mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-7-20

. Mr. Chair, while I understand and share some of the concerns, the reality is the embargoes aren't working and have failed to achieve any of its aims for over a half a century. prgtoken I think my colleagues, all of us, at least agree that there is no more principled reason to engage than to ease the suffering of the Cuban people who are currently again suffering from huge amounts of food shortages. prgtoken I think it is critically important to understand there is trade happening now, but in cash. This would again allow the access to credit to be able to do it in a way that allows farmers in not only Michigan but across the country who are asking us to help them do more and export and allow them to address some of the food shortages that help the Cuban people so much more. prgtoken Mr. Chair, for those reasons I urge my colleagues to please vote ``yes'' on this amendment, and .
HONORING RODRIGO ``ROD'' GARCIA
Judy Chu (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-7-20

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life of Rodrigo ``Rod'' Garcia, who passed away on July 2, 2022. Rod was a respected visionary, leader, and advocate whose incredible life was defined by his dedication to empowering the Hispanic community to achieve educational excellence, economic opportunity, and social equity. prgtoken Rod Garcia was born in East Los Angeles, California in 1943. He graduated from California State University, Los Angeles with a bachelor's degree of science in engineering and also obtained an associate degree in engineering from East Los Angeles College, launching a lifelong career in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) field. Rod subsequently served as a civil engineer for the City of Los Angeles and worked for the Port of Los Angeles in Public Works, Building and Safety. Due to his expertise in the field of engineering and his leadership abilities, Rod went on to chair the City of Monterey Park's Planning Commission as well as serving on the Dean of Engineering's Advisory Board for his alma mater, California State University, Los Angeles. Rod also served as president of Century Diversified, Inc an engineering and construction firm, for over thirty years. prgtoken Rod was one of the few Hispanic engineers amidst a tech boom in California in 1973 and despite being in the minority in the STEM field, he gathered a cohort of fellow Hispanic engineers determined to contribute and diversify the sector. That's why, in 1974, Rod founded the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) with the mission of ensuring networking and education opportunities for Hispanic students and professionals in the Southern California region. Shortly thereafter, SHPE's first collegiate chapters were established at California State University, Los Angeles, East Los Angeles College, and the University of Southern California. For five decades, Rod's high- spirited and fearless leadership propelled the SHPE to reach 13,000 memberships and 286 chapters nationwide. His unique ability to unite community partners prgtoken and leaders around the country serve as evidence that closing the STEM education gap and increasing the number of Hispanics in STEM can and will be done. prgtoken Rod will be remembered by his colleagues and thousands of current and former SHPE students and professionals for his devotion, service, mentorship, and immense contributions to expanding awareness, access, support, and development opportunities to Hispanics in STEM so that they may realize their potential and positively impact the world. His legacy of empowering the Hispanic community to achieve educational excellence, economic opportunity, and social equity will guide many members of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers for generations to come. I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating the life of this extraordinary individual.
TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-7-20

. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of Amendment 159, which would increase and decreases funding from the Office of the DOI Secretary by $4,000,000. The intent of Amendment 159 is to increase the funding of the DOI's 9/11 Memorial Act Grant Program for FY2023 from $4 million to $8 million. prgtoken Authorized by Congress with the passing of the bipartisan 9/11 Memorial Act in 2018 and signed into law in 2019, the program provides funding for the operation, security, and maintenance of a memorial commemorating the victims of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001, and the victims of the attack on the World Trade Center on February 26, 1993. Awardees are selected for their extraordinary commitment to honoring the lives lost on 9/11, and those who risked their own lives to save others. prgtoken We have endeavored, as a Nation, to ensure that the 9/11 Memorials continue to stand as places of reflection and remembrance for every American. Every generation should know the tragic events of that Tuesday morning and the heroism of those who rushed back to the burning Pentagon and onto the pile at Ground Zero to put out fires, search for survivors, clear debris, and rebuild for months and years. The funding provided by the 9/11 Memorial Act Grant Program is critical to ensuring that memorials--like the acre-wide reflecting pools in the footprint of the Twin Towers in New York and the solemn benches marking each life lost on the grounds of the Pentagon--continue to provide sacred and inspiring spots accessible to millions of visitors for decades to come. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote Yea on Bipartisan En Bloc 7 and final passage of H.R. 8294.
RECOGNIZING CHEF CAROLINE GLOVER
Jason Crow (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2022-7-21

