mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Inflation (Executive Session)
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2022-9-21

last week, s made clear that despite the clear outcry from people across the country, overturning Roe was just their first step. s want a national abortion ban. s want to force my constituents to stay pregnant even when they do not want to be and to go after the doctors who provide abortion care. prgtoken I am here today to continue to say in no uncertain terms that are not going to stand for it. While s are busy threatening the rights of women in every State across the country and threatening doctors with jail time, are here to defend abortion rights and defend the doctors who provide that care, because even before s dropped their national abortion ban bill, I was hearing from providers in my home State of Washington who are facing a huge influx of patients due to s' extreme bans. prgtoken Just yesterday, the Texas Tribune shared the heartbreaking story of a woman who learned that the pregnancy she had wanted so badly was incompatible with life, that her daughter was developing without a skull or brain. But because s in Texas think they know better than this woman or her doctor, she had to travel for treatment from Dallas all the way to Seattle to get the care she needed. prgtoken Providers on the ground in my State tell me there are so many more patients being forced to make a trek like that. They are worried about caring for them, and not just because it is for so many more patients, not just because s are straining resources and causing a healthcare crisis that puts women's lives at risk; healthcare professionals are also deeply worried about how s' extreme laws threaten their practices. They are terrified s will take away their livelihoods and even their freedom just for doing their jobs, just for providing the care their patients need--care that is, once again, completely legal in my State. prgtoken They are right to be scared. When it comes to s' extreme, no-holds-barred anti-abortion agenda, the writing is on the wall, and it has been for some time. Even before this latest bill, State lawmakers were already drafting legislation that would make it a crime to provide abortion care to a resident even in another State where it is legal, and they were doing this while at the same time trying to claim they didn't want to throw doctors in prison. prgtoken On top of all of that, they were standing in the way of the bill I will offer today to protect healthcare providers. This is a really straightforward bill. It simply protects doctors providing legal abortion care. prgtoken The last time I tried to pass it, the junior Senator from Indiana said he was concerned about this bill ``allowing abortions for anyone who crosses the State lines and is not a resident of that State.'' In other words, s are worried about all the patients I mentioned earlier
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2022-9-21

I want to thank our leader for his leadership. prgtoken None of this would have happened without your leadership. I want to thank your staff. prgtoken I want to thank the relative respective staffs on our side here and the Senators especially on the Environment and Public Works Committee. prgtoken I want to especially thank our friend John Neely Kennedy from Louisiana, who has been a great partner, and his staff and other folks on the other side of the aisle. prgtoken My mother used to say to my sister and me when we were kids, she would say that things happen in threes. I remember she would say things happen in threes, and given what the leader just said, I am thinking about threes and especially with respect to making sure that this planet is going to be around for our children and grandchildren. prgtoken But if you go back to the bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law roughly 10 months ago by the President, we did a whole lot there, you will prgtoken recall, with respect to roads, highways, bridges, water, wastewater, water infrastructure, flood control. But that legislation had the largest--at that point the largest climate title that we had ever put in a bill of any consequence here in the U.S. Senate. That is No. 1. prgtoken No. 2 would be the IRA, the Inflation Reduction Act, that was signed into law just last month by the President and championed by any number of folks, including our colleague from West Virginia, Joe Manchin. I want to thank him and the majority leader for their good work. That was No. 2 because the investments, the clean energy investments we make in the Inflation Reduction Act, are just extraordinary--extraordinary. prgtoken Then, today, to pass the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol-- people might be wondering, who are watching, and say: What in the world is that? And I will just walk you back in time. prgtoken People might remember that I was a naval flight officer in the Vietnam war, and near the end of the Vietnam war, maybe after I had moved to Delaware, I remember hearing something about speculation about a hole in the ozone and there might be a hole in the ozone. At first, people dismissed it. I dismissed it. But over time, the concerns persisted, and the hole in the ozone grew and grew. prgtoken Somewhere along about 1985, some updated scientific information, evidence, emerged that said there is a hole in the ozone, and it is big, and it is getting bigger. prgtoken Our President at the time, as I recall, was not a ; he was a --Ronald Reagan. Under his leadership, we as a nation joined in the Montreal Protocol. It was finalized in 1987, where we actually say that what is happening here is exactly clear, and what that is, is there is a hole in the ozone. It was being created by materials that are in our air-conditioners or refrigerators and our coolers. We call them refrigerants, and when they leaked out of the air-conditioners, refrigerat
AMENDMENT TO MONTREAL PROTOCOL (``KIGALI AMENDMENT'')--Continued
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-9-21

