mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING JUDY ARNOLD
Jared Huffman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-12-20

. Madam , I rise today in recognition of Judy Arnold upon her retirement from the Marin County Board of Supervisors as District Five's intrepid Supervisor for sixteen years and to congratulate her on a productive career of extraordinary public service. prgtoken Judy was raised in Kansas City, Kansas. She attended Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland for 2 years and then graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in International Relations. Following college, Judy launched her career in civic and nonprofit work with 3 years in the Peace Corps. She later assumed the position of Communication and Fund Development for Goodwill Industries of the Redwood Empire and has since served a plethora of government offices, including as Marin County's First Supervisorial Aide to Gary Giacomini, District Coordinator for President pro tempore John Burton, and District Chief of Staff for California State Senator Carole Migden. In 2003, she was elected to the Novato City Council and served for 2 years until she was elected to the Marin County Board of Supervisors, a position she has held for 4 terms. prgtoken As Supervisor, Judy made an enduring and positive impact on the quality of life for Marin County's residents. From housing and transportation infrastructure to education and the environment, she delivered for District Five and the extended community. Known as a strong voice for businesses and jobs, one of Judy's numerous accomplishments is the establishment of the Marin Economic Forum, a county-wide public-private partnership focusing on building an equitable and sustainable local economy. Unafraid to break from the majority, Judy has time and again proven that she is willing to listen to conflicting arguments and change her mind to best reflect the views of her constituents. prgtoken As a board member of the Golden Gate Bridge District, the Transportation Authority of Marin, Marin Transit, and Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART), Judy spearheaded successful initiatives to improve county infrastructure and decrease traffic congestion. She is recognized for her leadership in launching the SMART passenger service, which has increased ridership steadily over the years. prgtoken Building on her work as Vice President of the League of Women Voters, Judy remains a staunch advocate for equitable housing and education. A legacy for which she is deservedly proud includes adding Education as one of the Board of Supervisors' key priorities. Furthermore, her management of local projects, including preserving the 64-acre Vince Mulroy Memorial Woodland and Wildlife Preserve as County Open Space, building the Stafford Lake Bike Park, and opening the South Novato Library Branch, has made Novato a healthier and more enjoyable place to live for children and families. prgtoken Madam , Judy Arnold is a force of energy and conviction. Her Twitter handle @JudyGetsItDone says it all. She leaves an indelible legacy as she retir
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-12-20

reserving the right to object, let me, first, praise Senator Wyden for his continuing effort on behalf of the Baha'is. As he has mentioned, we have worked together on this in the past. I am strongly supportive. prgtoken I am in complete agreement with what Senator Wyden wants to do in terms of shining a spotlight on the abuses that the Baha'is face at the hands of the Iranian regime and taking steps to protect that community. prgtoken I believe that religious freedom and support for religious minorities is a fundamental right, one we have to defend both at home and abroad. For decades, Iran has persecuted religious minorities, ethnic minorities, women--as we have seen most pointedly of late--and anyone who does not toe the regime's line. prgtoken Senator Wyden's resolution addresses an important issue. My challenge here is that we have a flood of requests to release the committee both of resolutions and legislation, including of members of the committee, and we have said no in order to preserve the opportunity to have the imprint of the committee's process on any given resolution or piece of legislation. In order to preserve that, we ultimately have a challenge. If we were to allow this to happen at this point, there would be an enormous number. prgtoken So what I can commit to the Senator is that at the very beginning of this new session, the committee will take up your resolution. I will work with prgtoken the ranking member, as we have comity, but we will take up the resolution, look to pass it out, and then work with you to make sure it passes to the floor.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2022-12-20

