mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H. CON. RES. 9, DENOUNCING THE HORRORS OF SOCIALISM; AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H. RES. 76, REMOVING A CERTAIN MEMBER FROM A CERTAIN STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE...
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2023-2-1

. The statement touts due process language that was supposedly added to the resolution. I have to admit, I am completely lost here. prgtoken There is nothing--let me repeat that, nothing; one more time, nothing--in this resolution that provides due process. prgtoken Don't take my word for it. I have a nice quote here for people to follow along with me. There is a quote in Politico today: ``The whereas clause added merely references an existing process and in no way begins an appeal procedure or guarantees her committee seat will be reconsidered. It is non-binding and not actionable.'' prgtoken That is according to a senior GOP aide in a comment that they made to Politico. To whoever that senior GOP aide is, let me just say thank you for your candor. I think it is appreciated. prgtoken To people like the gentlewoman from Indiana and others who somehow think that they negotiated some sort of due process here, you didn't get anything. If you think you did, then you are a cheap date. prgtoken , .
CRYPTOCURRENCY
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-2-1

before he leaves, let me commend my colleague from Louisiana. His role as a substitute teacher is one I greatly admire. prgtoken I thank you for sharing that with us today. I am sure it gives you great insight into education--greater than some--and I am going to accept your challenge and try to find a way to be a substitute teacher myself along the way, if they will have me. But thank you for that statement. prgtoken It has been almost 100 years since the Great Depression. It was a terrible time in American history. Businesses failed right and left. Families lost all of their savings. There were runs on banks, businesses failing. It was a horrible moment. prgtoken Luckily for us, the leadership of Franklin Roosevelt appeared in 1933, when he was sworn in as President of the United States, and we made some significant basic changes. One of them we still benefit from today: Federal deposit insurance. prgtoken If you go to a recognized legal bank in America, a regulated bank, under our Federal guidelines, there is an insurance policy that says that even if this bank goes bust, we are going to be there to protect much of your savings, maybe all of them, depending on how much you have invested in that bank. prgtoken We were tested during the savings and loan crisis a few decades ago, and we kept our promise. We paid people back when the savings institutions they were invested in failed. prgtoken But there are areas where you can invest your own personal savings where there is no insurance policy. You are on your own. The stock market is one of them. prgtoken By and large, when you buy stock, if you don't make money on it, that is your personal loss. But even when it comes to the stock market, the companies that are in that stock market doing business in America are largely subject to regulation. So we know, at least, that the books they are presenting have to be legal and be accurate in their disclosures. It is just the basics of government regulation. prgtoken However, there are some areas where you can bet your money or invest your money where there is no protection and no regulation. I want to speak to one of those areas at this moment. This area has been called the ``new money,'' ``digital cash,'' and some have called it ``the way of the future.'' I have another name for it: reckless, predatory, foolish, and dangerous. I am referring, of course, to cryptocurrency, the latest scam to rip off millions of hard-working Americans to the tune of billions of dollars. prgtoken In under a decade, this industry has skyrocketed in popularity, raked in big bucks for its leading speculators, before exploding into dust for all the world to see. prgtoken Let me tell you about crypto's terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad year--2022. Let's start with the most popular cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. In 2022, the currency cratered, losing more than 60 percent of its value in 1 year. prgtoken To put it in perspective, if you b
DEBT CEILING
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-2-1

