mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Childcare (Executive Calendar)
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2023-11-29

I rise today, along with my colleagues, because, as the President pro tempore has heard, we have a childcare crisis in this country. Families can't afford it; employers don't have the funds to subsidize it; and providers can't pay their workers. In my home State of Nevada, it can cost more to send your kids to childcare than it does to send them to college. It is just outrageous, and we have to do something about it. prgtoken One of the many consequences of this crisis is that some parents who can't afford childcare have to stay home with their kids instead of reentering the workforce. I hear this all the time in Nevada. Nearly 39 percent of women with children younger than 5 years old have quit their jobs in the last 3 years. Over 90 percent of those women willingly decided to leave their jobs and stop earning an income, not because they were laid off or had their hours cut back but because they needed to stay home with their children because they lacked the resources for childcare in this country to afford it. It is hurting our families. It is hurting our children and our economy, quite frankly. We must expand access to childcare now. prgtoken We took steps to lower childcare costs for families when we passed the American Rescue Plan. That funding has made a difference for families across the country. In Nevada, that means families of four that make up to $70,000 a year are getting help covering their childcare costs. It means all copays for childcare programs have been waived. It means that thousands of families across my State have been able to breathe easier knowing that they won't have to choose between groceries and their kids' tuitions. prgtoken A perfect example is Christine McNally, who lives in Northern Nevada, in Reno. She works with these families every day at her two childcare centers in Northern Nevada. She told me about a single mom she works with who has three kids. Now, before the American Rescue Plan passed that lowered childcare costs, this mother was paying $120 per week in copays. That is $120 per week. Not having to cover the cost of these copays anymore has been huge for her and her family. It has helped alleviate so much financial pressure. Now she can pay her electric bills without having to worry about covering other costs, including childcare. prgtoken The problem is, as we have heard from our colleagues, this legislation expired this year, and, unfortunately, we don't have all of our colleagues who want to continue to support this. What I am hearing from some really far-right s is a refusal to work with us to extend this program, and that is going to be devastating for so many families across the country, including in Nevada, including Christine's families whom she works with. prgtoken Thousands of them are going to see skyrocketing costs next year. Parents who have no one else to look after their children will face impossible choices, and many will ch
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5283, PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES FROM FAILURE TO SECURE THE BORDER ACT OF 2023; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5961, NO FUNDS FOR IRANIAN TERRORISM ACT; AND...
Joe Courtney (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2023-11-29

today I missed rollcall No. 679 on the Rule (H. Res. 891 ) for three bills under consideration on the floor this week: prgtoken H.R. 5283, ``Protecting our Communities from Failure to Secure the Border Act; H.R. 5961, ``No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act''; and S.J. Res. 32, ``Providing for congressional disapproval, relating to ``Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act''. prgtoken Had I recorded my vote, I would have voted ``no'' on the Rule, H. Res. 891.
Nomination of Jamel Semper (Executive Session)
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2023-11-29

I rise today to proudly vote for the confirmation of Jamel Semper to the U.S. District Court of New Jersey. prgtoken Mr. Semper, whom I personally recommended to President , is exceptionally well-qualified for this position, and you don't have to take my word for it. Mr. Semper received strong, bipartisan support on the Judiciary Committee. So there is no reason he shouldn't enjoy that same bipartisan support here on the Senate floor. prgtoken For more than 15 years, Mr. Semper has tirelessly sought justice for the residents who call New Jersey home. Indeed, it is the central theme that runs throughout Mr. Semper's career--an unwavering commitment to the rule of law and to the communities the law is meant to protect. prgtoken He began his career as an assistant prosecutor in Union County, handling a wide range of cases across the appellate, juvenile, and adult trial units. Then, in Essex County, he went after carjackers and murderers, including the first prosecution of a homicide under New Jersey's domestic terrorism statute. prgtoken In 2018, he was sworn in as an assistant U.S. attorney in Newark, climbing the ladder and ultimately serving as chief of both the violent crime and organized crime units. Today, he is the deputy chief of the criminal division, a role in which he is responsible for supervising all phases of criminal investigation and prosecution. prgtoken In each of these positions, Mr. Semper has demonstrated unflinching fidelity to the rule of law. Time and time again, Mr. Semper has kept New Jerseyans safe, while also building bridges between residents and those who have sworn an oath to protect them. prgtoken This community-focused approach to law enforcement has earned Mr. Semper plaudits from individuals and organizations representing diverse interests, especially those who advocate for communities of color in the Garden State. prgtoken Consider the words of Rev. Ron Slaughter, the pastor of St. James AME in Newark. He said: ``Semper has touched all the bases, stayed connected to the community, and remained patient. This is a great day for New Jersey, America, our judiciary, and my community.'' prgtoken Truer words haven't been spoken. prgtoken Mr. Semper's confirmation today not only furthers our collective goal of addressing judicial vacancies across our country; it also advances our efforts to diversify the Federal bench. It brings us one step closer toward ensuring that our most hallowed institutions reflect the rich tapestry of America. prgtoken For nearly 18 years, I have always taken my constitutional duty to provide advice and consent on judicial nominees seriously. It is one of the most solemn obligations as U.S. Senators that we have, and it is one of the most consequential impacts we have on our democracy as Senators--confirming judges who interpret and shape the law and our Constitution for decades to come. prgtoken So I am a firm believer that our
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2023-11-29

