mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RIGHT TO CONTRACEPTION ACT
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-7-21

. Madam , there is no democracy if women do not have control over their own bodies, including reproductive healthcare. prgtoken Twenty-seven days ago, an extremist majority on the Supreme Court fulfilled the Party's decades-old goal of overturning Roe v. Wade. Next on the chopping block is marriage equality and contraception. prgtoken Make no mistake, these rightwing extremists are not pro-life but pro- government controlling the bodies of women and girls. Their goal is to ban abortion in this country. prgtoken Today, the House will pass Congresswoman Manning's Right to Contraception Act, which would codify the right to access birth control into Federal law. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill immediately so that people have the freedom to make their own decisions about their futures. prgtoken We will not go back. Pass this bill. It is fundamental to democracy.
CHIPS ACT OF 2022--Continued
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-7-21

we have a great number of holidays each year in America. But is there a more perfect holiday than the Fourth of July? We celebrate the birth of our Nation. We gather with our families for picnics, a trip to the beach, backyard barbecues, take in a baseball game, and go to a parade. It is just the ultimate American celebration. We relax, pull out our American flags, gather our kids, and thank God that we are born in this great Nation and can call it home. prgtoken But this last Fourth of July became a different scene in one part of my home State of Illinois. It was the first time in years that the people of Highland Park were able to gather together publicly. So there was a special celebration as they gathered at 10 in the morning for the Fourth of July parade. prgtoken Oh, in addition to the usual suspects at these parades, political candidates, there were a lot of groups just there in pure celebration: high school bands, gatherings of veterans, all sorts of groups in a wonderful, wonderful suburban town in the Chicagoland area of Highland Park. prgtoken Yesterday, we held a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee about the day of the July Fourth parade in Highland Park. I wish we didn't have to hold that hearing. I would rather it would have been some other subject, some other place. But it was the 10th hearing during this Congress--the 10th time--that we had held a hearing in the Judiciary Committee on gun violence--gun violence, the No. 1 cause of death of children in America. Let me repeat that: gun violence, the No. 1 cause of death among children in America. prgtoken Yesterday, we focused on Highland Park and the Fourth of July parade, and we focused on the obvious mass shooting incident that took place. And we focused on military-style assault weapons. prgtoken The Fourth of July shooting in Highland Park, IL, was the 309th mass shooting in America this year. What is a mass shooting? When four people are either injured or killed--309 times it had happened before July the Fourth. prgtoken By the time of yesterday's hearing, 16 days after the Fourth of July, that number of 309 had grown by 47 mass shootings since the Fourth of July in America--16 days, 47 more mass shootings. prgtoken Where else on Earth is this taking place? Nowhere. Right here in the United States of America is the only place on Earth where mass shootings are happening on such a frequent basis. prgtoken In many of the deadliest shootings, the attacker used an assault weapon, a combat weapon--a gun specifically designed to kill the maximum number of people in just a few seconds; the same weapon we saw in Uvalde, TX, where the kids in their classrooms were killed; the same weapon we saw in the supermarket in Buffalo, NY, when early morning shoppers on a Saturday were killed; and, sadly, the same weapon that was used in Highland Park. prgtoken During the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, a deranged gunman perched him
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2022-7-21

thank you so much. I join my colleagues. Thank you, Senator Wyden, for your on-point remarks and, of course, Senator Murray, for her incredible leadership, not only of the committee but on taking this issue on and making clear to the State of Washington, yes, but also to the country that this should be a woman's decision, a woman and her doctor, family's decision, and not a decision made by politicians. prgtoken And part of this is making sure there is access to family planning. Since this decision has come out, I could not believe the number of women that have come up to me at home or in airports, flight attendants, saying things like: Is this really happening? You mean, I am going to have to go to another State just to get reproductive healthcare? prgtoken So how about contraception? There are people talking about contraception. People all over the country have realized how extreme this decision is. And one of the people who has been leading prgtoken this fight--and, in fact, has been leading this proposal on expanding access to family planning is my colleague Tina Smith. And she is here in spirit today. She has a mild case of COVID. I know she is watching right now because she has been fighting for the rights of women to make their own decisions about their healthcare her entire life. She is the only Senator in the history of the U.S. Senate that actually worked at Planned Parenthood and has a firm understanding and has shown so much leadership in this area. So we thank her. I am speaking for my constituents, of course, to thank Tina Smith for her work and her leadership. prgtoken As I noted, 26 days ago, the Supreme Court issued this rule shredding nearly five decades of precedent protecting a woman's right to make her own healthcare decisions. Now women are at the mercy of a patchwork of State laws governing their ability to access reproductive care, leaving them with fewer rights than their moms and their grandmas. prgtoken Last week, Senator Murray and I joined several of our ic colleagues, including Senator Cortez Masto, who led this bill to preserve a woman's right to travel to other States to access reproductive care. s blocked us. So we are back today because if the Supreme Court won't protect a woman's right to make her own healthcare decisions, if Congress can agree to put the protections of Roe v. Wade into law, then everyone in this Chamber has to decide whether they will protect women's healthcare or not. And that includes making sure women have a right to abortion services, but it includes having reliable access to family planning services. prgtoken Let's start by passing the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act to protect and expand funding for title X clinics, which support maternal health, cancer screening, contraception, and other essential healthcare. prgtoken In 2020 alone--get this number--1.5 million Americans received services through title X. But
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-7-21