let me begin with a simple statement which I hope every Senator in this body agrees with: that the United States of America pays its bills on time. prgtoken We have since our Nation was founded. We never default on our debts. We always pay what we owe. We honor our financial obligations to all Americans and all those who invest in the American economy. And because we pay our bills on time, the United States has earned a reputation as a reliable, credible, and trustworthy partner around prgtoken the world, and that helps every single American and our entire economy. prgtoken Now, as everybody in this Chamber knows, in order to maintain the full faith and credit of the United States, we have to raise the debt ceiling. And this is not about new spending. This is about paying the bills that are already due and already owing under the laws that we have already passed in this country and that have already been signed by Presidents of both parties. prgtoken When was President of the United States, s voted with to raise the debt limit three times, and the U.S. Congress has raised the debt limit a total of 78 times since 1960, under both ic and Presidents. prgtoken If the Government of the United States had failed to raise the debt ceiling in the past, we would have faced an economic catastrophe. Think about it this way: You wouldn't just wake up one day and decide not to make your mortgage payment or not to make your car payment. You pay what you owe. It is as simple as that. prgtoken And you know that, if you were to wake up one morning and say that you are not paying your mortgage or you are not paying your car payment, you will face consequences. If you don't pay your mortgage, you could have your home foreclosed on. If you don't pay your car payments, your car can be repossessed. prgtoken The same logic applies to the U.S. Government, but the consequences are not confined to just one individual or one homeowner or one car owner. If the United States fails to pay its bills on time, every American--everyone inside this room and everyone outside this room-- will suffer the consequences. We are not talking about risking foreclosure on one house or losing one car. We are talking about the economy of our country grinding to a halt. If the United States stops paying our bills, our economy takes a nose dive. It is as simple as that. prgtoken When I talk to my colleagues here on the Senate floor, both s and , they agree that it is a no-brainer. You pay what you owe. You raise the debt ceiling. You don't default. It is common sense. prgtoken In fact, I was listening just the other day to leader Senator McConnell, who said: America must never default on its debt. prgtoken He said that a few days ago. I agree. prgtoken But across and on the other side of the Capitol, in the House of Representatives, McCarthy and the new majority
RECOGNIZING DUNCAN CAMPBELL AND THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2023-2-1

I want to take the opportunity today to celebrate the accomplishments of Duncan Campbell who, in addition to being a business entrepreneur and a philanthropist, I am grateful to call a friend. Duncan is a pioneer in changing the way we help America's children and young people who are facing the greatest challenges in life. Starting as a childcare worker for juvenile offenders and later working on the Governor's Children Agenda and serving as Chairman of the Multnomah County Juvenile Services Commission, Duncan has spent decades dedicated to the pursuit of improving the lives of children who are born into unfortunate circumstances. I especially want to highlight a program he created, Friends of the Children, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. prgtoken Friends of the Children is a mentoring organization that enrolls children ages 4 to 6 who are facing the most extreme challenges, and provides them with salaried, professional mentors who meet with them every week through high school graduation. Each professional mentor, called a Friend, works with 8 to 10 children. Children spend 16 hours per month with their Friends, working to achieve a set of individualized goals that place them on a path to success. prgtoken The Friends model created by Duncan is now gaining national recognition as a solution to some of our greatest challenges, and I find it a privilege to advocate for it here in Congress. It can be used to prevent foster care placement and improve stability for children already in the system. Investing in paid, professional mentoring would reduce the burden on existing systems and increase the number of children receiving evidence-based services. The program has been carefully analyzed by a wide variety of experts. It works. It's extraordinarily successful, having grown into a national network of 30 cities. prgtoken Friends of the Children is a program unlike any other. It is the solution to breaking the cycle of poverty and trauma. With the intensity and duration to change life trajectories, it provides more equitable opportunities for youth experiencing trauma or living in extreme poverty. The Friends of the Children relationship-based service model addresses the needs of our country's most vulnerable youth, empowering them to move beyond their circumstances to become healthy, contributing citizens. I encourage my colleagues to partner with chapters that serve their constituents and hear more about how their communities benefit from this program. prgtoken I offer my congratulations to Duncan, on the work he's done these last 30 years and I look forward to working with him for years to come.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-2-1

today I rise to introduce the Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act. prgtoken This bill would bring ATF into the 21st century by allowing the Agency to electronically search for the records of guns used in crimes across the country. It is hard to believe that ATF still must store paper records and search them by hand in order to identify the guns used for criminal activity. These archaic rules prevent the people responsible for enforcing our laws from doing their jobs effectively. prgtoken The National Tracing Center at ATF is responsible for quickly placing crime gun ownership information into the hands of law enforcement officials so they can solve crimes and save lives. In 2021, National Tracing Center receive over 540,000 trace requests. prgtoken Unfortunately, the timely completion of these trace requests has been made nearly impossible because ATF cannot search these records electronically. prgtoken To make matters worse, these millions of records are stored in thousands of boxes that are overflowing the hallways of the National Tracing Center in Martinsburg, WV. The records that agents must search through are so massive, ATF has been told that if it places more boxes inside the facility, the floor may collapse. prgtoken Every moment after a crime is committed matters dearly to our law enforcement agencies. Prohibiting the efficient search of these records puts our communities at risk. prgtoken I thank my former colleague Senator Leahy for championing this bill last Congress. I am committed to continuing the fight for this important fix.
ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2023-2-1