on November 28, 2023, I attended a memorial service in honor of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, so I was unable to vote on the House Floor. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 676, H. Res. 793--Calling on Hamas to immediately release hostages taken during the October 2023 attack on Israel, and YEA on Roll Call No. 677, H. Res. 793--Reaffirming the State of Israel's right to exist.
Childcare (Executive Calendar)
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2023-11-29

I rise today in strong support of Senator Murray's Child Care Stabilization Act. prgtoken We know how much of a lifeline this program has been for families, for childcare providers, and our economy since it was established in 2021. Thanks to this program, 220,000 childcare providers stayed afloat. Up to 10 million kids' childcare slots were saved, and the unemployment rate for moms with kids under age 6 empowered moms to return to work at rates we have not seen. prgtoken The need for high-quality childcare is one of those issues I hear about all over Minnesota, from the Iron Range up north to our farming towns in Southern Minnesota, from urban areas in the Twin Cities to suburbs across the metro. It doesn't matter how qualified you are or how badly you may want a job, if there is no one to watch your kids, you can't go to work. Too often, people are in this situation because there are simply no childcare options. prgtoken I think about Pam and her husband, who live in Cottage Grove, MN. They both work full time and rely on daycare centers to look after their two little kids. They are paying more than $2,800 a month for childcare, meaning Pam's husband's whole paycheck goes toward paying those costs. prgtoken Pam told me: We may soon join the increasing ranks of parents forced to leave the workforce because they have no other option. prgtoken Another Minnesotan, Erin, is a new mom, who a year after having her baby still can't find an open childcare spot. She sent email after email to local providers, but all she got in response was an overwhelming number of ``no infant openings.'' Many of these providers told Erin that they wouldn't have openings for years. When she finally found an opening, she could hardly afford it. prgtoken Then there is Amelia, who lives in Richfield--a southern suburb in the Twin Cities--and pays over $15,000 a year for each of her two kids. Her family is facing the same dilemma as so many others: We can't pay our mortgage if I stay home, but we barely take anything home after paying to send our twins to preschool. prgtoken Pam, Erin, and Amelia, who live in different parts of our State--and they have way different jobs--and the 51 percent of Americans who also live in childcare deserts deserve better. They deserve high-quality childcare that is in their budgets and that actually has open spots for kids. prgtoken The good news? We have been making progress in my State. Here are a few examples. prgtoken In Redwood Falls, a brandnew childcare center will provide the area with more than 70 new childcare slots with a combination of funding, private and public. prgtoken The town of Morris--a college town near South Dakota--started a program that I visited. They have six childcare pods. They are apartments that could be converted to senior housing if they want, but it allows small providers--who maybe have six to eight kids--to have a place that is s
VOTE EXPLANATION
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2023-11-29