over the last few decades, Americans' views on cannabis legalization have dramatically, dramatically changed. Twenty years ago, less than a third of Americans believed that cannabis should be made legal. Today, that share is nearly 70 percent of the population, the highest level of support ever. prgtoken We can see this shift playing out in the States. Nearly 90 percent of Americans live in a State that has legalized cannabis for either medical or adult recreational use. New York legalized cannabis in 2021. And even voters in deep-red South Dakota voted to legalize it for adult recreational use. prgtoken Cannabis legalization has proven immensely successful at the State level so it is time that Congress catches up with the rest of the country. prgtoken Last year, Senators Wyden, Booker, and I released a discussion draft of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act. After receiving more than 1,800 public comments and working with numerous Senate committees to improve the bill, today we are introducing this historic legislation. prgtoken I am proud to be the first majority leader ever to say that it is time to end the Federal prohibition on cannabis, and this bill provides the best framework for updating our cannabis laws and reversing decades of harm inflicted by the War on Drugs. prgtoken I have had many productive conversations with my and ic colleagues about cannabis reform, and I look forward to working with Members from both sides of the aisle to secure support for this bill. prgtoken Our bill will legalize cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act, empowering States to create their own cannabis laws instead. It prgtoken will establish a robust regulatory system to protect public health and ensure that cannabis is as safe as possible. It includes rules to prevent impaired driving, prevent youth access, and prevent illegal diversion. We also robustly fund a variety of research programs to make up for lost time when it comes to cannabis research. prgtoken So important, our bill will also expunge the Federal criminal records of people with convictions for nonviolent cannabis offenses and allow those in Federal prison for nonviolent cannabis offenses to appeal their sentences. prgtoken It is a tragedy--tragedy--that far too many Americans, particularly Black and Hispanic Americans, have permanent blocks on their record, making it nearly impossible to move forward with their lives just because they were arrested with a little marijuana in their pocket. How unfair and what a waste of human resources. prgtoken Our bill will also establish an Opportunity Trust Fund to reinvest in communities that have been devastated by the War on Drugs. And it will create opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses to legitimately pursue new opportunities in the growing cannabis industry. prgtoken And, of course, underlying it all, this bill is about individual freedom
FORMULA ACT
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2022-7-21

look, now more than ever, the Department of Veterans Affairs needs a steady hand to guide the Veterans Health Administration. This is the Nation's largest integrated healthcare system, and its job is to deliver quality and timely care to our veterans. prgtoken I rise today because in about 15 minutes, we are going to vote on the confirmation of Dr. Shereef Elnahal to run the Veterans Health Administration. He has an impressive record of leading healthcare systems and health agencies. Most recently, Dr. Elnahal served as president and CEO of University Hospital in Newark, NJ, and, previous to that, New Jersey's 21st health commissioner. But more importantly than that, Dr. Elnahal is committed to caring for the more than 9 million veterans in VA's care--a commitment he carried out as Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Quality, Safety, and Value at the Department. prgtoken It is no secret that VHA and healthcare systems and providers are going through a challenging time. The VA continues to battle the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with veterans' cases and hospitalizations and deaths on the rise again. And VA staff are dealing with burnout and increased turnover. prgtoken In the past, this body has been able to rise above politics to install qualified individuals at the VA responsible for getting vets the healthcare and benefits they need today. prgtoken This is also very, very important because the VA is in the process of putting in an electronic health record. It is going to be transformational--not only for the VA, but once it is done, it is going to be transformational for the country, but we have to get it done in the VA first. There have been some challenges. We need somebody with a steady hand helping meet those challenges. Dr. Elnahal is that person. prgtoken Today, in about 12\1/2\ minutes, we need to act to confirm Dr. Elnahal as the VA's next Under Secretary for Health, and I would encourage everybody in this body to vote for him, get him in, hold him accountable, and make sure that we are living up to the promises we have made to our veterans for the healthcare they have earned. prgtoken . prgtoken .
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2022-7-21

