mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO DR. ROSE WILDER
James E. Clyburn (Democrat, SC) \u2014 2022-9-14

. Madam , I rise today to pay tribute to a trailblazing educator and a good friend, Dr. Rose Ann Davis Hilliard Wilder, who transitioned on August 30, 2022 after a valiant battle with cancer. Her impact on the State of South Carolina will be felt for generations to come. prgtoken Born Rose Ann Davis on November 4, 1955, in Santee, South Carolina, Dr. Wilder was a daughter of the late Laco and Ruby Mae Fogle Davis. prgtoken From a young age, Dr. Wilder was passionate about education. It led her to earn an undergraduate degree in guidance and counseling, a master's in special education, and a PhD in education administration. prgtoken Dr. Wilder began her teaching career in 1979, and 8 years later she became assistant principal at Manning Primary School in Clarendon County. She went on to serve as the first principal of the new Manning Elementary School and later returned as principal of Manning Primary. prgtoken In 1994, Dr. Wilder was appointed assistant superintendent of instruction for Clarendon School District 2. Later that year, she was chosen to lead the school district and made history by becoming the first African American female superintendent in South Carolina since the Reconstruction era. She served in that capacity for seven years, and in 1999, was named Outstanding Superintendent by the South Carolina School Board Association. prgtoken She left Clarendon County to serve as superintendent for the Fairfield County School District, but in 2004 returned to Clarendon County to serve as superintendent of Clarendon School District 1 in the Summerton area. While there, Dr. Wilder was recognized as the South Carolina Superintendent of the Year in 2014. prgtoken She retired in 2017, and became Director of Teaching Education at Morris College. In 2018, South Carolina Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman named her the Superintendent of Williamsburg County School District where she led the district under the supervision of the state department until her passing. prgtoken Dr. Wilder was an active member of several professional organizations and previously served as President of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. In 1999 and 2020, the South Carolina General Assembly passed resolutions commending Dr. Wilder for her outstanding service in education. prgtoken In 2020, the Clarendon School District 1 Board of Trustees voted to officially rename St. Paul Elementary School the Dr. Rose H. Wilder Elementary School after receiving overwhelming community support to rename the school in Dr. Wilder's honor. prgtoken She was married to Dr. James C. Wilder, and they shared three children, Warren Lamont Wilder (deceased), Sharon Hilliard Horace, and Michelle Wilder Bedford. They also shared two grandchildren, Jaleah Wilder and Blake McKinely Horace. prgtoken Madam , I ask you and our colleagues to rise to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Rose Wilder. This remarkable woman helped shape the education and
A FAIR AND ACCURATE CENSUS ACT
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-9-14

I strongly support these prgtoken amendments. Black, Latino, and indigenous communities all were significantly undercounted in the 2020 Census. prgtoken One of the key provisions of this bill is to codify the Bureau's National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic, and Other Populations in order to help reduce these undercounts. prgtoken Ms. Jackson Lee's amendment will enhance this objective by ensuring there is a senior employee within the Census Bureau who is dedicated to enhancing racial and ethnic equity in the decennial Census. prgtoken The Constitution requires an enumeration that is fair and complete, one in which all people are counted so that all communities obtain the representation and services that they deserve. This amendment will help achieve that. prgtoken I also support the amendment offered by Representative Case, which requires the Census Bureau to submit a report to Congress on the agency's process for consulting and engaging with jurisdictions and local partners in conducting the decennial Census. prgtoken We know that certain communities are traditionally harder to count, including groups that are mistrustful of the government, students and transient populations, minority communities, migrant communities, and communities with unique geographic challenges. prgtoken Engaging with local stakeholders is essential to reaching these communities and ensuring that the Census counts everyone in the United States, regardless of where they live. This amendment will increase transparency around the Bureau's process for engaging with jurisdictions and local partners and ensure that Congress and the American people can support the Census Bureau in this crucial effort. prgtoken , .
Unanimous Consent Request--Executive Calendar (Executive Calendar)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2022-9-14

