mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING MR. PETE ESCOVEDO
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-2-27

I rise today to honor the musical legacy of Pete ``Pops'' Escovedo and his tremendous contributions as a truly remarkable artist here in the Bay Area. I want to congratulate Mr. Escovedo on his retirement and on fifty incredible years in the music industry. His passion for Afro-Caribbean music has left a lasting impact on the music culture in our community. prgtoken Born in Pittsburg, California, Mr. Escovedo found his passion for music from a young age when he learned to play bongos in Junior High School. His dedication to honing his musical abilities was evident from the beginning, as Mr. Escovedo built his own bongo set out of coffee cans and tape. He went on to pursue a career in music as a percussionist, forming a jazz band, Escovedo Brothers Latin Sextet, with his brothers Coke and Phil Escovedo. The band's success led them to Carlos Santana, and his Latin band Santana, with whom Mr. Escovedo performed for three years. Santana went on to become one of the best- selling groups of all time. In 1972, Mr. Escovedo debuted his independent band Azteca, along with his brother, defying traditional norms for Latin music. Azteca was the first band to incorporate an orchestra, horns, woodwind instruments, keyboards, vocalists, and percussionists all under the genre of Latin rock. prgtoken Mr. Escovedo's professional legacy includes being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Latin Grammys, performing with industry notables Herbie Hancock, Bill Summers, Tito Puente, and penning his own book. ``My Life in the Key of E.'' prgtoken Mr. Escovedo's list of accomplishments extends beyond his professional pursuits, as a devoted husband to his wife, Juanita Gardere, and father to 4 kids, Sheila, Juan, Peter, and Zina. His children inherited Mr. Escovedo's love and talent for music, and together, they are lovingly accepted as the Bay Area's First Family of Latin and Contemporary Jazz. Furthermore, Mr. Escovedos legacy is carried on by his daughter Sheila, who has become an industry titan herself, earning the moniker the ``Queen of Percussion.'' prgtoken It has been a fantastic journey watching Mr. Escovedo play and create beautiful music over the years. His passion and skill have inspired generations of musicians and will continue to do so. We thank you for your dedication and commitment to the music industry. prgtoken As he embarks on his Retirement Tour, starting in Oakland, I want to wish Mr. Escovedo the best of luck. On behalf of the 12th Congressional District of California, I am proud to honor Peter Escovedo for his tremendous achievements. Congratulations again.
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2023-2-27

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
RECOGNIZING SER FAMILIA
Jon Ossoff (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2023-2-27

I rise today to commend and celebrate Ser Familia, an organization in Atlanta focused on helping Georgia's Latino families gain the tools and resources to solve challenges and flourish in their communities. prgtoken Natives of Puerto Rico, Belisa and Miguel Urbina cofounded Ser Familia in 2001. For more than 20 years, Ser Familia's vision to assist Latino families reach their full potential and become contributing members of their communities has changed the lives of hundreds of families across Georgia. From teaching youth character building and leadership skills to offering counseling services on behavioral and mental health, Ser Familia continues to expand its positive impact on the Latino community by developing programs that are tailored to address the greatest needs of youth, couples, parents, and families. prgtoken As I have said before, the State of Georgia is home to a vibrant and diverse Latino community, and I am grateful for the extraordinary contributions of people like Belisa and Miguel Urbina who work tirelessly every single day to guarantee that all members of the Latino community have access to opportunities that help them thrive. I have enjoyed working closely with Belisa and Miguel to deliver the resources to help Ser Familia open a family resource center in Clayton County, helping expand their comprehensive services to the community. prgtoken I join with our Latino community to commemorate the remarkable work and contributions of Ser Familia to the Atlanta community, the State of Georgia, and the United States. Their leadership is a reminder of the outstanding contributions of Latino Americans who are committed to moving Georgia and our country forward. prgtoken As Georgia's U.S. Senator, it is my honor to recognize and commend Belisa and Miguel Urbina for their service on behalf of Georgia's Latino families and congratulate them on Ser Familia's success.
RECOGNIZING REVEREND JACQUELINE DELORISE SMITH
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2023-2-27

