mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING DR. BOBBY KALOTEE
Thomas R. Suozzi (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-12-14

. Madam , I rise today to honor Dr. Bobby Kalotee. Dr. Bobby Kalotee is a hardworking and dedicated individual who has grown from humble beginnings as an immigrant to a respected civic leader and proud United States citizen who epitomizes the American dream. Bobby has served the people of Nassau County, Long Island, and New York State over the past four decades as the Chairman of various political parties, a community activist, and an ambassador on overseas missions of charitable work. Dr. Kalotee believes that serving others is a true honor, devoting time to build a healthy, peaceful, and prosperous world community. He is relentless in his quest to help people address their problems and concerns, regardless of origin or social status. prgtoken Dr. Kalotee was appointed to Nassau County Human Rights Commission in 2016 by a unanimous vote of the Nassau County legislature, and enthusiastically approved by the Nassau County Executive. Bobby is one of the longest serving Directors for Nassau University Medical Center. In addition, Bobby was appointed to Stony Brook University's Brookhaven National Labs from 1997 to 2007, as Director/Vice Chair of the Counsel. Dr. Kalotee also serves on the board of New York Institute of Technology where he received an honorary Doctorate in science in 2001. He was also the Chairman of Spartan Health Science University Saint Lucia where he received an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy 2016. prgtoken Since 2005, Dr. Kalotee has served as the International Chairman of Friends for Good Health, a philanthropic organization that has sent teams of leading healthcare professionals to provide vital medical services in the world's most affected regions. On one recent such mission, Dr. Kalotee and his team served over 7,000 people in numerous cities across El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. prgtoken Under the leadership of Dr. Kalotee, Friends for Good Health has expanded to a worldwide organization with Co-Chairs in over 127 countries. Dr. Kalotee has personally directed missions in providing disaster aid to El Salvador, Malawi, Haiti, India, Pakistan, the Dominican Republic and others. prgtoken Dr. Kalotee has always been very active in civic, social, charitable, and political life, believing that politics is not a spectator sport but requires proactive participation and advocacy, and that voting in an informed and educated manner is a privilege and the civic duty of every responsible citizen. He has served as Chairman of the Nassau County Independence Party, Vice-Chairman of New York State Independence Party, and National Executive Director of the Independence Party of America. He was a National Chairman of the Reform Patty from 2007 to 2010. prgtoken Dr. Kalotee holds the rank of Major in the New York State Guard, Division of Military and Naval Affairs and as a General in the U-- S,Disaster Relief Command. He was appointed as a special liaison to South Asia by the President of Malawi,
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL UNDER CHAPTER 8 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION--Continued
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2022-12-14

many of us in Connecticut and throughout the Nation awoke today with a heavy heart, with grief still so raw that we could almost touch it. prgtoken I wish I could tell you that 10 years ago to this day was a blur. I wish I could tell you that the memory of that day has dimmed. I wish I could tell you that the knife-like sorrow and pain has subsided. But the fact is, it is still raw and real for so many of us in Connecticut, this day 10 years ago. prgtoken My mind goes back to the horrors of this day, and I think that reliving it reminds us of the need to honor those 26 lives with action. It is still searingly and scarily vivid--the voices, the faces, the unforgettable moments of that tragedy, as we stood at the firehouse in Sandy Hook and saw parents and loved ones emerge after learning that their children or loved ones--beautiful babies and great educators-- would not be coming home that night; parents with their faces frozen in shock and sorrow, struggling through tears; police and first responders bent with disbelief and grief; townspeople, loved ones feeling helpless and hopeless. prgtoken And at the wakes and funerals that followed, what we saw was a town and a State that rallied together--but still the searing sorrow of those losses and also the determination that was expressed that night at St. Rose of Lima Church to turn that grief and sorrow into something positive. prgtoken As I recall very vividly, at one of the wakes, I approached a mom who had just lost her child and said: When you are ready, I would like to talk about what we can do to stop this kind of gun violence. And she looked at me through her tears and said: I am ready. I am ready now. prgtoken That is the spirit that Sandy Hook and Newtown brought to the world as the world watched them. And many of them, not all, but many turned that grief and loss into advocacy. They came here to the Capitol. They asked us to do something about gun violence. They spoke to colleagues. They crusaded. They sought to improve the background check system that all too often allows people who are dangerous to have weapons, people who should be separated from their guns or prevented from having them in the first place. prgtoken And they were in this Gallery, many of them, when the vote on that background check bill failed. It received 60 votes, but it failed--it received less than 60 votes, so it failed. It received a majority but not the 60 votes that it needed. prgtoken And from the Gallery I heard then and I still feel that it echoes in this Chamber: Shame. Shame on you. prgtoken And, indeed, shame on us for the 10 years afterward when no action came from this body. prgtoken In the last decade, they have continued that crusade. They have helped to form a movement. They have been joined by tens of thousands of others in a movement to change the law, to turn that trauma and loss into positive social change and reform, and they have helped create a mov
REMEMBERING LIVES LOST AT SANDY HOOK
Jahana Hayes (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2022-12-14

