mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 8393, PUERTO RICO STATUS ACT
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-12-15

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken This shouldn't be controversial. We are not deciding the fate of Puerto Rico. We are setting a process in place so that the people who live on the island can make that decision. prgtoken Listening to my colleague's speech, as he mentions , , , , you would never know that this compromise was actually written in conjunction with the --let me repeat that--with the Delegate from Puerto Rico. prgtoken So I don't understand what the big fuss is about. prgtoken But if my friend believes that the people of Puerto Rico should decide their future, then he should support this bill which will set in place a process so they can determine their future. If the gentleman doesn't, if he continues to believe that we should act like a colonizer, then vote ``no'' on the bill. But this is the commonsense thing to do. prgtoken One other thing we heard him say, they are taxpayer-funded elections. All of our elections proceed with the support of taxpayer funds. I don't understand what that is all about. But the bottom line is that people of Puerto Rico do pay taxes. prgtoken In any event, this really is about self-determination, and it is that simple. I hope that my colleagues will not only support the rule but also the underlying bill. prgtoken Madam , .
TRIBUTE TO DR. PATRICK BREYSSE
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-12-15

I rise today to honor a public servant who has made a significant impact protecting the health of Michiganders and people across the country from environmental hazards and related health concerns. Dr. Patrick Breysse will be retiring from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--CDC--and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry--ATSDR--after serving 36 years both in government and as a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. Dr. Breysse's expertise in environmental exposure assessment and epidemiology has resulted in preventing disease, saving lives, and improving the health of communities. prgtoken Dr. Breysse joined CDC in December 2014 to lead the Agency's efforts to investigate the relationship between environmental factors and health. Under Dr. Breysse, CDC and ATSDR took significant steps to address lead exposure, improve safe drinking water, reduce exposure to hazardous substances, and play a critical role in CDC's emergency preparedness and response to natural disasters. His recent priorities include addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances--PFAS-- contamination in drinking water and the health effects of poor air quality, extreme heat, flooding, and other weather-related hazards. He also led the public health response to the Flint water crisis in my home State of Michigan and remains focused on preventing lead exposures from public drinking water and working to make our environments lead- free. Dr. Breysse has worked closely with State, local, Territorial, and Tribal partners and been a true advocate for the health of our communities. prgtoken Dr. Breysse has also been a leader in bringing attention to the health concerns related to PFAS chemicals, testifying before Congress, briefing staff and Members, and initiating a ground-breaking health study at ATSDR to fill research gaps and examine the relationship between these chemicals and human health. He led the charge to better understand the contamination of PFAS in our water supply and the numerous potentially associated health effects. His vision and foresight helped lead to changes in standards, improvements in guidance for health professionals, and attention to this issue across the Nation. prgtoken Dr. Breysse is leaving behind a rich legacy of improving the quality of science and practice related to environmental health within CDC and ATSDR. I am thankful for Dr. Pat Breysse and his commitment to the health of our communities and for the countless public servants like him who dedicate their lives to protecting others.
DISAPPOINTED BUT NOT DEFEATED
Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-12-15

I rise today because the Party has once again chosen to stand against civil rights. prgtoken Yesterday, Senator Cory Booker brought the CROWN Act to the Senate floor. This bill would ban hair discrimination, including the practice of discriminating against people, Black people, because of the way their hair naturally grows out of their heads. s stopped the bill in its tracks. prgtoken The CROWN Act should never ever have been a controversial bill. It simply protects our right to exist as our authentic selves. Apparently, that was just too much for today's Party. prgtoken , I stand here disappointed but not defeated. I will never stop fighting for all Americans' right to exist as their authentic selves. I pray that my colleagues set petty party politics aside and choose to stand for justice when the next opportunity arises.
CELEBRATING GALENA PARK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
Sylvia R. Garcia (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-12-15

. Madam , I rise to celebrate Galena Park Independent School District's very own North Shore High School football team for their second trip in a row to the Texas State Championship. prgtoken Located in my district, the North Shore Senior High School is home to a group of standout athletes and students, both academically and athletically. prgtoken Through their hard work and preservation, our local stars will now play against Duncanville High School for a chance to defend their State championship. prgtoken I am truly so proud of all their accomplishments both on and off the field. They embody Texas' spirit of excellence and go-get-'em spirit. prgtoken Stay focused and play strong, Mustangs, because all of Galena Park in the Houston region is rooting for you this Saturday. prgtoken Best wishes and God bless.
WHAT AMERICA MAKES AND GROWS, MAKES AND GROWS AMERICA
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2022-12-15