I rise today on behalf of Delaware's congressional delegation in honor of the 100th anniversary of Delaware's first radio station, WDEL. The station was born on July 22, 1922, when amateur radio operator and shop owner Willard Wilson aired the first news reports and music out of his home in Wilmington, DE, on what was then WHAV. Over the years, the station changed its call letters to WDEL and moved out of Wilson's home to various spaces in downtown Wilmington, where listeners could tune in to hear many famous ``big bands'' live from the Gold Ballroom of the Hotel Du Pont. Today, the station has a home on Shipley Road and has grown to provide local news, talk and traffic reports, with thousands of listeners from Delaware and our surrounding States tuning in daily to hear from WDEL's recognizable voices on the airwaves. prgtoken Just like our home State's motto, WDEL has been ``first'' many times when it comes to broadcasting. In 1933, WDEL became one of the first radio affiliates for Major League Baseball, airing the Philadelphia A's games. Today, you can still catch the crack of the bat on its signals 101.7 FM or 1150 AM during the Philadelphia Phillies season. WDEL was also the first in Delaware to provide real-time, locally produced traffic reports, filling a need when other stations weren't covering the busy roads in the Delaware region. The station also was one of the first stations to hire women for on-air positions when it wasn't popular to do so. prgtoken Over the years, WDEL has covered many historic moments in Delaware, including Presidential visits from Harry Truman, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, , , and, of course, Delaware's own . WDEL has also covered the moments that capture the cultural fabric of Delaware, including broadcasts from the Greek, Italian, and Polish festivals, as well as the Wilmington Flower Market, and has a long history of giving back to the community by supporting Nemours Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Sunday Breakfast Mission, and many other children's charities, shelters, and soup kitchens. prgtoken WDEL's dedication to its listeners was awarded numerous times over the years. WDEL was named Medium Market Station of the Year by the National Association of Broadcasters--NAB--named News Operation of the Year by the Chesapeake AP Broadcasters Association several times, and was honored with the Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence twice, and the NAB's prestigious Crystal Award for public service. prgtoken On behalf of both U.S. Senator Chris Coons and U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, I rise today to honor WDEL radio on a century of hard work and dedication to serving the community. The station that started as just one among 100 in the country has withstood a century of change and innovation and has been recognized as among the best in the Nation. We wish its employees and listeners ma
TRIBUTE TO JESSE CHARLES ROMERO
Joaquin Castro (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-7-21

. Madam , today I rise in honor of Jesse Charles Romero who passed away on July 6, 2022. Mr. Romero dedicated his life to advancing minority rights and equal justice under the law. He is survived by his wife, Anna Alicia Romero, and sons Emiliano Sandino, Antonio Cesar, and Victor Aetius Emmanuel. prgtoken Jesse Charles Romero was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on November 4, 1960, to Juan Leos Romero and Amelia Ramirez Romero. Mr. Romero was a first-generation college student, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southwest Texas State University. During his early career with the Texas State Legislature, he worked to address systemic inequalities facing minority groups, particularly among Hispanic and Latinos. Throughout his life, he held an enduring belief that inequality and injustice can be resolved through legislative solutions and hard work. prgtoken Later, as a grassroots organizer, Mr. Romero worked at the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, where he grew under the mentorship of voting rights activists including Willie Velasquez, Antonio Gonzalez, and Andy Hernandez. As his career progressed, he served as Director of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and a Policy Analyst for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), where he championed equitable public school funding, college access, and healthcare for all. Some of his most rewarding work was in bilingual and dual language advocacy. Mr. Romero employed the motto, ``educate, collaborate and advocate'' and fought to improve education for non-English speakers. prgtoken Madam , I am proud to recognize the life and legacy of Jesse Charles Romero. I thank Mr. Romero for his many years of public service and advocacy for a more equitable world. He will be missed, but the contributions he made to our community have left a lasting impact.
RIGHT TO CONTRACEPTION ACT
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-7-21

. Madam , I rise in strong support of H.R. 8373, of which I am a proud original cosponsor. I thank Congresswoman Manning for her tremendous leadership and also Chairman Pallone and Pelosi for bringing this bill to the floor. prgtoken As co-chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus, I know how important this bill is, especially after the Supreme Court's recent decision overturning abortion access. prgtoken Radical extremists have been clear that they will be going after rights like contraception next, and that is just downright outrageous. prgtoken It is hard to imagine so many freedoms are being taken away: abortion and contraception, no access to family planning, and, of course, no support at all from s for comprehensive sex education. prgtoken Everyone should have the freedom to make decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their future. That includes the right to choose which FDA-approved method of contraception is best for them. prgtoken The Pro-Choice Caucus, and many of us, have urged the FDA to make birth control available over the counter. Safety and efficacy are extremely important, and I urge the FDA to move quickly but carefully. Birth control must be safe. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-7-21