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the 26 beautiful lives that were lost on December 14, 2012. prgtoken Today marks 10 years since 20 innocent children and 6 selfless educators were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. prgtoken Newtown is a small community with a big heart, a community that changed forever 10 years ago. Bonded by a shared grief no one can ever truly comprehend, the lives of my constituents in this community were reshaped forever. prgtoken While this community has mourned the loss of their loved ones, they have also honored their memories through service. Every single family who lost a loved one at Sandy Hook has found a way to be of service, with everything from violence prevention programs like Sandy Hook Promise, to Embrace Hope, which is an equine therapy program. There is the Ana Grace Project and Ben's Lighthouse, Charlotte's Litter Therapy Dog Program, the Emilie Parker Art Connection, and everything from butterflies to puppies. There is the Vicki Soto Project, which is a fund to promote a love of teaching. prgtoken These are just a few, but every single family affected honored the memory of their loved ones through service. These families have all found ways to turn their grief into action. prgtoken While I recognize that we have so much work to do as legislators in this body, my only ask of you today, colleagues, is that we not let the deaths of these children be in vain and that we recommit ourselves to making our schools and our communities safe and find ways to turn solemn moments like this into action.
HONORING THE LIFE OF GRANT WAHL
Derek Kilmer (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2022-12-14

most people knew Grant Wahl as a leading soccer journalist. I knew him as a classmate and as someone I admired. prgtoken Sadly, we lost Grant this past weekend, and I join the many people here in America and around the world who are celebrating his life. prgtoken Grant and I went to college together. Before he covered soccer for worldwide news organizations, he was the sportswriter for our school paper. prgtoken As an undergrad, Grant visited South America and fell in love with soccer. While he was there, he watched clubs train, watched games, and developed the passion of a convert. prgtoken By 1998, he was covering the World Cup for Sports Illustrated. How cool is that? prgtoken His love of soccer was infectious. He made others appreciate this sport because he did. In one commemoration of Grant, Christian Stone wrote: ``Wahl became the definitive chronicler of the sport in North America, a world traveler who applied rigor, depth, and passion, without being pedantic or precious, to his coverage. He visited six of the seven continents several times over, introduced the world to a generation of U.S. woman rock stars . . coaxed private audiences out of some of the planet's most reclusive stars . . and led a life of globetrotting freedom, adventure, and pleasure that was Bourdain- like.'' prgtoken But Grant's greatest passion was not the sport he loved. It was the woman he loved, Celine, who he met at Princeton and married in 2001. Celine is an extraordinary doctor in her own right, an infectious disease expert who so many have looked to throughout the COVID pandemic. prgtoken In Celine, Grant found a spouse who matched him as someone at the top of their field in a career dedicated to improving the world. prgtoken Grant was accomplished and yet humble. He was driven and yet kind. He was a champion for social justice. He was a strong advocate for pay equity for women players. prgtoken On November 21, when World Cup security detained Grant for wearing a shirt with a pro-LGBTQ+ equality message, people saw Grant's name in news headlines everywhere. prgtoken Grant's refusal to change his shirt offered a glimpse of the integrity he displayed throughout his life, both in journalism and toward those that he loved. prgtoken Many of us were fans of Grant when he worked for Sports Illustrated, when he published books, when he developed amazing podcasts. We marveled at his documentary, ``Exploring Planet Futbol,'' where he traveled the world exploring the glory of the sport he loved. prgtoken I admit, over the last few days, I have spent time diving into the Sports Illustrated vault, listening to his podcast. Like many of his classmates, colleagues, and friends, I have come away with a feeling of just being proud of him. prgtoken But Grant wasn't just an extraordinary journalist. He was an extraordinary person. He was a good and generous and kind man. He had a phenomenal smile that made people feel welcome in his presence. <|
MAKING ENERGY PROGRESS
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2022-12-14

