mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL WOMEN'S HEALTH WEEK
Madeleine Dean (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2024-5-15

National Women's Health Week empowers women and girls to prioritize their unique health journeys. prgtoken A crucial part of that journey is education, prevention, and early detection for illness and disease, like ovarian cancer. prgtoken Globally, ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer among women, most of whom are over 60 years old. In the United States, the American Cancer Society estimates that this year, more than 19,000 women will receive a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, and more than 12,000 women will die from ovarian cancer. prgtoken It is a frequently missed or misdiagnosed disease, there is no routine screening, and it is not always included as part of an annual gynecological exam like other cancers of the female reproductive system. prgtoken I saw this firsthand with my mother's diagnosis and death, within just weeks of her diagnosis of ovarian cancer many years ago, how devastating ovarian cancer can be and how fast it can claim a loved one. We must do better for our mothers, our grandmothers, our grandchildren, our sisters, and our friends. prgtoken We must raise awareness, bolster research and education, and pass legislation that prioritizes women's healthcare and saves lives. Our health and our stories matter. Honoring Rev. Dr. John E. Douglas
BORDER ACT
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2024-5-15

I want to join the Senator from Connecticut in thanking Senator Murphy for his leadership, not only in bringing this group together today but also of this very important bill and effort to take on the issues on the border. prgtoken As we face global and domestic threats, including a surge at the border, securing our borders and points of entry could not be more important. We had this opportunity to move forward in a bipartisan manner on a broad reform bill that Senators Murphy, Lankford, and Sinema spent months negotiating. For those of us who had bills that were part of that effort, including the Afghan Adjustment Act, I saw firsthand the detailed work they did, the work that they did--that hard work of coming together for what is best for our country. prgtoken We have seen these efforts before with immigration every time we have gotten so close. When I first got to the Senate, Senator Graham and Senator Kennedy invited me to be in the group that negotiated legislation supported by President . prgtoken We came so close to getting that done in comprehensive reform which, of course, included funding for order at the border. prgtoken After that failed, we moved into President 's time. Again, this time, it was the Senate Judiciary Committee, on which I served, that came together with Senator Grassley's support and Senator Leahy's, and reached an agreement, passed it through the Senate, and then it failed over in the House of Representatives. prgtoken Time three was when Senator Rounds, Senator Kaine, and many of us came together. I remember Senator Collins' office was the place of the meeting. I believe the Presiding Officer prgtoken was part of that, too, and we reached an agreement. We had enough votes. And then, unfortunately, President gut punched the people in his own party and came out against the bill--again, significant funding for order at the border, significant work that would have been done to allow people to seek citizenship who had been here for years, many of whom know no other country, like the Dreamers. prgtoken This bill that was negotiated came with incredible headwinds that they were up against. It would have fixed the asylum system. It would have given the President emergency powers to shut the border down when needed. It also would have invested in hiring more Border Patrol agents and immigration judges, while giving law enforcement the tools and technology they need to secure our borders. prgtoken As the Presiding Officer knows, strengthening our border security means investing in both our southern and our northern borders, and I note that Senator Stabenow of Michigan also touched on this very important issue. prgtoken America shares the longest border in the world with the country of Canada. It stretches over 5,500 miles, and more than 400,000 people and $2 billion in goods and services cross it every day. A strong northern border is critical for maintaining our
Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 467 (Executive Session)
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2024-5-15