I rise today to honor an inspiring woman of God, a loving wife, dedicated, doting grandmother, pace setting trailblazer, and friend to humankind, Reverend Jacqueline Delorise Smith. A retirement reception attended by her family, many friends and well-wishers was held on February 18, 2023, at 3:00 pm in Columbus, Georgia. prgtoken Reverend Smith's remarkable life began in Grady County, Georgia. She was educated in the Grady County School System at Washington Consolidated High School. She obtained her post-secondary education degrees in Sociology from both Thomas University and Bainbridge University. prgtoken Her professional pursuits took her to be the lead Psychiatric Assistant at Southwestern State Hospital and a Social Worker at Georgia Pine for the State of Georgia, serving for a period of 31 years. A multi-talented individual, she also trained as a Practical Nurse and worked as a CPR Instructor, Emergency Medical Technician and Home Health Technician. prgtoken Reverend's Smith's life was changed forever when she answered the call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of her commitment to the Gospel and to God's people she was ordained as a Deacon in 1990 and in 1992 was elected to be an Intinerant Elder. She presented her first trial sermon in September of 1987. prgtoken Her pastoral care has taken her to many churches, often serving as the first female Pastor in these houses of God. She has served at the following churches during her powerful ministry to include Bryant Chapel in Reno, Georgia, Rock Hill in Beachton, Georgia, Saint John AME Church, Cedar Springs AME in Whigham, Georgia, she was the second female Pastor in Bainbridge, Georgia. This was followed by service at the St. Peter AME Church in Camilla, Georgia and the Bethel AME Church (Circuit) in Attapulgus, Georgia. prgtoken In 2004, her historical accomplishments on behalf of the Kingdom continued when she was appointed the first female Presiding Elder in the South Georgia Conference by Bishop Frank C. Cummings. She continued to pastor churches while serving as the presiding Elder to include Mount Olive in Ocilla, Georgia, Bethel AME in Alaptha, Georgia, St. Pete AMAE in Valdosta, Georgia, St. Paul AME in Valdosta, Georgia, Peyton AME in Claytonville/Valdosta, Georgia, Francis Lake in Lake Park, Georgia Bethel AME in Fitzgerald, Georgia and ATOC AME in Dawson, Georgia. prgtoken Her life is an example of how one person can make a difference when carrying out God's will for their lives. Presiding Elder Smith has served her God and she has served him well. prgtoken Presiding Elder has accomplished much in her life but none of her successes would have been possible without the Love of God and support of her husband, Charles Dewey Smith who serves as an area consultant of the Southwest Georgia District, their three children and nine grandchildren. prgtoken , my wife Vivian, and I, along with the more than 765,000 people of the Second Con
Remembering Joseph Lemens II (Executive Session)
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-2-27

I come to the floor today to honor my friend CWO5 Joseph Lemens II, who we lost suddenly in November. prgtoken Joe worked as hard as he laughed. He was full of energy and empty of ego. In many ways, he was the epitome of what a ``Soldier,'' with a capital ``S,'' should be. prgtoken He was dedicated to service--service to his most beloved and to those with whom he was barely acquainted, service to his dearest neighbors in Illinois and to total strangers throughout his four deployments to the Middle East. prgtoken Joe first enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves when he was just 17 years old prgtoken and then served continually for the next 42 years until his retirement last March. His work ethic was tireless, and sacrifices he made for his Nation were immeasurable. He was selfless and giving. He would be the first one to offer to lend a hand, and then would refuse to accept payment for his good deed. prgtoken He seemed quiet until you got to know him. Then his laugh made you laugh so hard that, eventually, you forgot why you were both laughing at all. prgtoken As a fellow pilot, I especially appreciated the way he gravitated toward machines, the way he loved having the power of an engine, whether it be a snowmobile or a Black Hawk helicopter, at his fingertips. As his commanding officer for my years as a Mad Dog, I couldn't have asked for a better maintenance test pilot, although I always questioned the sanity of anyone who would fly broken helicopters on purpose. prgtoken I considered myself lucky that Joe was a member of our battalion when we were in Iraq. Maintenance officers, you see, and especially those like Joe, are a rare commodity, and Joe was one of the best. prgtoken When we got back to U.S. soil, after I was wounded and could no longer get from point A to point B like I used to, I was even luckier to have Joe show up at my house one day with his toolbox in tow, ready to remodel my home to make it completely wheelchair accessible. prgtoken He combined the grit of a midwesterner with the grace of faith. He combined the resilience of a soldier with the brilliance of an engineer. I know he will be dearly missed. He already is. My thoughts are with his wife Kathryn and his children and his newborn grandson Joe Lemens IV, whom he was able to see. I thank them for sharing Joe with us for all those years and for their own service to our great Nation. prgtoken We will all miss Joe, but we will forever catch an echo of his larger-than-life laugh whenever we hear his favorite sound: the smooth rumble of a well-cared-for engine. prgtoken .
ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY ATTACK ON UKRAINE
Mikie Sherrill (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2023-2-27