. I rise today in support of Dr. Gita Rao Gupta's nomination to serve as Ambassador at Large for Global Women's Issues, and I am glad to be here with my friend from New Hampshire to argue for her confirmation. prgtoken As head of the State Department's Office of Global Women's Issues, the Ambassador at Large leads our diplomatic efforts to promote the rights and empowerment of women and girls around the world. Who can argue with that kind of a mission? prgtoken From supporting women's economic participation to combating domestic and gender-based violence, this work is critically important, and Dr. Gupta is well-suited to take on this important task. Dr. Gupta has spent her life working to empower women across the globe. She has led several nonprofit organizations focused on advancing gender equity and has served as cochair of the World Bank's Gender-Based Violence Task Force. prgtoken But for months now, s have blocked consideration of her nomination. Why? Not because she is unqualified. Dr. Gupta's record is impeccable, and her qualifications are clear. No, s are blocking her nomination simply because she supports the fundamental right of all women to make decisions about their bodies and their futures, including the decision to get an abortion. prgtoken Apparently, it is no longer enough for my colleagues to push their extreme anti-abortion agenda. Now that they have overturned Roe v. Wade, they are opposing anyone who expresses support for abortion access even if it is their personal view and not one they are going to be pushing forward in the position that we are being asked to confirm them for. prgtoken Last year, the s did the same thing to President 's nominee to be Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration, SBA, opposing his nomination because of their opposition to SBA's totally lawful PPP loans to Planned Parenthood clinics providing critical healthcare to communities across the country. prgtoken The s, I have to say, have been on a tear about ``How dare SBA provide these lawful PPP loans to Planned Parenthood?'' Apparently, it escapes their notice that these are lawful loans. prgtoken So s' opposition to Dr. Gupta's confirmation is a dangerous position and one that threatens the health, safety, and prosperity of women here in the United States and around the world. prgtoken For example, my colleagues raised concerns about the state of women and girls in Afghanistan, and yet in another example of their hypocrisy, they are opposing a nominee who would be in a position to actually help support these women. prgtoken As Ambassador at Large for Global Women's Issues, Dr. Gupta will bring prgtoken decades of experience to empower women, improve their economic security, and end violence against women and girls. prgtoken There is no legitimate reason for anyone to not support her nomination to this important role. The chaos
HONORING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SERVICE OF ROBERT PROCTOR
Elissa Slotkin (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-9-14

. Madam , today I rise to pay tribute to a lifelong community leader and the longest serving member of the Board of Trustees of Lansing Community College, Robert Proctor. Mr. Proctor has devoted nearly two decades to the service of the college, and has recently been recognized as the recipient of the M. Dale Ensign Trustee Leadership Award from the Association of Community College Trustees. prgtoken The list of Trustee Proctor's accomplishments and involvements at Lansing Community College is long, as he has been a driving force in the development and expansion of many programs and initiatives during his tenure. He currently serves as the board's treasurer and historian, and is a past board chair who led two presidential search efforts. prgtoken But his commitment to the community goes far beyond the college's walls. Since arriving in Lansing in 1974 to serve as counsel for the Labor Committee of the Michigan House of Representatives, Robert has been involved in many civic, social, and professional organizations, nearly all of which list service to others prgtoken as their primary mission. He has been a volunteer with the Mid-Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross for more than 25 years. He has mentored students in Lansing Public Schools since 1990. He is a director of the Black Child and Family Institute and is on the board of the Resolution Services Center of Central Michigan. He volunteers as a mediator for the Center and 54A District Court. Robert is a past president of Michigan State University Black Alumni and a former member of the board of directors of the MSU Alumni Club of Mid Michigan. He was a member of the board of directors of the Lansing Fair Housing Center and was a fair housing tester. prgtoken A lawyer by training, Mr. Proctor earned his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley and a juris doctor degree from Detroit College of Law. He is deeply connected to professional associations, and served as president of the Lansing Black Lawyers Association from 1996 to 1999. He is a member of the Michigan State Bar Association's labor and employment law section; he served as a member of the section council for 4 years. While he has now retired from his service as an administrative law judge, he continues to practice law and serve as a mediator and labor arbitrator. prgtoken Trustee Proctor can only be described as the consummate public servant. It is fitting that his exemplary leadership, involvement, and commitment have been recognized by his peers, and it is equally fitting that I recognize him so that his lifetime of service will be known to all.
IMPROVING SENIORS' TIMELY ACCESS TO CARE ACT OF 2022
Suzan K. DelBene (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2022-9-14

I also thank the staff from the personal offices and from the committee and leadership offices that have spent countless hours researching this issue and working with stakeholders to develop this legislation. prgtoken In particular, I thank my former legislative director, Kyle Hill, who was truly integral in developing and advancing this legislation. prgtoken , I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and .
Abortion (Executive Calendar)
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2022-9-14