reserving the right to object, the HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as schedule I substances under the Controlled Substances Act. prgtoken The fentanyl epidemic is ravaging communities across the United States. We are losing more than 80,000 Americans to overdose every year from opioid overdose. With deaths reaching this level, we do need every tool at our disposal to combat illicit fentanyl, but reclassification of fentanyl-related substances as schedule I substances would limit the government's ability to research overdose and addiction treatment medications, override critical public health considerations in scheduling decisions, and extend the policy approach of the failed War on Drugs. prgtoken Schedule I drugs are difficult for scientists to research. Fentanyl's potency and danger demand that we study it and its analogs to combat overdose and addiction. A permanent, blanket schedule I category for any fentanyl-related substance would create barriers to vital research. prgtoken This punishment-only categorization for fentanyl-related substances would eclipse the longstanding public health approach to Controlled Substances Act scheduling. The Controlled Substances Act authorizes the administration to consider concrete scientific factors when determining which scheduling category should apply to a drug, and that approach is absent here. prgtoken Finally, this bill would bring the United States back to the approach of the failed War on Drugs where we criminalized drug use while ignoring the underlying issues that animate abuse and addiction. Prosecutions under this expansion will continue to disproportionately target people of color. A punishment-only approach will not reduce drugs in our communities. prgtoken I have spoken to people on the frontlines of this epidemic: people with substance use disorder, families who have lost a loved one, and healthcare providers. They are the ones on the frontlines when people die from fentanyl. They are the ones who lose their lives or lose their patients, prgtoken friends, or family when we don't invest in the security and public health tools for communities. They are the ones who are frustrated every day by archaic laws that keep people from the prevention and treatment which they need. prgtoken We must do better. We must make sure people have access to tools to keep fentanyl out of their communities. We need to make sure people have access to treatment--like methadone medication--to keep people in recovery, and we need to save lives. But permanently categorizing fentanyl-related substances as schedule I substances would impede our response to the overdose epidemic and lead to overincarceration. prgtoken There has to be additional discussion and debate. Let us do that so that we can give this issue the attention which it needs and that it deserves so that any solution is effective and bipartisan. prgtoken As a result, a
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2024-5-15

the Senate will take a vote shortly on a resolution from Senator Schmitt dealing with infrastructure funding. prgtoken The discussion of the resolution has been pretty quiet because, on its face, it looks like it is an issue dealing with a lot of budgetary lingo and ``Washingtonese.'' Obligated funds and expenditure deadlines are what people hear about. But the reality is this proposal is anti- infrastructure. It could put stop-work orders on thousands of infrastructure projects across the country. Some of them have shovels in the ground as we speak. (Mr. OSSOFF assumed the Chair.) prgtoken My concern is, , we pass this, and we would be going virtually from a period where folks in Georgia and elsewhere had hard hats to where they are facing layoffs. prgtoken Here is the background: In 2021, Congress passed emergency funding for State and local governments. At the time, there was a big concern that their budgets would get clobbered by the pandemic, which had hammered our economy and put millions out of work. But State and local budgets fared better than expected. prgtoken So later on, Senators were looking, on a bipartisan basis, for smart ways to rebuild our infrastructure--roads and bridges and highways, water and sewer, and also broadband projects. There was bipartisan agreement that Congress ought to allow that leftover State and local funding to be repurposed for these important infrastructure projects. So both sides of this Chamber--the side, the ic side--passed legislation multiple times, even by unanimous consent, that provided what the States and localities wanted, which is more flexibility. prgtoken We hear our colleagues on the other side talk a lot about wanting to cut redtape to get the Federal Government prgtoken out of the way and empower the States, the laboratories of democracy. Here is a case where my colleagues on the other side got exactly what they wanted: more flexibility for the States to use taxpayer funds on infrastructure. prgtoken Have a highway that needs widening--a bridge that has passed its useful life, a water system with lead pipes that need replacing? Congress voted on a bipartisan basis to make that easier. It is a real head-scratcher why s would now want to make this difficult. prgtoken Some have accused the Treasury Department of playing around with the expiration of the program. That hasn't happened at all. It is the same program with the same timeline and the same rules that and s agreed on as recently as a few short months ago. prgtoken I mentioned at the outset that this resolution puts a stop-work order on thousands of projects nationwide. The numbers just really stun you when you walk through them. prgtoken On the Finance Committee, we asked the Treasury Department what the impact could be in specific States. Here is an example: In the Presiding Officer's State of Georgia, 17 projects, totaling $1
RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF 2024 BROWARD LEAGUE OF CITIES SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT MAYA GORDON
Jared Moskowitz (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2024-5-15