. Madam , this week, gas prices in Toledo, Ohio, fell to $2.87 a gallon. Am I the only person in Congress noticing gas prices are falling? Hello? prgtoken The best part is that this gasoline is derived from energy reserves that are brought up from the Utica and Marcellus shale located right in Ohio near the border with Pennsylvania and West Virginia. This means transport costs to market are less. How about that? prgtoken What America produces and makes, produces and makes America. Powering our Nation from inside our country means importing less. prgtoken Just yesterday, the Department of Energy made a historic announcement about the achievement of fusion ignition at Livermore National Laboratory. prgtoken America is making great strides to unleash the future of energy. When America innovates, she is able to stand on her own two feet. prgtoken Inside our borders, we must secure energy independence and good- paying jobs through distributed generation, solar, fusion, hydrogen, biofuels, advanced nuclear, and more. prgtoken Energy security is national security. Let's keep working to make our country energy secure with the good jobs that go with it, both for today and the tomorrows to come. prgtoken Onward, energy progress.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL UNDER CHAPTER 8 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION--Continued
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2022-12-14

in a moment, I intend to put forward a unanimous consent request to pass my bipartisan bill with our colleague from Utah, Senator Lee, entitled the Protect Reporters from Excessive State Suppression Act, also known as the PRESS Act. prgtoken Before I make the unanimous consent request, I want to take just a few minutes to talk about why our colleague from Utah Senator Lee and I feel this legislation is so important, and I will start with the basic proposition behind the legislation. prgtoken If you don't have a free press, you don't have a democracy. My dad was a journalist. After fleeing the Nazis, he came to this country, taught himself English, worked in our Army developing propaganda that we dropped on the Nazis. He believed deeply in individual freedom and in press freedom and would always tell me: Ron, they go hand in hand. prgtoken If you want to see what happens when governments undermine and eliminate the free press, look at Russia, look at Saudi Arabia, look at Iran. Information became a tool of power, abuse, and manipulation. That is what governments do when they want to keep freedom from breaking out in their countries. And so they abuse power rather than promote education, expression, and enlightenment among the countryside and the people. prgtoken So--let's be clear--the threat of government overreach interfering with the free press in the United States is not some distant, far-off, hypothetical idea. It happened very recently. The administration spied on several journalists at outlets the disgraced ex-President personally disliked and attacked, grabbing phone and email records. The extent of this abuse of power has come out in shocking revelations over the last few years. prgtoken And let me emphasize, the administration was not the first to do this sort of thing. Both the administration and the administration went too far in prosecuting journalists just for doing their jobs. prgtoken Now, Members of the Senate talk pretty frequently about their interest in protecting journalism in America. My view is the bipartisan PRESS Act is the best opportunity we have to make progress on that goal before the Congress ends--and we all hope that that is fairly shortly. prgtoken The PRESS Act would protect the free flow of information by shielding journalists from being ordered by the courts to give up their sources. The bill includes key exceptions, such as when that information is necessary to prevent an act of terrorism against the United States or necessary to prevent the threat of imminent violence. Those exceptions were very important to Senator Lee and me. prgtoken I see our colleague here from Arkansas. He and I serve on the Select Committee on Intelligence, so we know about the importance of protecting our country against terrorism. prgtoken This legislation is very similar to legislation already on the books in several States, including my home State of Oregon and
Remembering Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting (Executive Calendar)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-12-14