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m Thursday, February 2; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; further, that following the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the Falk nomination and at 1:45 p.m the Senate vote on confirmation of the Falk nomination; finally, that if confirmed, the motions to reconsider with respect to the Falk and Zakheim nominations be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN FIRST DISTRICT OF INDIANA
Frank J. Mrvan (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2023-2-1

I rise to express my appreciation for another recent success for the First District of Indiana from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. prgtoken Just this week, the Department of Transportation shared that the cities of East Chicago, Gary, and Hammond received funding under the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program to develop plans for infrastructure projects designed to reduce transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries. prgtoken I am grateful for all the leaders and public servants in these cities putting in the work to successfully obtain and utilize this new Federal resource. prgtoken As we proceed, I look forward to continuing to work with all local stakeholders and my colleagues to support and promote the safety of our transportation infrastructure so that all individuals and businesses can continue to thrive and attract new economic activity to our communities.
STOPPING HOME OFFICE WORK'S UNPRODUCTIVE PROBLEMS ACT OF 2023
Kweisi Mfume (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-2-1

based on 56,000 respondents to its survey, 88 percent of the Department of Defense respondents found telework accommodations increased their overall productivity. This is not my imagination. This is how thousands and thousands of them responded in the survey. prgtoken A similar 2021 survey conducted by the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 700,000 Federal employees all across the country, found that 62 percent of them surveyed thought significantly that their productivity had been increased while teleworking based on what their previous levels were. prgtoken So Federal workers are performing for the American people and have been under the most difficult circumstances even before we got to COVID. I know that because I, like many of you, had a chance to speak to so many of them. prgtoken As the chair of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, this particular issue is welcomed before the subcommittee. I will convene hearings next week so that we can figure out where we are in a bipartisan way and move forward. prgtoken , I would make one point. Federal workers are not here in Washington, D.C alone. That is the misnomer. Federal workers are in everybody's district in this entire Congress. They are looking to us to try to find a way to help them, not to punish them in 30 days. We are not going to save money on gas. We are not going to save money on energy. We are just going to go back to where we are. prgtoken , I would strongly urge that this measure be defeated.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Joyce Beatty (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-2-1

I rise today, the first day of Black History Month to honor Black history as American history. prgtoken Black history is about the sung and unsung Black heroes and sheroes who have contributed to our Nation's progress--from the Revolutionary War to the fight against COVID and everything in between. prgtoken Therefore, we say thank you to the Black Americans who stand for justice, for voting rights, for women's rights, for saving Black lives, for better healthcare, climate reform, and education. I believe whether it is teaching AP Black history courses or standing on this House floor--that when we acknowledge the unique struggle of Black Americans through history--we grow closer to our Nation's highest ideals. prgtoken , I hope everyone will take time this month to learn and truly understand Black history is American history.
GATEWAY PROJECT
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-2-1

. Finally, yesterday, , was a very special day for the people of New York. After a lot of hard work, we finally welcomed President to celebrate progress on Gateway, the most important infrastructure project in America. prgtoken Anyone who knows me knows Gateway has been one of my greatest passions for more than a decade. Call it a labor of love--and it is-- because I love New York. Without our tunnels, the region's economy would come to a screeching halt, and not just New York's, not just New Jersey's but the whole Northeast and eventually the whole country's. prgtoken So after many false starts and a lot of opposition, Gateway is finally full speed ahead, thanks to both the bipartisan infrastructure law and the great help and enthusiasm from President . prgtoken We had a good time yesterday--the President, I, and the other Senators--because we knew we were getting something so important done. And that is why we are here. The implementation of the bills we passed last year is really vital to this country and to keeping our prosperity going and increasing. prgtoken There were a lot of smiles at yesterday's celebration. Many of us waited for years for this moment, and after a lot of persistence, we can finally say Gateway is going to be built. prgtoken Gateway is just one of the major infrastructure initiatives supported by the bipartisan infrastructure law. Just like the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, it is beginning to pay real dividends in the form of new jobs, new investments, and prosperity. We are going to see much more of it this year and the years to come. prgtoken That is precisely what promised to do, and that is what we are delivering on. prgtoken I thank the President for helping us and celebrating with us yesterday in New York. prgtoken .
Introductory Statement on S. 220
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2023-2-1