I rise today to once again urge my Senate colleagues to take the bipartisan, practical pro-manufacturing step of providing advice and consent to ratifying the Kigali Amendment. prgtoken Each of the four previous amendments to this treaty, the Montreal Protocol, have enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support in the Senate, and Kigali should be no different. prgtoken Our companies are clear. They want us to approve this treaty so that they can maximize their export potential of cutting-edge chemicals that they have pioneered. They want us to approve the treaty. It will generate billions of dollars in economic activity and create thousands of jobs here at home in the United States. prgtoken They are also clear that if we fail to ratify, they stand to lose. They will be locked out of export markets in key products. American workers will suffer, which is why the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and impacted industries all support the action we are prepared to take. prgtoken Now, I have heard the concerns that some colleagues have raised about China and how it benefits from its antiquated status as a ``developing country'' under the Montreal Protocol. Frankly, it is a fair point to raise, but it should have no bearing on whether we join Kigali. prgtoken The simple fact is, whether we join Kigali or not has no impact on whether China is treated as a developing country--none. On the other hand, ratifying Kigali will have a major positive benefit for us because China has doubled down on yesterday's chemicals, and we, the United States, lead on all the alternatives. Joining Kigali will turn the world away from China and its companies and towards our competitive strength. It is good for the United States and our businesses, and it is bad for China. However, I also recognize the plain fact that China is no longer a developing country, and I agree that it should not enjoy advantages under the Montreal Protocol that it received because of decisions made more than 30 years ago. prgtoken I have been a steadfast champion of addressing the challenges China presents as they are, not as we hope for them to be. I led passage of the Strategic Competition Act and my Taiwan Policy Act, which was recently voted out of the Foreign Relations Committee on an overwhelming bipartisan basis. So I have no problem acknowledging that China should no longer qualify as a developing country, and for that reason, I support the Lee-Sullivan amendment. prgtoken The Senate's constitutional role on treaties is both unique and vital. What we are doing today will directly, positively--if we adopt ratification--impact American workers, American businesses, and American consumers. It will meet our challenge against China. It will create greater security at home. It will create great prosperity. There are few things that we do in the Senate that can improve our economy, create jobs, and meet the challenge o
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION REFORM ACT
Katherine M. Clark (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-9-21

. Madam , January 6 is one of the darkest days in American history. We now know in great detail how the former President and his cronies were attempting to use the electoral certification process to undermine our democracy to take away the people's vote. prgtoken They tried to delegitimize a free and fair election with their lies, subvert the results certified and sent by the States, and pressure a Vice President into rejecting his constitutional responsibilities, all of which erupted in violence, hate, and bloodshed right here in our Capitol. prgtoken We walked through the blood and broken glass right outside of this Chamber to cast our votes to uphold our democracy. Today, we must vote for the Electoral Count Act to ensure that the rule of law and the will of the people will always prevail in this Chamber and in this country.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION REFORM ACT
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-9-21