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Chef Caroline Glover and congratulate her on receiving the 2022 James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Mountain Region. prgtoken A Chef with a passion for farming and cooking, Caroline combined both to open Annette: Scratch to Table, in the fall of 2016, in Aurora, Colorado. Annette is named for her Great Aunt Netsie who bestowed upon Caroline the need for a strong opinion and confidence in her own taste, which would carry her through 15 years in the restaurant industry. prgtoken A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, Caroline developed her craft working as a sous chef in both New York and Denver in critically acclaimed restaurants. She has also spent an extensive amount of time on farms in Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Colorado, honing and developing her passion for locally-grown food. prgtoken Caroline's culinary creativity has not gone unnoticed. She was recognized as one of the ``10 Best Chefs in America'' by Food & Wine Magazine in 2019, and Bon Appetit Magazine named Annette one of the ``50 Best New Restaurants in the Country'' in 2017. prgtoken The awards don't stop there. Caroline was a finalist for the same James Beard Foundation Award in 2020 after being named a semifinalist in 2018 and 2019. This Award is presented annually to chefs and restaurants in the culinary industry who exemplify exceptional talent and excellency in their craft--alongside a commitment to racial and gender equity, sustainability, and community. Caroline focuses on sustainability and sourcing locally-grown food to honor food producers and nourish eaters in a creative way, and as such, I cannot think of a chef more deserving of this award. prgtoken Caroline's culinary contributions to our community are representative of the extensive and diverse selection of food Colorado's Sixth District has to offer. I congratulate Caroline on winning one of the most coveted awards in the culinary industry--and I have no doubt this is just the start of a long and incredible career.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2022-7-21

I rise today in support of the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act, which will help ensure millions of Americans can continue receiving family planning services through the title X program. prgtoken For more than 40 years, title X has helped ensure hundreds of thousands of women--regardless of income, background, insurance status, or hometown--have access to basic reproductive healthcare, including wellness exams, cancer screenings, birth control, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. prgtoken While this program, which was created with bipartisan support, has been around for decades, we have seen what happens when MAGA s are in control. President slashed funding for title X and imposed a dangerous domestic gag rule that banned doctors from telling people how they could access abortion services. The gag rule wreaked havoc across the country. It forced providers to decide whether they wanted to receive title X funding--knowing that healthcare providers wouldn't be able to provide women with accurate and comprehensive information--or say no to this critical family planning funding that supports women across the country through clinics like Planned Parenthood and other nonprofits. prgtoken In my home State of Hawaii, the entire network of title X clinics said no to this dangerous rule and rejected the funding, forcing our State to foot the bill. On the other hand, the State of Hawaii, the clinics in Hawaii, because they rejected this funding, could provide the full range of care for their clients, but ultimately the gag rule resulted in a loss of services to thousands of women. prgtoken Across the country, 's rule slashed title X's patient capacity in half, jeopardizing family planning and contraceptive care for 1.6 million patients nationwide. While President reversed this rule, we can't take anything for granted. prgtoken As the rightwing Supreme Court and MAGA s work to eliminate reproductive freedom, it is critical we protect and strengthen title X. That is prgtoken exactly what the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act will do. This bill will nearly double funding for title X family planning services by providing $500 million in mandatory funding for title X for each of the next 10 years. It will also ban title X providers from discriminating against patients and require pregnancy consulting services receiving title X funds to provide patients with all of the information about all their reproductive care options, including abortion. prgtoken s have made clear they will do anything to get rid of our reproductive freedoms, so we must pass this bill to make sure this program isn't at the whim of those trying to strip us of our healthcare. While s continue to attack our fundamental rights, are doing everything we can to protect them. That is why, in addition to this important bill, earlier this week, I i
HONORING THE 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF TAYLOR, MICHIGAN
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-7-21