I rise today to recognize Ms. Maya Gordon, a recipient of the prestigious 2024 Broward League of Cities Scholarship. This honor is awarded to Broward County's most ambitious and accoladed students who aspire to attain a career contributing to municipal government. prgtoken Maya plans to attend Florida State University to pursue a degree in political science after she graduates from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. She has worked diligently to serve her community, completing over 2,190 documented service hours. She served as Vice Chair of the Broward County Public Schools Human Relations Committee, and her dedication to her community can also be seen through her nomination for the Miami Herald Silver Knight Award, an honor reserved for high school seniors who are not only academically adept but also notable contributors towards their community. prgtoken Maya's intellectual prowess has been demonstrated through her achievements, including being a National Speech and Debate Association Academic All-American qualifier and receiving the AP Scholar Award. Her dedication to the field of science is evident from her title as an Experimental Science Honors Student of Excellence. Maya's future plans are equally impressive. She aspires to a career in public office, where she can use her talents and energy to implement policies and programs that promote equity and justice. prgtoken , I urge you to join me in acknowledging Ms. Maya Gordon's outstanding achievements and significant contributions to her community.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Mark Kelly (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2024-5-15

today, during Brain Tumor Awareness Month, I rise to recognize Catherine Ivy, the president and founder of the Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation in Scottsdale, AZ. Mrs. Ivy started the foundation in 2005 with her late husband Ben after he was diagnosed with glioblastoma. Since then, the Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation has been committed to finding a cure for brain cancer through funding for patient-focused research. prgtoken Mrs. Ivy is a resident of Paradise Valley, AZ, and has been a dedicated member of her community. She has served on the Mayo Clinic Arizona Leadership Council, the board of directors of the Translational Genomics Research Institute--TGen--and the Advisory Board of the Barrow Neurological Institute--all among the most acclaimed research institutions in our State. The Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundataion has donated over $150 million to support brain tumor research and facilitate the creation of the Ivy Brain Tumor Center in Phoenix, AZ. Because of Mrs. Ivy, cancer patients across our State and the country are gaining a real chance to beat this terrible disease. prgtoken The Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundataion is a testament to how impactful cancer research can be and why it is so important that we continue to fund it. In this body, I think that is something we can agree on, especially considering the same cancer that took Ben Ivy also took Senator John McCain. It is in the same fighting spirit of Senator McCain that Mrs. Ivy works to support bold projects that may feel like a long shot but also hold great scientific promise. There can only be reward if you take the risk. prgtoken We won't beat cancer without a faithful commitment to scientific advancement. In Phoenix, this commitment is growing strong. I want to thank Mrs. Ivy for that. Her contributions to brain cancer research will yield successful, life-prolonging treatments for patients for years to come. Our State and its residents owe Mrs. Ivy a debt of gratitude.
EQUAL REPRESENTATION ACT
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2024-5-15

I rise in opposition to H.R. 7109, the Equal Representation Act. prgtoken H.R. 7109 would mandate that the decennial Census include a citizenship question, and that the apportionment of U.S. Representatives be based solely on a count of American citizens. This is yet another attempt by House s to advance their anti- immigrant political agenda by sabotaging the Census, which is required by the U.S. Constitution. prgtoken This bill would deliberately undermine the Census's ability to reach chronically undercounted populations. The resulting impact would be to make future Censuses more costly and lead to inaccurate data that will have wide-ranging implications for Minnesota and our nation. prgtoken Accurate Census data is necessary for determining the number of U.S. House of Representatives seats and Electoral College votes allocated to each state, as well as the share of trillions of dollars in federal funding each state receives. For Minnesota, an inaccurate count could result in the loss of representation in Congress and less federal funding for essential services, causing unnecessary harm to our communities. This bill threatens the accuracy of the Census and diminishes public trust. It would lead to manipulation of election maps and the hindering of the fair allocation of federal resources. prgtoken I will always fight for an accurate Census that is consistent with our American values, and I will always work to ensure Minnesotans receives the federal funding, representation in Congress, and electoral votes they deserve.
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2024-5-15