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I rise today in strong support of H.R. 8873, the Presidential Election Reform Act. prgtoken This bipartisan bill is a product of over 2 years of work, first on the Committee on House Administration and subsequently on the January 6th Select Committee. prgtoken Working in partnership with Representative Liz , we have had extensive consultation with bipartisan law professors, former judges, and other experts. We have engaged in a fulsome, thoughtful, nonpartisan process, and where Ms. and I didn't always agree, we compromised, in the great tradition of the legislative process. prgtoken I thank my friend, colleague, and the vice chair of the January 6th Committee, Liz . Her partnership, leadership, intelligence, and, frankly, her courage have been invaluable to the select committee's work and to the development of this bill. prgtoken I want to be very clear: In revising the Electoral Count Act and related laws, that in no way condones the actions of the ex-President and his allies. Indeed, Dr. John Eastman openly admitted that his plan violated the Electoral Count Act. President was told the same. prgtoken But this bill will make it harder to convince people that they have the right to overthrow the election. Here are a few things the bill does. prgtoken First, this bill reaffirms that the Vice President's authority at the electoral count is ministerial. The Vice President's authority has always been ministerial and always will be ministerial, but as we saw in 2020, former President and his allies sought to unlawfully exploit the ECA to suggest otherwise. prgtoken The bill will also enact new electoral counting rules for Congress. Previously, just a few Members of each House were able to derail the proceedings with frivolous objections. That will no longer be the case. prgtoken Under this bill, no objection will be heard unless one-third of each House supports it, and the only objections that will be permitted are those that are rooted in the Constitution itself, a narrow set of issues. prgtoken The bill also prevents State and local election subversion. For example, Governors will be required to submit their State's lawful certificate of appointment, and Federal courts will be empowered to force them to do so if they refuse. prgtoken Ultimately, this bill is about protecting the will of the American voters, which is a principle that is beyond partisanship. The bottom line is this: If you want to object to the vote, you better have your colleagues and the Constitution on your side. Don't try to overturn our democracy. prgtoken Madam , .
STUDENT DEBT CANCELLATION
Ayanna Pressley (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-9-21

. Finally, , I rise to recognize September as Alopecia Awareness Month. prgtoken Across the country, approximately 7 million people have alopecia, an autoimmune disease, which I live with, that attacks one's hair follicles. prgtoken People of all ages, genders, races, and from every walk of life are living with this condition. Thankfully, although this does not threaten our lives, it does not mean that it does not impact it. prgtoken Collectively, we are fighting for bold investments in skin disease research, comprehensive medical coverage, and meaningful public education to combat the stigma, discrimination, bullying, and, indeed, even depression and suicide ideation that so many of us experience. prgtoken Whether we are sharing a meal in the heart of the Massachusetts Seventh or sharing our stories, to someone who is newly diagnosed, we choose strength over shame and purpose over pain. prgtoken I can personally attest to the fortitude that defines our community each and every day. Although there is no cure, there is community. We work to create space so that all of us may show up in the world as our full and authentic selves. prgtoken This transformation that I live with is not one of my choosing, but it is one that I have learned to embrace unapologetically with the support of my loved ones, team, and broader community in my decision to not wear a wig, recognizing the power of that representation for the 7 million-strong alopecia community in this country. prgtoken That is why, this September, on the floor of the House of Representatives, I can affirm that alopecia is my superpower. I am free to be me. I commemorate Alopecia Areata Awareness Month.
REFORMING THE ELECTORAL COUNT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-9-21

. Madam , I rise today to support the Presidential Election Reform Act which is long overdue. prgtoken As I stand in the well, I can still see the images of January 6, 2021. I can hear the gunfire. I can hear and see the directions of our very able Capitol Police to tell Members to hit the ground. I can see the banging on the doors. prgtoken Thank goodness this act will reform the electoral count to ensure that Congress counts the votes as required by the Constitution, including by ensuring that Congress receive a single accurate electoral count certificate from each State--no phony electors as evidenced by President 's attempt to bring down this Nation. prgtoken Requiring that the States select electors to accomplish this in accordance with State law existing as of the last election, it will reaffirm that the Vice President's role at the count is ministerial, raise the objection threshold to one-third instead of one person, one Member, and limit the explicit constitutional grounds upon which Members may object to a State electoral vote. They will list the explicit constitutional grounds. There will be order to the process. prgtoken This is a democracy admired around the world. We must defend this democracy, and we are defending it by voting today on the Presidential Election Reform Act. This is what we should do, the Presidential Election Reform Act.
COUNTERING UNTRUSTED TELECOMMUNICATIONS ABROAD
Susan Wild (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-9-21