I rise today to recognize the strength of the Ukrainian people after enduring 1 year of merciless attacks by Russian forces. prgtoken The following is from a record entry on Friday that marked the 1-year anniversary: prgtoken When Putin ordered his tanks and forces into regions like Mariupol and Kharkiv, he thought Ukraine would fall in a matter of days. Instead of an easy victory, Putin's war of aggression has been a dismal failure. prgtoken The people of Ukraine refused to be forced into an authoritarian state where any opposition is met with jail, torture, or murder. They are prepared to pay the ultimate price for their freedom. prgtoken NATO is now more unified than ever in providing military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to support Ukraine's right to sovereignty. prgtoken Since the invasion, the United States has provided unprecedented support and coordination, which has helped the Ukrainian military make exponential gains. prgtoken Picatinny Arsenal in my congressional district has been integral to Ukraine's military success. They have developed the primary cannon being used by the Ukrainian army and continue to be responsible for every piece of ammunition being sent by the United States to Ukraine. I remain committed to protecting the fundamental values of peace, prosperity, and stability across the globe and in Ukraine.
East Palestine Train Derailment (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-2-27

first responders at the State, local, and Federal level continue working around-the-clock helping the people of East Palestine recover from one of the worst train derailments in decades. prgtoken The scene in East Palestine over the last month has been the stuff of nightmares: a 38-car derailment; an entire town forced to evacuate; the stench of industrial chemicals and soot hovering in the air; parents scared of their kids' drinking water; and kids anxious about life returning to normal. No community deserves this. prgtoken While a full investigation of the derailment has yet to be completed, the Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board said this accident was ``100 percent preventable.'' Again, the NTSB Safety Board Chair said the accident was ``100 percent preventable.'' prgtoken The fault of this disaster lies first and foremost with Norfolk Southern. Norfolk Southern's CEO, Alan Shaw, needs to come before the Senate, answer questions under oath, and explain to the American people exactly what went wrong and how they will prevent accidents like this from happening. He should not duck. He should be there. He should come before the Senate, and we are asking Mr. Shaw to do just that. prgtoken The American people should hear from Norfolk Southern's CEO precisely why they thought it was a good idea to spend years--years--lobbying to loosen regulations designed to prevent accidents like this. And I especially want to hear why Norfolk Southern, after seeing a record $3.3 billion in profits last year, prioritized billions--billions--in stock buybacks instead of putting that money toward safety and toward their workers. prgtoken Over the past few weeks, there has been no shortage of opportunists racing to blame the administration for the train derailment. Former President himself showed up in East Palestine and blamed everyone but himself for the tragic accident. But President , as usual, omits a crucial truth: The administration spent years working to loosen safety regulations intended to make these types of accidents less likely. prgtoken They are in the behest of the big rail companies. When President entered office, rail companies spent millions to push for repeals on all sorts of safety regulations, from inspection requirements, mandates for newer brakes, and rules governing the number of employees required to operate a train. In one instance, the administration repealed requirements for an electronic braking system because, according to them, the safety benefits were simply not worth the costs. prgtoken Let me say that again. prgtoken In 2017, the administration decided to repeal the requirements for brake upgrades because they didn't think the safety benefits were worth the cost. I think the people of East Palestine now know that that analysis was wrong and that they are suffering the consequences of rail companies putting profits over people. prgtoken
Nomination of Jamar K. Walker (Executive Session)
Mark R. Warner (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2023-2-27