. Madam , I rise today in honor of the 175th Anniversary of the City of Taylor, Michigan, located in the Downriver area of Metro Detroit. The City of Taylor is strong and resilient--just like their residents. The city offers beautiful recreation areas, excellent educational opportunities, and a strong sense of community. Their nearly two centuries of excellence are worthy of commendation. prgtoken Named after former President Zachary Taylor, the city began as a small township. In the city's early days, it was part of Ecorse Township, but residents of the area found they were too spread out to fully participate in the necessary civic functions. Because of this, residents petitioned to form a separate community, which was approved in 1847. For what started as an agricultural area, Taylor has flourished into a diverse city of many industries and opportunities. Residents of Taylor can live, work, and shop all within a twenty-four square mile area. The city is well connected to the rest of Metro Detroit through highways and is just east of the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. As they say: ``all roads lead to Taylor.'' prgtoken Taylor's talented residents are employed at various medical centers, retail locations, and transportation practices, providing essential services to the entire Downriver community. The city is home to the Taylor High School, Taylor Prep Charter High School, Trillium Academy, and the Downriver campus of Wayne County Community College where students thrive. Natives of Taylor include famous athletes, actors, and musicians--there is no shortage of talent coming from this city. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the City of Taylor as they celebrate 175 fantastic years. Although much has changed over the years, the sense of resilience and community that is found in Taylor has never changed. We wish Mayor Tim Woolley and the entire Taylor community the very best during this time of recognition and celebration.
FORMULA ACT
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2022-7-21

. . prgtoken One of Congress's most basic jobs is the power of the purse. Americans rely on this body to provide Federal funds for programs that support national defense, small businesses, border defenses, conservation of public lands, food assistance for the poor, and so much more. prgtoken And as a longstanding member of the Appropriations Committee, I am proud of the work that the Appropriations Committee has done to meet the needs of this Nation. And as a senior Senator from New Hampshire, when I talk to small business owners, educators, healthcare professionals, community leaders across my State, it is unfortunate that not all of the needs of our State are being met. prgtoken And for years, New Hampshire, like most small States in this country, has received among the lowest apportionments in the country from formula grant programs that are administered by our Federal Agencies. prgtoken Congress has long used earmarks or congressionally directed spending to address funding gaps and inequities between the States. And, in fact, Senator Judd Gregg--whom I had the pleasure of serving with both when he was Governor and I was in the State senate and then when he was in the Senate and I got elected--was a big supporter of congressionally directed spending because he believed, like I do, that I know better how money should be spent in New Hampshire than a bureaucrat here who was making decisions about how to spend Federal dollars. prgtoken Congressionally directed spending levels the playing field for States like New Hampshire, and even for Indiana, to ensure that our communities can get their fair share to address our local needs. prgtoken Unfortunately, back in 2011, when Congress instituted a ban on congressionally directed spending, we ceded the power of the purse to unelected officials in the executive branch. And while I know that many of these individuals are dedicated bureaucrats, they are public servants. They don't necessarily understand the needs of New Hampshire in the same way that I do as somebody who has represented that State for decades. prgtoken So that is why I was very pleased that under the leadership of Chairman Leahy and Ranking Member Shelby, Congress once again passed a bipartisan bill to include congressionally directed spending in our budget process. prgtoken And when we did that, the Appropriations Committee instituted some major reforms to improve accountability and transparency in the process of congressionally directed spending. prgtoken I am going to talk about some of those reforms because while I appreciate the perspective of my colleague from Indiana, I think he has not pointed out the reforms that exist in the process of congressionally directed spending. prgtoken First of all, Members are required to certify that neither we nor any member of our immediate family would financially benefit from the requests that are made. Secondly, those congressionally direc
ORDERS FOR MONDAY, JULY 25, 2022
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-7-21

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 3 p.m Monday, July 25, and 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; that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate resume consideration of the House message to accompany S. 3373; further, that the cloture motion filed during yesterday's session ripen at 5:30 p.m. and that the mandatory quorum call be waived.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2022-7-21

. I just say to my colleague, sometimes it is a little difficult to figure out where a piece of legislation is going. That is not the case with your bill. My Body, My Data sums it up. prgtoken Again, thank you so much for your leadership. Unanimous Consent Request--S. 4550 prgtoken , I also want to briefly touch on the important legislation that Senator Smith--my Pacific Northwest colleague--Senator Murray, and Senator Warner have recently introduced. They have an important proposal called the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation. This is another area where Chair Murray and I work very closely together because a lot of these issues can often involve Medicaid, for example. And I just so appreciate my colleague bringing up her important bill with respect to family planning. prgtoken The proposition behind this is pretty straightforward. The Supreme Court overturned Roe against the will of the American people. States are criminalizing abortion. Many women and girls are now being forced to carry pregnancies to term and give birth. If they are going to stand by this forced-birth agenda, then you better guarantee basic health for women and families. That is really Senator Murray's challenge to Senate s. You can't be pro-life and pro-family if you are against healthcare that saves lives and protects families. prgtoken The Murray legislation, with Senator Smith and Senator Warren--I am pleased to be for it today--is centered on a significant increase in what is known as title X funding, which goes to basic essential services like HIV tests, contraception, treatment for infections, and pregnancy counseling. prgtoken And one of those services is really so vitally important. I just want to mention it, and that is cancer screenings. Cancer screenings are a particularly important issue now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe. Over the last few weeks there have been a wave of these horrendous stories, as Senator Murray knows better than anyone, about the chaos this radical Supreme Court ruling has unleashed on women's healthcare-- drawn-out miscarriages, potentially fatal complications left untreated, physicians unsure of what treatments they are legally allowed to perform. prgtoken And we know one of the absolute nightmares for women living in forced-birth States is getting pregnant and having cancer at exactly the same time. And the question is: In a world where a miscarriage could lead to criminal charges, how do you treat a pregnant woman with cancer? prgtoken So we ought to think about that. And could getting chemo be a crime in a forced-birth State, Senator Murray? In forced-birth States, how many Americans are going to die because they waited too long to begin treatment for breast cancer or cervical cancer or because they didn't maybe get treated at all? prgtoken It is appalling that Americans are facing this kind of awful, I t
RIGHT TO CONTRACEPTION ACT
Lori Trahan (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-7-21