yesterday, my colleagues introduced a national abortion ban and made it clear that they are coming after the rights of my constituents and they are coming after the rights of people across the country. prgtoken This atrocious bill threatens the people of Kansas who just voted overwhelmingly to protect abortion rights. It threatens the hundreds of thousands of people in Michigan who just signed a petition for a referendum vote to protect abortion and States like mine which already have strong abortion protections on our books. prgtoken Up to now, s have tried to play down their abortion extremism. They have tried to run away from the consequences of their extreme agenda, even as patients have been denied prescriptions that they need, even as doctors have been forced to wait until patients' lives are in danger before they can take action, even as healthcare crises they have caused spill across State lines to disastrous effect. prgtoken But despite their empty rhetoric about leaving it to States, the truth has been painfully clear: They think they know better than women when it comes to reproductive healthcare decisions. They have shown, again and again, they do not trust women to have full control over their own bodies, and they are also willing to go after doctors. prgtoken They have blocked the most basic bills like Senator Cortez Masto's bill that would have made sure people can still travel to other States for legally available care or my bill making sure that doctors in States where abortion is legal cannot be punished for doing their job. prgtoken Over and over, they have stood in the way of ' efforts to protect women's abortion rights, and it is crystal clear why. This bill shows the true position. They want to ban abortion for everyone, in every single State, and they want to punish doctors. They want to put them in prison for doing their jobs. prgtoken So, to anyone who lives in a blue State like mine, anyone who thinks they are safe from these attacks, here is the painful reality: s are coming after your rights, and you don't have to take my word for it. The Senator from South Carolina said yesterday: If we take back the House and the Senate, I can assure you we'll have a vote on our bill. prgtoken There it is. It couldn't be clearer. That is the MAGA agenda for all 50 States: rights stripped away and doctors in prison. prgtoken Regardless of your circumstances, regardless of what is best for your health, regardless of your family plans--of your hopes or your fears or your dreams for your future--s want to control your personal decisions. They don't trust you to have full control over your own body. This is horrifying. prgtoken When he unveiled the bill yesterday, the Senator from South Carolina also said I'll make a prediction: we stay on this and we keep talking about it, maybe less than a decade fro
PREVENTING A PATRONAGE SYSTEM ACT OF 2021
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-9-15

I refer to my prior statements and reiterate that schedule F was never about removing employees who are performing poorly. There is a whole process to do that. prgtoken This is about protecting the integrity of a merit-based system, so people are not retaliated against and fired because they are not doing what somebody is dictating them to do. prgtoken , I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green), the distinguished Representative and chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Financial Services Committee.
VOTE EXPLANATION
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-9-15

while returning to Washington, DC, on September 12, my flight was temporarily grounded by inclement weather, delaying my return to Washington, DC. As a result, I was unable to attend the vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 1043, Arianna J. Freeman, of Pennsylvania, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit. prgtoken I would have voted yea on the confirmation had I been able to attend the vote.
Introductory Statement on S. 4857
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2022-9-15

today, I am joined by Senator Cortez Masto in introducing the Private Markets Transparency and Accountability Act, a bill that will address a disturbing trend in our capital markets. Increasingly, some of America's largest and most important companies are exploiting weaknesses in our securities laws to stay or go dark; that is, they are avoiding requirements to enter the public markets, where disclosure and transparency are required under law. Instead, they are remaining indefinitely in the private markets, where there is less visibility into the health and activities of the company. prgtoken Why should average Americans care? First, they are invested in these companies through pension plans and mutual funds. Second, transparency is the lifeblood of fair and efficient markets. And third, these companies have incredible influence over our society and way of life. prgtoken This legislation will address this disturbing trend by requiring the Nation's largest and most important private companies to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC. Requiring registration would put these companies on par with publicly traded corporations with regard to ongoing public disclosure about their business practices and financial condition. prgtoken The most significant development in the capital markets over the last decade has been the explosive growth of the private markets. According to consulting firm McKinsey, annual private market fundraising reached a record of almost $1.2 trillion worldwide in 2021 up from $380 billion in 2011. More money has been raised in the private markets than in the public markets each year over the past 10 years. Many large companies find the allure of virtually no public transparency or oversight that is available in the private markets irresistible. Under current law, they find that it is all too easy to stay private forever. prgtoken Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Exchange Act, a private company prgtoken must register with the SEC after reaching 2,000 shareholders ``of record.'' But this requirement is easily circumvented because a single Wall Street broker or bank, which holds securities on behalf of thousands of underlying investors, is counted as one recordholder. The SEC estimates that under this threshold, 89 percent of public companies could choose to transition to the private markets and go dark tomorrow. prgtoken This threshold desperately needs reform. Former SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro has testified before the Banking Committee that ``since the definition of `held of record' was put into place, a fundamental shift has occurred in how securities are held in the United States.'' And Harvard Law Professor John Coates recently testified before the committee that ``there is much to be said for revisiting the thresholds that are built into the [Exchange] Act, thinking about them in a different way, [and] not simply counting numbers.'' prgtoken It shoul
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-9-15