I rise today in support of Mr. Jamar Walker, whom President has nominated to serve as a U.S. District Court judge for the Eastern District of Virginia. prgtoken Jamar is a fellow Virginian and outstanding public servant. For the last decade, he has been an invaluable asset to Virginia's legal community, bringing both his zeal for public service and his personal life story. prgtoken Jamar is a Virginia native, originally from our Eastern Shore. If you ever look at a map of Virginia, you see this strip that may not be completely connected. It literally goes from Virginia to Maryland and Delaware. It is a strip of land that is very rural. Jamar is from that part of our Commonwealth. prgtoken He is a two-time graduate of the University of Virginia. Following his time at both UVA as an undergrad and UVA Law, Jamar began his career in public service clerking for the Honorable Raymond Jackson in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, whose same seat he has actually--if we approve him tonight--been nominated to fill. prgtoken And for the past 7 years, Jamar has dedicated his professional career in the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of Virginia, where he currently serves as the Acting Chief of the Financial Crime and Public Corruption Unit. prgtoken A testament to his ability to try complex cases, Jamar has received five service awards from the FBI for his excellent work in public correction, wire fraud, and bank fraud cases. His commitment to the Commonwealth spans far beyond his day job. Jamar has volunteered for countless collegiate mock trial tournaments and returned to his alma mater time and again to speak out on guest panels. prgtoken Once sworn in, Jamar will also be the first openly gay Federal district judge in Virginia. Jamar's community-oriented mindset, career qualifications, and numerous accolades make him an exceptional nominee for the Eastern District of Virginia, a district that is known as the ``rocket docket'' in terms of moving cases quickly through. His experience, particularly in the U.S. Attorney's office, is well-suited to deal with the ``rocket docket.'' prgtoken I know he will serve with distinction and make both our country and our Commonwealth proud. I urge my colleagues, when this vote starts in about 10 minutes, to support his nomination. He came out in a bipartisan vote from the Judiciary Committee. He is an exceptional young man, and I know will do a great job. prgtoken . prgtoken .
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR RELATING TO ``PRUDENCE AND LOYALTY IN SELECTING PLAN INVESTMENTS AND EXERCISING SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS''
Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-2-28

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken The Department of Labor's environmental, social, and governance rule is good for retirees, and it is good for the American economy. prgtoken Allowing ESG considerations can help financial professionals identify investments that will be sustainable in the long term and in the best interest of their clients. prgtoken The rule is not an ESG mandate. It simply clarifies that the professionals who make investment decisions for retirement plans do not violate their fiduciary duties by merely considering ESG factors. prgtoken Existing law already says that these professionals' primary purpose is to make the best financial choices for the plans, and this rule does not change that at all. prgtoken It merely is a recognition that if a company is inherently risky because of the business they do or their internal practices, its stock could suffer in the long run. prgtoken Just like American consumers can be motivated to disinvest from companies that pollute or mistreat their workers, now investors will have the same abilities. prgtoken As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, I have seen overwhelming support for this rule, especially from the financial industry. prgtoken Rolling it back would be a significant step backward. I strongly oppose H.J. Res. 30 and encourage all Members to do the same so they can leave retirement plan decisions to the retirees and the professionals they respect and they work with.
ORDERS FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023
Mark Kelly (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2023-2-28

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1; that following the prayer and the pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and 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 and resume consideration of the Guzman nomination postcloture as provided under the previous order; further, that if any nominations are considered during Wednesday's session, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 347, REDUCE EXACERBATED INFLATION NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE NATION ACT, AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.J. RES. 30, PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL...
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2023-2-28

. So anyway, look, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question, and again, I want to repeat that. prgtoken The reason why you want to vote ``no'' is because the previous question basically would allow us to bring up an amendment that basically says it is not the intention of this House to do anything to cut Social Security or Medicare. prgtoken My friends, they are all upset, notwithstanding their rhetoric, that they want to go after Social Security and Medicare. prgtoken Yeah, they were all upset that they were being called out on their words. Well, here is an opportunity to put prgtoken that to rest; very, very simple. We are not going to cut Social Security. We are not going to cut Medicare. prgtoken So if you vote ``no'' on the previous question, we can do that. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this rule, ``no'' on the underlying bill. prgtoken , .
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Jon Ossoff (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2023-2-28

I rise today to commend Zachary Horton of Warner Robins, GA, for the inspiring success of his pecan business, the Blind Squirrel Nut Company. prgtoken Mr. Horton's story demonstrates that optimism and resilience can lead to amazing achievements. The Blind Squirrel Nut Company was born out of Zachary's entrepreneurial spirit after he was diagnosed with a medical condition that caused him to lose his vision. Mr. Horton's self- confidence and determination empowered him to launch a pecan business that has served customers across middle Georgia for over a year. The Blind Squirrel Nut Company also offers a variety of products to customers nationwide, giving Americans across the country a taste of Georgia's unique pecans. prgtoken As Georgia's U.S. Senator, I recognize and commend Mr. Zachary Horton as a champion who against all odds has been able to fulfill his greatest dream thanks to his perseverance, passion, and hope.