I first want to thank Senator Portman for his incredible work on Ukraine. He has given dozens and dozens of talks on this floor, but what is equally important is all the work he has done behind the scenes, working across the aisle, making sure the funding is there for the weapons, and meeting directly with President Zelenskyy. I just want to thank him for his incredible leadership, and we will continue his work. I have a feeling he will be calling us from Ohio or wherever he is to make sure we are doing it right. I thank him for that. Democracy prgtoken , we are here today to speak about democracy. Of course, that is on the line in Ukraine. President Zelenskyy reminds us about it every day when he says these simple words: ``We are here.'' That is what he said the day of the Russian invasion. He went to the street corner and said, ``We are here.'' That is what we are here to say today, is that there are people who are carrying the torch for democracy in our own country. prgtoken I am glad to be joined with my colleague today, Senator Whitehouse, who has been such a leader when it comes to the DISCLOSE Act and that part of our democracy, as well as voting, to make sure we keep our democracy and make the case that our democracy does not work if we do not have campaign finance and things that are transparent and know where that money is coming from, because it drowns out the voices of everyday people. prgtoken Senator King is with us today on the floor. He is a member of the Rules Committee. He introduced, with Senator Durbin and myself, the original reform to the Electoral Count Act and has been a true leader when it comes to voting reform. prgtoken The Presiding Officer herself will be addressing this from the great State of New Hampshire, where they understand a little bit about a democracy and freedom and what that means. prgtoken Then Senator Merkley, the original sponsor of the For the People Act, which really set the table for the discussions we have been having on voting rights and the close vote we had when it came to finally passing the Freedom to Vote Act--that was built on the work that Senator Merkley and many others did on the For the People Act. prgtoken Nearly 2 years ago, a violent mob of insurrectionists stormed into this Chamber right here. We are looking at the desks they were opening up. We are looking at the presiding dais, which they invaded. They desecrated our Capitol. They interrupted the hallmark of our democracy, the peaceful transfer of power. prgtoken Just this last week, we gave the Capitol Police and the DC Metro Police--the police who protected us that day--the Congressional Medal of Honor. So many brave officers were there for us, and democracy prevailed that day. prgtoken But what we have learned is that what the insurrectionists didn't finish with bear spray and flag poles in the U.S. Capitol, others have tried to d
OMNIBUS
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2022-12-20

I am pleased to announce that late last night, I introduced the bipartisan, bicameral, fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations bill. This bill invests $772.5 billion in nondefense discretionary programs, including $118.7 billion--a 22-percent increase--for VA medical care, and $858 billion in defense funding. It provides $44.9 billion in emergency assistance to Ukraine and our NATO allies and $40.6 billion in emergency funding to assist communities across the country recovering from drought, hurricanes, flooding, wildfire, natural disasters, and other matters. prgtoken The pain of inflation is real, and it is being felt across the Federal Government and by American families right now. Our bill offers relief, certainty for the operations of the Federal Government through the fiscal year, and the resources necessary to secure the national defense. From funding for nutrition programs and housing assistance, to home energy costs and college affordability, this is a strong bill that directly invests in the American people. It is the product of bipartisan negotiations in line with the framework announced by Vice Chairman Shelby, Chair DeLauro, and myself last week, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support it. prgtoken It fulfills the promise of bipartisan, landmark legislation that we passed this year, and it fulfills our promise to the American people. prgtoken If you voted for the PACT Act to care for our veterans, you should vote for this bill. If you voted for the CHIPS Act, you should vote for this bill. If you voted for the infrastructure law, you should vote for this bill. If you want to help families deal with the cost of heating, childcare, college, and housing, you should vote for this bill. If you actually want to fund the troops and their families at the levels of the NDAA, you should vote for this bill. If you want to help the victims of domestic violence, you should vote for this bill. If you want to support law enforcement, you should vote for this bill. prgtoken I will have more to say about our bill tomorrow, but our choice is clear. The alternative, a continuing resolution into the New Year, is short-sighted and wholly unnecessary. It imperils our national security, and it ignores the real pain and consequences of inflation. Without a clear path forward based on a bipartisan framework, punting on our responsibility to fund the Federal Government risks a full-year continuing resolution. Under a continuing resolution, America gets left behind. This is unacceptable. prgtoken We have a bipartisan bill. We have a path forward now. I look forward to continuing to work with my friend, Vice Chairman Shelby, to pass this bill out of the Senate as soon as possible. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that the joint explanatory statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 be printed in the Congressional Record.
RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF BRITT VAN
James A. Himes (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2022-12-20