I was necessarily absent, but had I been present, I would have voted yes on rollcall vote No. 314, the Motion to Invoke Cloture on Jeffrey M. Bryan, of Minnesota, to be United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota. prgtoken I was necessarily absent, but had I been present, I would have voted yes on rollcall vote No. 315, confirmation of Jeffrey M. Bryan, of Minnesota, to be United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota. prgtoken I was necessarily absent, but had I been present, I would have voted yes on rollcall vote No. 316, the Motion to Invoke Cloture on Margaret M. Garnett, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. prgtoken I was necessarily absent, but had I been present, I would have voted yes on rollcall vote No. 317, confirmation of Margaret M. Garnett, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. prgtoken I was necessarily absent, but had I been present, I would have voted yes on rollcall vote No. 318, the Motion to Invoke Cloture on Jose Javier Rodriguez to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor.
Childcare (Executive Calendar)
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2023-11-29

I am so glad to join my colleagues on the floor today to really emphasize how a family's life falls apart when they don't have access to good childcare. prgtoken I am one of a handful of parents of young kids. I have no complaints. Obviously, my wife and I make enough money so that we have been able to provide quality childcare for our kids, as we have both been working throughout their lives. But when you are living on a more modest salary--not a poverty wage but just a modest, lower middle income salary--your entire world can fall apart when you lose access to a quality childcare environment. People have to quit their jobs. prgtoken They have to move back in with their parents. They have to move their entire family to a different city or a different State. Your entire life gets upended when you can't find care for your child because you will upend your entire life for your child. Nothing matters more than making sure your child is safe. prgtoken So what we are forcing our families to do simply because we don't choose to do the right thing and provide funding to make sure there is affordable, quality childcare available--it is sending our families into unnecessary crisis all over this country. prgtoken In my State, I have had 124,000 parents report that their work has been disrupted by childcare issues, that they have had to leave work, that they have had to leave employment because of an interruption in childcare. prgtoken Our childcare centers in Connecticut--and we are a high-cost childcare State. We are a high-cost State in general. Eighty-nine percent of them report that they have had difficulty hiring staff, 60 percent of them say that right now they are understaffed, and 70 percent of them say that they have wait lists for new families, which just shows you that all over Connecticut, we have a total mismatch between the number of slots and the number of families who need those slots. prgtoken Of course, that delivers enormous harm to families but also to our workforce. I met a young woman a few weeks ago who lives in Hartford. She has a very young child. They are on a waitlist for a subsidized childcare slot. She wants to actually be a childcare worker. She wants to help solve the workforce shortage. But she can't get into the workforce. Why? Because she has to stay home to take care of her young child. prgtoken So this cycle that ends up impacting not just families but our economy writ large is one that we have to break. prgtoken I just want to leave you with this one last piece of math to just explain how serious this situation is in my State. prgtoken In Connecticut, we have a program called Care for Kids, and this is a program that does for lower income families--tries to give them some subsidy so that they can afford childcare. But that program cuts off for a one-child family at $41,500 a year income. That is a lower middle income salary in Connecticut. That is a salary that is not un
Israel (Executive Session)
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-11-29

I am here once again to highlight the stories of the people who have been and continue to be held hostage by Hamas. I am so happy to hear that several of our hostages, whose families I have worked with, have been finally returned. They include: 4-year-old Abigail Mor Edan, whose parents were both murdered in front of her eyes and who now faces the horrible process of healing from the many traumas she underwent; Danielle Aloni and her 5-year-old daughter Emilia. They had been visiting Danielle's sister Sharon, her brother- in-law David, and their 3-year-old twins Emma and Julie on the day of the attack, when all of them were taken captive. Sharon, Emma, and Julie have also just been released, but David still remains in captivity. prgtoken I am so grateful that members of another family I have worked with have also been released. They include 67-year-old mother Shoshan, sister Adi, Adi's two young children Naveh and Yahel, Aunt Sharon, and Sharon's 12-year-old daughter Noam. prgtoken It has been heartening to see these families reunited with their loved ones, to see the joy and the indescribable relief, and I am grateful to the administration for making these reunions possible. But, of course, many, many more people still remain in captivity, including Emma and Julie's father, David, and Naveh and Yahel's father, Tal. prgtoken These families have already endured the worst traumas imaginable, and yet now they have still been ripped apart, with no idea when they will see their fathers and brothers and sons again. Tal is a 38-year-old who reads a lot and loves to explore new topics as well as exercise and play sports. He and his family like to travel in the desert areas in southern Israel and spend time near the Sea of Galilee. prgtoken David is a talented 33-year-old actor who lived with his family in Nir Oz. He and his family woke up on the morning of October 7 to the sound of bombs and sought refuge in their home's bomb shelter. But when Hamas set fire to their house, the shelter filled with smoke and forced them out to meet the terrorists. prgtoken His American family last saw him in a video shared by Hamas where he can be seen in the back of a truck with Sharon and one of the twins. A survivor who was able to escape says she spoke briefly with him and that he said to her: I know that I left the safe room with two babies, and now I have only one. prgtoken I can only imagine what it must be like for him now to have both of his babies ripped away. prgtoken These two families, these fathers, don't deserve to be separated from their families. They don't deserve to be kept in horrific conditions, potentially with little food. prgtoken As joyful as it has been to see some of the hostages reunited with their families, we must not stop pushing for the release of all the remaining hostages. I will continue to work with their families and with the administration to advocate for the
CELEBRATING SIKH AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION MONTH
Josh Harder (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-11-29