I rise to share a good news story from Ohio's Ninth Congressional District. prgtoken During this holiday season, I humbly ask all Americans to do what they can to buy goods made right here in the USA. What America makes and grows, makes and grows America. prgtoken Recently, I had the pleasure of patronizing two longstanding Toledo businesses, Fulkerson Jewelers and Clock Shop and Keystone Press. Both are small legacy businesses in the heart of our community. Together, they have existed for well over 160 years. prgtoken Both establishments and their able, friendly staff embody American ingenuity, craftsmanship, hard work, and perseverance. prgtoken At Fulkerson, a friendly young repairman replaced the battery in my watch in the blink of an eye. He even does laser welding. prgtoken At Keystone, I dropped off materials to print for our office holiday mailings. This printing shop has been in business for over 100 years. prgtoken Small family businesses embody all the charm, diversity, and creativity of America. So may I urge all Americans this holiday season to buy local, buy American, and support your hometown businesses that build and grow America.
HONORING CHIEF ANDREW WHITE
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-12-15

. Madam , I rise today to honor Chief Andrew White of the Clearlake Police Department in recognition of his outstanding career in public safety. prgtoken Mr. White was born in Walnut Creek, California. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Management and Information Technology, he attended the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute. Mr. White began his career in law enforcement as a police cadet and dispatcher for the City of Napa. He served for 16 years as an officer with the Suisun City Police Department, rising to the rank of Commander. In July 2018, he became the Chief of Police for the City of Clearlake. Mr. White also serves on the State of California 911 Advisory Board and represents the California Peace Officers Association on the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications Advisory Committee. prgtoken As Chief, Mr. White made significant changes to department spending and advocated for facility and equipment upgrades to better serve his community. This included a new city phone system, new servers and programs for code enforcement, and the city's first automated license plate reader system. During his tenure, crime rates within the city of Clearlake have reached historic lows and department retention has been at an all-time high. Additionally, Mr. White has worked tirelessly to improve cross-departmental relationships in an effort to improve response time and service to the area. prgtoken Mr. White is a devoted husband to Charlotte White and father of Blake, Madison, Gavin and Brooklyn. He and his wife have fostered 18 children since 2009 and currently foster Junior, Theo, and Ollie. prgtoken Madam , I thank Mr. White for his selfless service and commitment to the people of Clearlake. His efforts have undoubtedly made our community a safer place to live. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today.
TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT MAJOR NICHOLAS J. STOKELY
Jon Ossoff (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2022-12-15

today it is with great pleasure that I honor a superb Army noncommissioned officer and legislative liaison. After 2 years of exemplary service with the Army Office of the Chief, Legislative Liaison, SGM Nicholas J. Stokely was selected to serve as the next battalion command sergeant major for the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion, Special Operations (Airborne), at Fort Bragg, NC. He is no stranger to positions of trust and authority as he currently serves as the legislative assistant to the 16th Sergeant Major of the Army. He will assume responsibility for this new position in June. prgtoken On this occasion, I believe it is appropriate to recognize Sergeant Major Stokely's distinguished 25-year career spent serving the interests of the American people, whether here in the halls of Congress or out in the field with his boots on the ground. He is a native of Fountain Inn, SC. It is there that he first began his military service as an infantryman in the South Carolina National Guard in 1997. Sergeant Major Stokely enlisted in the Active-Duty Army in February 2002 and served in numerous leadership positions while stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State. prgtoken In 2006, he donned the iconic hat of the U.S. Army drill sergeant, helping train young men and women in preparation for the rigors of serving in the Army. Sergeant Major Stokely has excelled in every job the Army has asked him to take on, and true to form, he was selected as the 2007 Infantry Training Brigade Drill Sergeant of the Year at Fort Benning, GA. This is indicative of how he approaches his job. prgtoken In 2009, Sergeant Major Stokely began a new chapter in his career by completing the Civil Affairs Specialist Course at Fort Bragg and joining the ranks of Special Forces operators. He subsequently served in every leadership position possible while assigned to the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade. He then went on to serve as an instructor and course manager at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. prgtoken It is clear the Army has consistently relied upon Sergeant Major Stokely for his exceptional leadership. He has deployed on numerous occasions in support of America's national defense. Sergeant Major Stokely has deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, the European Reassurance Initiative, and European Deterrence Initiative with multiple tough assignments within Special Operations units across the Asian and European continents. prgtoken In 2019, Sergeant Major Stokely arrived on Capitol Hill, serving as the defense fellow for Representative Jason Crow of Colorado's Sixth District. From there, he did exceptional work liaising on the Army's Senate Liaison Division staff before his selection as a legislative assistant. In each of these positions, his primary responsibility was to help continue and strengthen Army relationships across Congress. prgtoken Over the past 2 years
PUERTO RICO STATUS ACT
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-12-15