if you were working for the sandwich shop Jimmy John's--I don't know if the Presiding Officer has ever had a Jimmy John's sandwich. It is a pretty good sandwich. If you were working for Jimmy John's sandwich shop in the middle of the last decade, around 2014, 2015, 2016, you might have been required to sign a contract with Jimmy John's to make sandwiches. Buried in that contract, as a fast food worker at Jimmy John's in 2014, 2015, 2016, was something called a noncompete clause. prgtoken A lot of Americans have heard of noncompete clauses. They think of them as applying to executives, individuals who make a lot of money, who possess really intricate, detailed information about a product. But Jimmy John's made everybody who came to work in many of their sandwich shops sign a noncompete agreement. The noncompete agreement for Jimmy John's sandwich makers said that if you ever left Jimmy John's, you would not be able to work at any business within 2 to 3 miles of any Jimmy John's for any company that made over 10 percent of its revenue from selling ``submarine, hero-type, deli-style, pita, and/or wrapped or rolled sandwiches'' for 2 years. Low-income, minimum-wage workers at Jimmy John's, if they tried to leave that job, were prohibited from going to work for Subway or going to work for D'Angelo's or maybe even, according to this definition, McDonald's or Burger King. prgtoken Of course, that sounds patently ridiculous. Why would you need to protect the intellectual secrets of sandwich making at Jimmy John's by applying noncompete agreements for these low-income workers? But this wasn't and isn't an anomaly. In fact, one out of six hospitality restaurant workers, by some studies, has a noncompete agreement. Today, noncompete agreements apply to one in five American workers. That is 30 million workers. prgtoken Amazon warehouse workers were required for a long time to sign noncompete agreements. I read a story the other day of a company called Camp Bow Wow that pays people to pet-sit. They required their pet sitters to sign noncompete agreements. prgtoken The reason that noncompete agreements are being used at industrial- level scale today is not to protect the trade secrets of sandwich making or pet sitting; it is to keep wages down. It is to prevent low- income workers from being able to go out and get a better job and thus pressure their existing employer to increase wages. This practice has become pervasive throughout our economy, and it is just a fundamental restraint on free trade. prgtoken Now, many of these noncompete agreements end up being nonenforceable. A lot of State laws don't allow you to have a noncompete agreement for a low-wage worker. But in practice, it doesn't really matter because when that individual tries to leave and they get told they can't because of a noncompete agreement, they don't know that it is nonenforceable in State law or if they do know, they don't have the
CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-2-1

last week Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' administration blocked a new advanced placement African- American history course from being taught in Florida high schools, arguing that the course violates State law and is historically inaccurate. prgtoken The DeSantis administration's rejection of the AP course is unfathomable, unsound, and unacceptable. Instead of improving and expanding on the quality of education for Florida high school students, this administration's extreme agenda aims to roll back the clock by denying its students the right to explore the painful, complex, and rich history of African Americans in our country. prgtoken The rejection of this course is an attempt to erase from our memory the truth about how hate and bigotry has destroyed our Nation's moral fabric and ushered in one of the darkest moments of United States history. prgtoken Governor Ron DeSantis claimed that he wants to protect students from ``woke indoctrination,'' but what he really wants to do is to deny the truth by making bigoted relics and policies more digestible for future generations. prgtoken It is only when we acknowledge and learn from our past that we can embrace the present and confidently shape our future. prgtoken This blatant attack on the importance and value of African-American history and culture fails to move our States and our country forward. It is these theatrics and schemes by the GOP that cripple our Nation's growth and exemplify a poor reflection of who we are as a nation. prgtoken America's diversity is, in fact, its greatest strength, and every culture has to be respected and celebrated.