I rise today to celebrate Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month. prgtoken Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world, with over 250,000 Sikhs calling California home. The Sikh community has given so much to California and, in particular, to my district in San Joaquin County. In fact, the Sikh community helped build Stockton and San Joaquin County into what they are today. The very first gurdwara in the United States was founded in Stockton over 100 years ago. prgtoken Sikh farmers, truck drivers, doctors, and business leaders have contributed so much to making our community what it is today. My wife, Pam, and our daughter, Lillian, are proud of their Indian heritage. prgtoken The Sikh community has opened their arms to my family, sharing their traditions, warmth, and hospitality. I am eternally grateful. prgtoken As November comes to an end, I hope we can all take some time to celebrate our Sikh loved ones and recommit to our shared values of equality, justice, and religious freedom.
Nomination of Jamel Semper (Executive Calendar)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-11-29

today, the Senate will vote to confirm Jamel Semper to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. prgtoken Mr. Semper attended Hampton University and Rutgers Law School before clerking for Judge Harold Fullilove on the Essex County Superior Court of New Jersey. He then spent 10 years as a state prosecutor in both the Union County Prosecutor's Office and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, where he prosecuted a range of criminal offenses, including sexual assault, firearms offenses, fraud, and murder. During this time, he was also the lead prosecutor in a domestic terrorism and murder case that involved the first prosecution of a homicide under New Jersey's domestic terrorism statute. In 2018, Mr. Semper joined the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey. He now serves as deputy chief of the office's criminal division and is responsible for implementation of the office's violent crime reduction strategy. Mr. Semper is a highly experienced litigator, having tried at least 40 cases to verdict, including both jury and bench trials. prgtoken The American Bar Association unanimously rated Mr. Semper ``well qualified'' to serve on the district court, and the New Jersey Senators strongly support his nomination. prgtoken Mr. Semper's deep ties to New Jersey and proven dedication to equal justice will make him an asset to the district court. I will vote in favor of his nomination, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-11-29

finally, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m Thursday, November 30; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, 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 proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Park nomination, postcloture, and that all time be considered expired at 11:30 a.m.; further, that upon the disposition of the Park nomination, the Senate resume consideration of the Ramirez nomination and that the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Ramirez nomination at 1:45 p.m.; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during Thursday's session, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
COLONEL CURTIS HAYES
Brittany Pettersen (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2023-11-29

I rise today to recognize Colonel Curtis Hayes for his service in the U.S. Air Force. Colonel Hayes served as a dentist and maxillofacial surgeon in the Air Force for over 20 years. Among his many accomplishments, Colonel Hayes led a four-member dental team to provide care for underprivileged children in Africa. Colonel Hayes earned numerous awards including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air and Space Achievement Medal, and the 2013 USAFE Dentist of the Year award. prgtoken Colonel Hayes has also extended his impact to academia and literature. He has shared his expertise by contributing to peer- reviewed journals and recently wrote a section on digital dentistry in the best-selling book ``Million Dollar Smile.'' prgtoken It is my honor to congratulate Colonel Hayes on his military retirement and to thank him for his service to our country.