. Madam , I have been working on this issue almost all of my career in the Congress of the United States. prgtoken The previous gentleman said: Let's do it right. prgtoken This does it right. This does it after years and years and years and years and years of consideration. prgtoken I hesitate because I agree, I think, almost in whole with the remarks that Mr. Westerman has made. Mr. Westerman is a Member of the Congress that I respect. He and I work on things that we think are very important to mankind, here in this country and around the world, in terms of our global environment. prgtoken America is a great nation. It is a generous nation. I have said throughout the world that America is the least acquisitive great power that has existed in the world. prgtoken What do I mean by acquisitive? prgtoken We did not fight wars to take property and to acquire countries, to do what Putin criminally does today. In fact, what we did in those wars in which we have participated in was to build up countries, and they are now democracies: Germany, Japan, Italy, and other nations which we have occupied for a temporary period of time to make sure they were free and help them be free. This bill is about the Puerto Rican people and their island. prgtoken And to redeem a premise that we have argued to all the world ought to be central to their policies. That is the right of peoples to self- determination. The right of peoples to say: This is who I am, and this is the political environment in which I want to live--by free votes, not arms, not force, but by the choice of the people. That is what this legislation does. prgtoken Puerto Ricans and people of Puerto Rican descent have had an important place in the American family for over a century. They contribute to American culture. They help protect America's national security. They support the American economy and our shared prosperity. prgtoken They are American citizens. We made that decision because that was our decision to make whether we were going to allow them to be American citizens or not. Frankly, whether they have any relationship with us or not is our American Congress' decision. They are today American citizens like all of us. prgtoken For far too long, however, the people of Puerto Rico have been excluded from the full promise of American democracy and self- determination that our Nation has always championed. We owe it to our own values, and we owe it to the Puerto Rican people to bring an end to their island's 124-year-old status as a U.S. territory. prgtoken Less than us. Less than Maryland. Less than Virginia or Oregon or Texas or Maine or Washington State. Yes, they are citizens but less-- 3\1/2\ million people are less. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all are created equal. Now, not all people ought to be U.S. citizens because of that comment, but all citizens ought to be equal. That prgtoken is why I am for D.C. statehood--700,000-plus people. Citizens. Ou
JAMES M. INHOFE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023--Resumed
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-12-15

at the outset, let me thank my colleague from Alaska for his service to the United States of America and the Marine Corps, and let me thank all the women and men who serve in the Marine Corps and all our branches of military service. We owe them a great debt of gratitude, and we certainly owe them justice. prgtoken What is at issue here is the discovery that the water that they were drinking while they were training at Camp Lejeune was poisoned, and it was endangering the health of the marines and their families. For years, they sought compensation and protection and failed. And just this last year, we passed the PACT Act. Under that provision of law, it finally gave a cause of action to these marines and their families to recover for the damages they had suffered because of this poisonous water at this U.S. Government facility training camp at Camp Lejeune. I voted for that, proudly. It was a strong bipartisan rollcall, as it should have been. But let me make sure you understand and everyone listening understands what these marines who believe that they have been damaged by this poisoned water--this contaminated water--have to go through now to recover even the first dollar. prgtoken The first instance is, they don't receive it automatically. The Senator from Alaska continues to refer to the administration's standards of 2 percent and 10 percent and so forth. He is quoting from a hypothetical that dealt with the Compensation Fund, not what we passed here in the U.S. Senate. prgtoken The Compensation Fund is like for 9/11 victims. We understand those cases. It wasn't a question of the victims going in and proving that 9/ 11 actually occurred or that their loved one was killed. It was almost an automatic thing that you qualify for. So the low contingency fees which he quoted was for a hypothetical approach which is not the law. prgtoken What is the law today? prgtoken What if my father or someone in my family--my son--had gone through training at Camp Lejeune in the period of time that is affected by this? How do they recover? There are two avenues to recovery. One of them is file a claim with the U.S. Navy, and the Navy can decide that the claim is meritorious and pay it. prgtoken But if the Navy does not pay it, the administrative hearing does not result in a payment to the plaintiff, to the claimant, to the marine, the next step is a serious one. It goes to the Federal court, not just any Federal court but the one we designated, the Eastern District of North Carolina. prgtoken What happens at that court? That marine now is walking into a Federal courtroom and has to establish a case and prove the liability of the government for his losses. prgtoken What does he have to prove? Well, he has to prove causation, liability, and damages. prgtoken Have you ever been in a Federal courtroom or walked in there by yourself and seen what happens? I am telling you that it is a humbling experience even for
REPLACEMENT OF BUST OF ROGER BROOKE TANEY WITH BUST OF THURGOOD MARSHALL
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-12-15