. Madam , I rise in support of my bill, the Countering Untrusted Telecommunications Abroad Act, which passed the House yesterday. and friend from the other side of the aisle, Representative Ann Wagner of Missouri, for co-leading this legislation. This bill is proof that when it comes to national and economic security challenges, we can find common ground. prgtoken The purpose of the bill is simple: to investigate and respond to vulnerabilities caused by Chinese telecommunications companies in U.S. embassies overseas and among our close allies. For too long, the world has stood by as Chinese telecoms giants have operated as vehicles for the Chinese Communist Party to commit horrific human rights violations against the Uyghur people, conduct mass surveillance and espionage, and supply technology to other repressive regimes around the world. prgtoken Securing these networks is imperative when it comes to national security and human rights, as well as for our economic security. This legislation will help us to ensure that the prgtoken telecoms infrastructure of our country and our allies is secure, effective, and made right here in the United States. prgtoken Madam , I urge our colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill.
FALL PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK
Lois Frankel (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2022-9-21

about a year ago, it was 4 a.m. in the morning when I got a call from the West Palm Beach paramedics. They had received a call from my mother's Apple watch-- believe it or not--and they rushed to her apartment, and they found her lying on her apartment floor. She had fallen and broken her hip. prgtoken I stayed close as she suffered through surgery and hospitalization and rehabilitation. I counted the endless medical bills paid by Medicare and her own personal funds. I watched as my independent mom became fearful of living alone and moved into an assisted living facility. prgtoken , I will say, there is some very good news about my mom, she is alive and well and adapting to her new lifestyle. She uses a walker and aging has reduced her stamina, but her bridge partners will tell you she still has a very sharp mind. prgtoken Listen to this. Her surgeon told me her recovery at her age, which was 96 at the time of the fall, was an exception, that most her age, after a brutal injury, quickly sundown to death. prgtoken , you may ask why am I telling this story? Because tomorrow is the first day of fall, and not only are the leaves turning, but it marks the start of Fall Prevention Awareness Week, a nationwide effort to raise awareness that falls are preventable, and also, to bring awareness to fall prevention strategies and resources. prgtoken , after my mom fell, I started hearing story after story from friends and colleagues about their own personal experiences of people who had fallen, and you know what I learned? Falls are the most frequent cause of injuries and injury-related death among people over 65. prgtoken There are 36 million falls a year in people over 65 here in America, leading to broken bones and broken spirits, and 34,000 of those becoming deadly. The cost--this is an amazing figure--the cost to the American health system is $50 billion a year from injuries related to falls. That is billion with a b. prgtoken Here is the most important message I have today: Falls are preventable. I am going to say it again: Falls are preventable. There are simple things that seniors can do with assistance from their doctors and their family and their friends and caretakers to stop the falls before they happen. prgtoken Here are some of the top tips from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Make sure that medications don't have side effects that can cause dizziness or loss of balance, stay hydrated, get eyes checked every year. And because most falls happen in the home, make critical changes like installing grab bars, clearing tripping hazards, and make sure that the rugs are flat on the floor. If necessary, use mobility aids like walkers and canes, when needed, even in your own home. prgtoken There are also simple exercises that seniors can do to improve joint strength, especially in the ankles, to help improve balance and stability. prgtoken I am pleased to say, , that the House Labor, Health, and Human Se
CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF THE PHOENIX INDIAN CENTER
Ruben Gallego (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2022-9-21

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the Phoenix Indian Center, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. prgtoken Founded in 1947, the Phoenix Indian Center is the oldest American Indian non-profit organization of its kind in the United States. Originally established to help Native Americans who traveled to downtown Phoenix to sell arts and crafts to support their families, the non-profit has successfully expanded its services to offer exemplary employment, education, cultural enrichment, and community engagement services for urban Native Americans. Additionally, the Phoenix Indian Center has continuously achieved its goal to ``keep families intact and help them maneuver through difficult situations they may encounter.'' prgtoken By implementing their core values of integrity, accountability, adaptability, and respect, the Phoenix Indian Center has established resources such as job preparedness workshops, youth services, housing assistance, scholarships, and many others that have positive impacts throughout the Native American community. For 75 transformative years, I thank the Phoenix Indian Center, and I look forward to seeing what they accomplish next for our community.