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the service of Britt Van, a dedicated staffer for the New Coalition. prgtoken Britt departs the Coalition this month after working for more than five and a half years providing Coalition Members and staff with countless hours of policy advice and recommendations. I am especially honored to have worked with Britt, considering she is from my congressional district. It was a delight to have a constituent serve in an important policy staffer role while I was Chair of the Coalition in the 115th Congress. prgtoken During my term as chair, the Coalition established a task force to examine the evolving nature of work. Britt was instrumental in this process, and in developing our Economic Opportunity Agenda, which laid out our Coalition's policy priorities to ensure that American workers were prepared for the jobs of the future. Britt was the lead staffer on this agenda, developing and coordinating our work with New Dem offices, think tanks, and outside stakeholders. Without Britt, our agenda that focused on creating a future that works for all would not have been possible, prgtoken Britt was also critical in spearheading our policy efforts related to international trade. Anybody who has gotten to know Britt knows that she is a staunch defender of the importance of American leadership in the global market. She continued to carry the mantle on trade issues with our next two Chairs and cemented the Coalition's leadership on these issues. prgtoken Madam . I thank Britt Van for all of her work for the New Coalition. All of our Members have benefited tremendously from her policy knowledge and commitment to the job. Britt will be dearly missed by the Coalition, and I wish her all of the best.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-12-20

last March, the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General released a report which revealed that the Department's intelligence division had identified ``specific'' threats related to January 6 before the deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol. But the report said that the -era DHS did not share the intelligence about those threats with other key law enforcement partners until 2 days after the mob stormed the Capitol. By then, no one needed a warning. prgtoken In an article in the Washington Post a few days after the 2020 election, a person identified only as ``an anonymous senior official'' shrugged off Mr. 's unprecedented denial of President 's victory. He asked: ``What is the downside for humoring him for this little bit of time?'' prgtoken Now, we know. And now, we also know the catastrophic harm that can occur when people ignore the growing threats to our democracy and normalize the dangerous rise in threats of political violence and actual violence in our Nation. prgtoken Two weeks ago, hundreds of officers from the Capitol Police and the Washington Metropolitan Police Department filled the Capitol Rotunda. They were here to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor that Congress can bestow. There were also officers who weren't there, who fought the mob and died in the days and weeks after. In his remarks in the Rotunda, Leader Schumer praised the officers for ``holding the line'' and saving the Capitol. And truly, we can never thank them enough. They are the heroes of January 6. prgtoken But what about the man who summoned the mob--whipped them into a fury with his Big Lie and turned them toward the Capitol, ordering them to ``fight like hell'' and ``take back our country''? When will our colleagues accept their responsibility to ``hold the line'' against 's increasingly unhinged agitation for political violence and authoritarianism? prgtoken 's handle on his social media website is ``realDonald.'' Earlier this month, he showed the world again exactly who the ``realDonald'' is. After repeating his Big Lie about a stolen election, he demanded ``the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.'' If given the chance again, can anyone doubt that would undermine or even suspend our constitutional order if it meant he could entrench himself in power and avoid accountability for his actions? prgtoken Fortunately, for democracy, the truth seems to be closing in on . Yesterday, at their final public meeting, the members of the bipartisan House Select Committee investigating January 6 voted to refer the former President to the Justice Department on four criminal charges. The proposed charges are historic and devastating: inciting or assisting an insurrection, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Govern
IMMIGRATION
Mark Kelly (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2022-12-20