. Madam , I rise today in strong support of S. 5229, legislation to: prgtoken remove the bust of Roger Taney from the United States Capitol prgtoken and commission a new statue honoring Justice Thurgood Marshall. prgtoken Let us salute those who have fought for this action in the House: prgtoken Leader Steny Hoyer prgtoken Whip Jim Clyburn prgtoken CBC Chair Joyce Beatty prgtoken Chair Bennie Thompson prgtoken Congresswoman Barbara Lee prgtoken Congressman G. K. Butterfield and our former colleague, Mayor Karen Bass. prgtoken Driven by their leadership, this Chamber has proudly and repeatedly voted to remove statues of Taney, Confederate officials and other advocates of bigotry from the Capitol grounds. prgtoken The House is grateful to the Senate for taking an important step forward--voting unanimously to remove this vile tribute to Taney-- author of the horrendous Dred Scott ruling. prgtoken We look forward to swiftly sending this bill to the President's desk, and we remain committed to sweeping out other vestiges of hate from the halls of Congress. prgtoken This building is a Temple of Democracy. It is a monument to our nation's most fundamental ideals. prgtoken It reflects all that we take pride in as a nation--and so too should the tributes that grace its halls. prgtoken They should honor those who sought to strengthen our Democracy for all--not weaken it in favor of a few. prgtoken They should honor those who fought to expand freedom--not restrict its blessings. prgtoken There is no room for celebrating the violent, racist atrocities of our past--nor those who championed them. prgtoken That is why, in 2020, I proudly ordered the removal of the portraits of four s who traitorously served in the Confederacy. prgtoken It is why the House has voted to remove Confederate statues from the Capitol. prgtoken And it is why we have made clear again and again that Roger Taney must have no place under this sacred roof. prgtoken Taney's legacy is one of hatred and oppression: prgtoken a mind twisted by bigotry prgtoken and a lifetime spent defending the evils of slavery. prgtoken He is inextricably linked to one of the most horrific chapters of our history. And yet, this bigot's likeness still casts a shadow over the Old Supreme Court Chamber. prgtoken Who better to replace him than one of the most admired jurists of our history: Justice Thurgood Marshall. prgtoken A trailblazing champion of civil rights--a voice for equal justice under the law and a force for our Democracy--Justice Marshall sought to uphold the best of America. prgtoken Personally, I will be deeply proud to see this Baltimore native take his rightful place amid the Capitol's pantheon of great American patriots. prgtoken His statue will bring luster to this building, just as his legacy continues to bring luster to our nation: guiding America toward the future our children deserve--one ruled by understanding, not prejudice. prgtoken Indeed, speaking in Philadelphia's Independence Hall th
PUERTO RICO STATUS ACT
Nydia M. Velázquez (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-12-15

. Madam , we are here for those who have lost loved ones after Maria, the earthquakes, COVID-19, and, most recently, Fiona. prgtoken We are here today because we must move towards decolonization. The current status is unsustainable, fundamentally unfair, and un-American. prgtoken The process that has led us to this moment has been contentious, complex, and full of debate. It is no secret that Members advocating for this bill, including myself, hold differing opinions on which noncolonial option is the best for the people of Puerto Rico. prgtoken The consensus bill before us today clearly defines Puerto Rico's non- territorial status options; namely, free association, independence, and statehood. It is the first time Congress recognizes free association as a separate decolonizing formula. prgtoken More importantly, this bill includes dual citizenship rights under both the independence and free association options like we have in the Marshall Islands or Palau.