I thank Mr. Scalise for yielding. prgtoken , on Tuesday, the House will meet at 12 p.m. for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business with votes postponed, as usual, to 6:30 p.m. prgtoken On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. I reiterate that because that's 2 hours earlier than the usual meeting, but we have a lot of business to do. So the House on Wednesday and Thursday will meet at 10 a.m. for legislative business. prgtoken On Friday, the scheduled last day of the session before the August break, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business. prgtoken Next week, pending action of the Senate, hopefully, the House will consider the CHIPS Plus legislation to prgtoken combat inflation by easing supply chain bottlenecks and semiconductors that are critical components in everything from cars to dishwashers to small electronics. prgtoken Essentially, all of that, so many things that we use, rely on having chip presence. That will help lower costs for Americans and increase supplies. prgtoken This bill also will authorize a generational shift in research and innovation in America, helping ensure the next big ideas will start here, and, importantly, stay here. prgtoken The House will also consider H.R. 5118, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act. All of us have seen the awful drought and wildfires that are occurring in the West and in other parts of the country, actually. prgtoken A package of bills aimed at helping those living in Western States meet the challenges of fire and drought exacerbated by the climate crisis will be in that legislation. It would save lives, property, farms, and businesses from damage and destruction from fire and extreme drought. prgtoken The House will also consider, , Representative Kildee's bill, the Susan Muffley Act, to restore retirement benefits for over 20,000 hardworking Delphi salaried employees. That is a bipartisan bill. prgtoken We will also consider Representative Quigley's H.R. 263, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which would ban the private ownership of big cats and bring an end to the harmful cub petting industry in an effort to enhance the safety of our communities. prgtoken You may not think about this, but law enforcement has indicated this is a significant issue for them because they are the ones that are called in to handle it. This is an effort to enhance the safety of our communities and protect first responders and safeguard these wild animals. prgtoken The other reason it is on is because the Senate has asked, and I think there is a possibility that they will pass this through their unanimous consent process. prgtoken Representative Jayapal's bill, H.R. 3771, the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act, will also be on the floor to raise awareness regarding the alarming rate of heart disease in the South Asian community and invest in reversing this trend. prgtoken Lastly, I would say that we are going to have Rep
PROTECT RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS
Madeleine Dean (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-7-21

. Madam , it has been nearly a month since the Supreme Court inexplicably overturned a woman's 50-year right to her private reproductive healthcare decisions--abortion care. prgtoken In this month, we have heard many on the other side spread frightening disinformation like want abortion on demand. No, want freedom and choice for women to make their own reproductive decisions. prgtoken Meanwhile, they ignore or don't care about the fact that women are scared, terrified that they may lose access to very personal reproductive healthcare medications and procedures. prgtoken So, it is necessary that we pass the Right to Contraception Act, which will guarantee the right to get and use birth control, whether it is birth control pills, IUDs, or emergency contraceptives. prgtoken It is maddening that we even have to vote on this, that a woman's right to birth control could even be in question, that a privacy right is even up for political debate. But in this brave new world, this is where we are. prgtoken I support this legislation to protect the rights of our daughters and granddaughters, nieces and friends, women and girls everywhere.
EXAMINING SLAVERY AND DISCRIMINATION IN THE COLONIES AND THE UNITED STATES FROM 1619 TO THE PRESENT AND RECOMMEND APPROPRIATE REMEDIES
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-7-21

over this past week, we have had to raise concerns about whether the Constitution still stood strong. I am glad that we have worked hard to ensure the Ninth Amendment and the equal protection of the law are viable parts of American society and constitutional rights. prgtoken I rise today to promote H.R. 40, the Commission to Study Slavery and Develop Reparation Proposals, as a way of redress, repair, and restoration for the 246 years of slavery. prgtoken I think it is important and an important moment for the country to pause and understand this historic moment in our history, the contributions that slaves made, including building this very place, the United States Capitol and the White House, and, as well, the economic engine that they created when making cotton king--never to be compensated, never to be provided for, but still turned into patriots that fought in every world war. prgtoken It is crucial that we move expeditiously to establish this commission to tell their story and to work on the restoration of the disparities that are found in the African-American community from east to west and north to south. prgtoken I cannot think of a reason why this House and this administration would not want to move on something as embracing as H.R. 40. Let's move it now.