I rise as so many of us are talking about today and reflecting upon the massacre in Newtown, CT, Sandy Hook Elementary School, 10 years ago today. prgtoken I rise for two purposes: One is to commemorate those who lost their lives that day--especially the children, 20 children, as well as 6 adults--to remember each of them today but also to commend and salute the work done by families and so many others across this country to make some measure of progress, limited though it has been, to reduce the likelihood of more gun violence across the country. prgtoken I wanted to start, though, , by reading the names and the ages of those who perished on that day at Sandy Hook Elementary School. For each individual, I will read their name and then the age they were on that day. prgtoken First, Charlotte Bacon, 6 years old; Olivia Engel, 6; Dylan Hockley, 6 years old; Madeleine Hsu, 6; Catherine Hubbard, 6; Jesse Lewis, 6; Ana Marquez-Greene, 6; James Mattioli, 6; Emilie Parker, 6; Jack Pinto, 6 years old; Noah Pozner, 6; Caroline Previdi, 6; Jessica Rekos, 6; Avielle Richman, 6 years old; Benjamin Wheeler, 6; Allison Wyatt, 6; Daniel Barden, 7 years old; Josephine Gay, 7; Chase Kowalski, 7; Grace McDonnell, 7, just age 7. prgtoken They are the children, and here are the adults who were killed on that day: prgtoken Victoria Soto, 27 years old; Rachel D'Avino, 29; Lauren Rousseau, 30; Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, 47 years old; Anne Marie Murphy, 52; and Mary Sherlach, 56 years old. prgtoken When we remember those children and adults who were killed on that day, unfortunately for the Nation, it didn't stop there. And just as I have read those names, we could continue reading names from other cities and other years under different circumstances but all leading to the same place: death and darkness because of the scourge of gun violence all across America. prgtoken The children of Newtown, CT, came before the most recent massacre of children in a school in Uvalde, TX. There were many front-page newspaper stories in 2012 on this day--or I guess tomorrow; it would be tomorrow's newspapers--across the country. We had little, small pictures of each child and each adult. prgtoken I saved one from the Wall Street Journal. It was on my desk for a long time, and then I ultimately had it matted. But I still have one just from May of this year that is still in its newspaper form from Uvalde, TX--the same newspaper, the Wall Street Journal. But you could pick any paper in the country in 2012 or this past year. That tells us all we need to know. prgtoken So, as we remember and reflect upon that loss, I believe today it is also important to remember and commend what the parents did, what the families did, what their friends and relatives and supporters did, what volunteers did, all these years, who didn't know these families. prgtoken But let me start with the parents. These parents, of course, were consumed by grie
HONORING THE CAREER OF CONGRESSMAN KURT SCHRADER
Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2022-12-14

. Madam , I rise to honor the career of my colleague and neighboring Oregon delegation member, Congressman Kurt Schrader. Kurt's long career in public service started in Salem, where he served in both the Oregon House and Senate before being elected to Congress in 2008. Kurt has always been known as a practical lawmaker who wants to get things done for the people of his district. As the sole veterinarian in Congress, Kurt is a prominent voice in the work to end animal cruelty and advocated for bipartisan solutions to safeguard public health. Kurt is also known for his leadership in fighting to uplift Oregon farmers. Through his service on the Agriculture Committee and in strengthening several farm bills, Kurt has helped put Oregon's specialty crops in a place to compete and succeed. prgtoken I am particularly grateful to have partnered with Kurt to hold our government accountable for its long and shameful history of separating Native American children from their families. Kurt has thoughtfully led our work regarding the challenges around Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Oregon, and our efforts to provide oversight on whether the school can protect the well-being of its students and get them on a path to academic success. Kurt has demanded answers from both ic and Administrations and has not wavered from the fight to stand up for the students and their families. prgtoken Kurt will depart with a strong legacy of serving his constituents and championing bipartisan legislative successes. I offer my best wishes to Kurt, his wife, Susan, and his hard-working staff in Oregon and in Washington, D.C.
PROVIDING RESEARCH AND ESTIMATES OF CHANGES IN PRECIPITATION ACT
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2022-12-14

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in support of the Further Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, which extends funding for critical Federal programs and services through December 23. prgtoken While I would have preferred to come before the House today to pass a final 2023 government funding package, I am encouraged that we have come to an agreement on a framework that provides a path forward to enact an omnibus next week. prgtoken The legislation before us today is a simple date change that keeps the government up and running as we negotiate the details of final spending bills and complete the work of funding the government programs that meet the needs of hardworking Americans. prgtoken All of us in this room know well that final funding bills are the best way to guarantee the necessary resources for the government programs and policies that make the biggest impact on our constituents. We will soon bring to the floor an omnibus that continues to make important investments, because we know the impact of a government that looks out for the middle class, working families, and for small businesses. prgtoken The final funding bills we will bring to a vote will include investments that will help hardworking Americans, rebuild our infrastructure, keep our Nation competitive, strengthen our supply chain, and help small businesses access the capital they need, the keys to our economic future. prgtoken The final omnibus agreement will help keep our Nation and our communities safe with the certainty that we all deserve. I can say with certainty this package will include community project funding that responds directly to some of the most pressing needs in communities all over America and that so many of my colleagues have worked tirelessly to deliver to their constituents. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and .
FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS AND EXTENSIONS ACT, 2023--Continued
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-12-15

. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Wyoming (Mr. Barrasso), the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Burr), the Senator from Texas (Mr. Cruz), the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Hagerty), the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Moran), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Scott), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis), and the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Toomey).