. Obviously, that is a good question and a good thing to have. prgtoken The appropriators are working through the administration's list of anomalies, which I know there are three or four items dealing with health and also dealing with Ukraine and a couple of other matters. I don't have that list in front of me, but the answer to my friend's question is that they are trying to get that together. prgtoken I think they are pretty close. I will talk to Chair DeLauro. I presume she is in conversation with and discussions with the ranking member, as well, but I am sure that that is the case. prgtoken There is also, I believe, money also being asked for for disaster relief that may well be in the CR. prgtoken The gentleman referred to the discussions that occurred in the Senate between Senator Manchin and Majority Leader Schumer. Obviously, we are going to see what the Senate does. I don't know what the Senate is going to do. It is one of the reasons there has been a discussion about the Senate moving first on that and discussions with the Senator about when they were going to move. I think that is under discussion.
IN RECOGNITION OF LT. COL. JASON CULLINANE
William R. Keating (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-9-15

. Madam , I rise today in recognition of Lt. Col. Jason Cullinane as he retires from the U.S. Army after three decades of service. prgtoken Raised in Falmouth, Massachusetts, Jason Cullinane had a passion for running from a young age. One of the seven ``Running Cullinanes,'' Lt. Col. Cullinane ran in multiple Falmouth Road Races, served as captain of the Falmouth High School cross country team, and was named a Boston Globe All Scholastic and Cape Cod Times All Star athlete. prgtoken After graduating from Falmouth High School, Lt. Col. Cullinane went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in communications media from Fitchburg State University, where he was also a four-time NCAA All American in track and field. At Fitchburg State University, Lt. Col. Cullinane began what would be an extensive career with the U.S. Army, joining his school's Army Reserve Officers Training Corps program in 1989. prgtoken Following graduation, Lt. Col. Cullinane served his country and continued his passion for running, competing as an athlete for the U.S. Army multiple times at the International Military Sports Council (CISM). Lt. Col. Cullinane also ran in the 1996 Olympic trials in steeplechase and came in ninth at the 1998 U.S. Track and Field Championship. He then went on to run professionally for Reebok Boston and the Nike Farm Team, and wrote LogbookONE, a running training manual. prgtoken Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, Lt. Col. Cullinane returned to the U.S. Army and has been on active duty since. During his many years of service, Lt. Col. Cullinane was deployed to Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, managed training operations at several military bases, served as a policy analyst at the Pentagon, and received a master's degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College. prgtoken After officially retiring from the U.S. Army this September, Lt. Col. Cullinane plans to spend ample time with his daughters, Niamh and Mayumi, and coach Falmouth Youth Running and the Falmouth Academy cross country team. prgtoken Madam , I am proud to honor Lt. Col. Jason Cullinane. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing his career and commitment to serving his community and country.
REMEMBERING JODIE FINGLAND
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2022-9-15

I rise today to recognize and honor the life of Jodie Fingland, a dedicated public servant who passed away on September 4 after battling a long illness. prgtoken Jodie devoted her life's work to expanding educational opportunities for students across the country, and she will be remembered for her wonderful, caring personality. I join my staff and so many others who had the privilege of knowing and working with Jodie through her tireless work at the Department of Education in mourning her passing and remembering her life. prgtoken Over the years, Jodie held many different positions at the Department of Education in the administration. She served as chief of staff, deputy assistant secretary, and principal adviser for legislative affairs all in the Office for Legislation and Congressional Affairs, and worked closely with the Senate and House in these roles. prgtoken Whether briefing Members of Congress, preparing the Secretary for a committee hearing, or providing strategic advice to senior managers at the Department, Jodie was known for being kind, calm, and extremely knowledgeable. She was particularly known for her skill in higher education policy. prgtoken Jodie dedicated her career to the advancement and improvement of education for all, and her work impacted so many students, educators, and families across the country. She will be remembered fondly.
HONORING MS. WHEELCHAIR AMERICA ALI INGERSOLL
Deborah K. Ross (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2022-9-15

I rise today to highlight Raleigh's own Ali Ingersoll, who won the title of Ms. Wheelchair America last month. prgtoken Ms. Wheelchair America is not your typical beauty pageant. Contestants are evaluated on their community advocacy and achievements, and the winner carries the responsibility of being a champion for the 61 million Americans living with disabilities. prgtoken Ali Ingersoll has embodied that mission since an incident left her paralyzed 12 years ago. She has dedicated much of her adult life to advocating for affordable healthcare for individuals with disabilities. prgtoken As Ali personally experienced in 2020, insurance companies often deny coverage of important equipment to help these Americans lead fulfilling lives. Now, Ali is fighting for full coverage of medically necessary equipment. prgtoken I am honored to represent Ms. Wheelchair America and look forward to everything she will accomplish in the future.