I join my colleagues to discuss the importance of tackling the issues on the border and with our immigration system. prgtoken I think what folks have heard so far is that s and can find a lot of common ground, even on this topic, and I am here today because securing our border and fixing our broken immigration system is a priority for me and for the State of Arizona. prgtoken The State of Arizona bears the brunt of Washington's failure on this issue, and this is a national security issue. For decades now, politicians have tried and failed to fix our border and fix our immigration system. We see crisis after crisis under administrations of both parties, and we see attempts by Congress to pass reforms fizzle out over and over and over again, because on this issue, more than any other, folks often retreat to partisan corners rather than finding common ground that we know exists. prgtoken It is what led the Federal Government to fail border States like Arizona for decades when it comes to border security, and it has led to a broken immigration system that doesn't work for families. It doesn't work for Dreamers. It doesn't work for businesses, small and large, and it doesn't work for our country. prgtoken In Arizona, these aren't abstract issues. These aren't theoretical questions to debate over. These are real problems, and Arizonans deserve real prgtoken solutions. Our State is left to deal with crisis after crisis at the border, including the one we are facing right now, where record numbers of border crossings are straining law enforcement, and it is straining humanitarian organizations. prgtoken This is unsustainable, and a change to title 42 authority now is only going to make these challenges worse. prgtoken So that is why we are here today, because it is past time for Congress to work together to reform the broken immigration system and plan better to prevent this continued humanitarian crisis. prgtoken Over the past couple of weeks, including today, I have been speaking with Arizona officials on the border about the situation on the ground. That includes Border Patrol, who are seeing their staff stretched even further. That includes cities and counties that are having their emergency services strained. And that includes humanitarian and nonprofit organizations that are trying to increase their capacity because they are being stretched so thin. And they are expecting to be stretched even further just to help people. prgtoken So I have been pushing the Department of Homeland Security as they work to mobilize as much staffing and resources and coordination as they can ahead of a change in the title 42 authority. There is a lot left to do, and I will keep working with them toward a secure, humane, and orderly process at the border. prgtoken But ultimately--ultimately--Congress needs to step up too. We have to do our jobs, because it is not just Arizona that sees the impacts of W
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023
Rick Scott (Republican, FL) \u2014 2022-12-20

I have been in the Senate about 4 years now, and I am not sure I can recall a day before this one that so perfectly exposed Washington's total dysfunction. prgtoken Last night or I guess this morning just before 1:30 a.m Senate leadership finally dropped the $1.7 trillion Pelosi-Schumer spending bill--all 4,155 pages of it. In typical Washington fashion, hostages have been taken to pressure Members of this body to approve this bill without a reasonable opportunity to review, debate, or amend it. prgtoken Most important to me are the Florida families fighting hard to recover from Hurricanes Ian and Nicole who are being used as pawns in exchange for approval of the massive and reckless $1.7 trillion Pelosi- Schumer spending bill. prgtoken Immediately after the storm passed, I made clear that I would fight for and support a stand-alone disaster aid funding package to get Floridians the assistance they needed to recover. I even wrote to Senators Leahy and Shelby, the Senate top appropriators, urging them to work with me on getting much needed aid to Florida families as quickly as possible in a stand-alone disaster supplemental bill. My letter to them was written on September 30, 2 days after Ian made its catastrophic landfall near Ft. Myers, FL, but the aid Floridians desperately needed was delayed and turned into a hostage taken by Senate leadership so it could be stuffed in this massive omnibus bill. prgtoken To tell folks in the Sunshine State who are still picking up the pieces left by Ian and Nicole that this aid only comes as part of the 4,000-plus page omnibus spending bill is sickening, and I am not going to stand for it. prgtoken Government has an essential role to play in our society and core responsibilities to fulfill. We all pay taxes so that government has the resources to keep its promises to us and provide core services like national defense, Social Security, and Medicare. prgtoken If this spending bill helped balance the budget and only contained the things that the Federal Government should be responsible for, I would gladly vote for it without hesitation, but that is not what we are facing here. prgtoken When I ran for the Senate in 2018, I promised Florida families to make Washington work for them. That doesn't mean zero Federal spending; it means responsible spending by a Congress that is accountable to taxpayers who fund it. That is how we governed when I was Governor of Florida, and the result was better returns for our State's families. prgtoken Because we governed responsibly, the economy grew. A growing economy meant we could cut taxes and pay off State debt while making record investments in education, environment, and public safety. Washington can work this way, too, but not while failed politicians refuse to be accountable with your money. prgtoken The truth is, at more than 4,000 pages, the Pelosi-Schumer spending bill has a lot of policies and funding priorities I actual