard jobs that they work, they serve guests with a welcoming smile--wonderful, smiley faces--and such a warm presence. prgtoken Angela, Rose, Carla, and Linda, as we move into the excitement and tugs of heart of the holiday season, may the joy each of you and your colleagues make possible be returned to you sevenfold. prgtoken The ethic of hard work and kindness beats fully in the hearts of these fine women.
HONORING FRANK SCHIEFELBEIN, JR.
Michelle Fischbach (Republican, MN) \u2014 2022-12-1

. Madam , I rise today to honor the memory of a staple in Minnesota's farm community, Frank Schiefelbein. Frank passed away earlier this week on his beloved farm. prgtoken Frank, better known as ``Big Frank,'' led a life centered around faith, family, prgtoken farming, friends, and food. He started his Angus herd, now the largest in the State, in the late 1950s with the mission of making the perfect steak. prgtoken He met his wife, Frosty, when he was only 16 years old. Through their 69 years of marriage, they raised 9 sons and have 32 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren to carry on his legacy. prgtoken He truly left an impression on everyone he met, and he will be greatly missed by everyone.
IT IS TIME TO RETURN TO AMERICAN ENERGY DOMINANCE
John Joyce (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-12-1

. Madam , last night, the temperature in my hometown of Altoona, Pennsylvania, was 28 degrees Fahrenheit. prgtoken As a harsh winter arrives, the administration has failed to address the skyrocketing heating prices that are set to affect people across the entirety of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. prgtoken In the past year, the price of fuel oil has risen 86 percent. This is the direct result of President 's decision to implement Green New Deal initiatives instead of using the energy that is under the feet of my constituents, the coal, the oil, the Marcellus shale, and the natural gas that are in Pennsylvania and that can help drive down the prices this winter. prgtoken It is time to enact commonsense permitting reforms. It is time to return to American energy dominance, instead of using taxpayer dollars to subsidize windmills and solar panels that fail to produce the baseload power that Americans want and, right now, facing winter, that Americans need.
TRIBUTE TO CHRISTINA GRETTLER
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-12-1

today I recognize Christina Grettler, an intern in my Aberdeen, SD, office, for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several months. prgtoken Christina is a graduate of Roncalli High School in Aberdeen, SD. Currently, she is attending Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, where she is majoring in history. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience. prgtoken I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Christina for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.
HONORING RUTH WARD
Mike Johnson (Republican, LA) \u2014 2022-12-1

. Madam , I rise today to honor the tenure of my longtime scheduler, director of operations, and policy adviser, Ruth Ward. prgtoken After 6 extraordinary years on Capitol Hill, Ruth is leaving public service for a new opportunity, and she is also adding a second baby to the family in the process. prgtoken My wife, Kelly, and I have known Ruth for many years and have admired her work and exceptional talents long before she joined our team after my election to Congress in 2016. prgtoken Ruth has been more than a consummate professional and office coordinator. She has brought faithful perspective and wise counsel. She has mentored countless young staffers, and she has opened her home to those who are away from family during the holidays. prgtoken Ruth has been like family to all of us. Everybody on Team Johnson will miss her presence terribly. prgtoken Madam , we thank her for her invaluable contributions to the people of our home State of Louisiana and ensure her that she and Richard and their young family will remain in our prayers as they pursue the next steps in their journey. prgtoken We are grateful, Ruth. Thank you for a job well done.