. Madam , standing here today, 4 weeks after the Supreme Court's disastrous decision to overturn Roe, I fear for the future of my children. prgtoken I fear for a future where leaders agree with Clarence Thomas that the right for same-sex marriage should be revisited, that the right to birth control should be reexamined. Let me be clear: Neither of those rights should be up for debate. prgtoken We voted this week to protect marriage equality. We will vote today to protect contraception. For those who believe this issue isn't on the minds of millions of Americans, open your eyes. s in Idaho and Louisiana are pushing to ban forms of birth control. The Governor of Mississippi refused to rule out a contraception ban. Even the Study Committee, which represents most House s, has proposed eliminating contraception access programs for low-income Americans. That is not pro-life. It is antiwoman. prgtoken Wake up already and join us in passing this critical legislation.
RECOGNIZING MR. WILLIAM J. PEREZ
Norma J. Torres (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-7-21

. Madam , I rise today to honor Mr. William J. Perez on the occasion of his retirement after more than 47 years in the construction industry. After decades of leadership and supporting Inland Empire labor unions and helping to grow our economy, the Southern California community owes a debt of gratitude to Mr. Perez for his work. prgtoken Mr. Perez's career began in 1975 in an electrician apprenticeship program, and he graduated in 1979 from the program as a Journeyman Electrician. In 1995, Mr. Perez became a Business Manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 440--a position he held for 11 years. His expertise and experience as a foreman, general foreman, estimator, prevailing wage compliance director, and organizer made him an invaluable member of local unions and the construction industry. He also served as the President of the California State Association of Electrical Workers and President of the I.B.E.W-NECA Statewide Joint Apprenticeship Committee. prgtoken Since 2007, Mr. Perez has worked as the Executive Secretary-Business Manager for the Building and Construction Trades Council of San Bernardino & Riverside Counties. Through his role within the Council, Mr. Perez assisted with the representation of over 16,000 skilled craft workers--represented by 31 local construction unions and district councils in the Inland Empire. Mr. Perez's dedication to the working families and workers' rights is reflected in his current position as a board member for the State of California Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO. prgtoken Bill's dedication to his career is also reflected in his commitment to his family and his community. Bill has been married for over 30 years to his wife. They have two children and four grandchildren. prgtoken For his remarkable accomplishments, it is my honor to recognize William J. Perez. His decades of supporting the labor union community and the working families of the Inland Empire are worthy of the highest commendation.
RIGHT TO CONTRACEPTION ACT
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2022-7-21

. Madam , the s are so upset. The reality is it prgtoken is their Supreme Court and Justice Alito who opened Pandora's box. When we opened up the box and looked in, we saw there were nesting eggs. There were all kinds of issues there that were going to come to the fore. prgtoken Clarence Thomas put a spotlight on it. It involved gay marriage and contraception. It was going to go further than Roe v. Wade. When they said they were originalists, we didn't realize what they meant by ``originalist'' was everything origin came from them. They didn't care about precedent. prgtoken Alito said Roe v. Wade was important precedent. Gorsuch and Kavanaugh said it was precedent that Roe v. Wade was settled. You can't trust the Supreme Court. They are radicals. They want to overturn privacy rights for all people in this country. prgtoken Freedom is at stake. This bill needs to pass, and the only reason this bill is properly before this Congress is because of that Supreme Court that has gone off the radical right.