. Madam , I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and such time as I may consume. prgtoken , s have us here today considering eight measures that aren't worth the paper they are printed on. Six of the eight measures that are being brought before this House are being brought forth under completely closed rules, which means nobody, not and not s, can offer any amendments to change or improve those bills. prgtoken So much for promises of a more deliberative process or more openness or more fairness. That just went out the window. prgtoken I don't think I have ever seen a group of people do so much and yet accomplish so little. prgtoken Seven of these measures are supposedly about law enforcement. prgtoken Madam , do you know how many of them will actually do something to help keep people safe? prgtoken Zero. Zilch. Nada. prgtoken Just a piece of free advice to my friends: It is probably not the best idea to take direction on law and order from a guy who, as we speak, is a defendant for covering up hush money payments to a porn star for political gain. That is not even to mention the other three criminal felony prosecutions that he faces. prgtoken Look at the cover of today's New York Times, Madam . This is unbelievable. Here is a picture of the of this House of Representatives, second in line to the Presidency, standing in front of a courthouse acting as a prop for trying to interfere with a criminal trial because, apparently, s like law and order unless it applies to them. prgtoken It is unbelievable. Madam , you can't make this stuff up. prgtoken I will say to my colleagues that this stunt of the and Members of Congress going to this courthouse diminishes this House of Representatives. Their candidate for President has been indicted more times than he has been elected.
D.C. CRIMINAL REFORMS TO IMMEDIATELY MAKE EVERYONE SAFE ACT OF 2024
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2024-5-15

the Revolutionary War was fought to give consent to the governed and to end taxation without representation, yet D.C. residents cannot consent to any action taken by Congress and pay full Federal taxes. Indeed, D.C. pays more Federal taxes per capita than any State and more total Federal taxes than 20 States. prgtoken If House s cared about democratic principles or D.C. residents, they would bring to the floor my D.C. statehood bill, H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, which would give D.C. residents voting representation in Congress and full local self-government. prgtoken Congress has the constitutional authority to admit the State of Washington, D.C. It simply lacks the will.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2024-5-15

I come to the floor this afternoon to talk about a great friend of mine, Margaret Miner. prgtoken My friend Margaret Miner died last week. I am really sad about it. Her family and her friends are really sad about it because she was a great friend, she was warm, and she was generous, because she was funny, she was kind, because she made a lot of other people's lives better. prgtoken But I am also sad because Margaret was one of a kind. She was a true Renaissance woman. She was a polymath. She was voracious about intaking the world and about giving back to it. prgtoken I have never met anybody like her. I will never meet anybody like her again. I will never see a partnership like the one that she had with her late husband Hugh Rawson. Her legacy lives on, but there is just no doubt that the mold was broken in two when they made Margaret Miner. prgtoken She was born in New York City in 1938. Her parents--Tony and Francis--were in show business, which kind of makes sense if you knew her but kind of doesn't. prgtoken In 1984, she moved from Brooklyn to Roxbury, CT--Roxbury is a smalltown, quintessential New England village in Northwest Connecticut--and there she became a fixture in the community. She began her life's work of fighting to protect the natural beauty of this State that she called home for the next 40 years. prgtoken I first met Margaret as soon as I graduated college. So I went to work for a long-shot congressional candidate who happened to be personal friends with Margaret and Hugh. prgtoken And Margaret and Hugh were also, at the time, pretty adept local political activists in Litchfield County. There were no two people who worked harder for that long-shot candidate, their friend, than Margaret and Hugh. They raised money. They knocked on doors. They put up lawn signs--whatever their friend needed, whatever their friend's 22-year- old campaign manager needed. She and Hugh were selfless. I saw that up close. I saw what a good friend Margaret could be. prgtoken Then, years later, when I was elected to the State legislature, I got to know Margaret as an advocate. She was in those legislative halls in Hartford, CT, nearly every single day, fighting for her cause, the cause of clean water and a healthy environment. prgtoken She single-handedly made her organization, Rivers Alliance, which she led for 18 years, a force to be reckoned with in Hartford. Under her leadership, Rivers Alliance became a force in Connecticut politics. prgtoken Her team fought for and successfully helped to pass State laws to create a statewide water plan to protect streamflow in water courses, to ban the water contaminant MTBE in gasoline, to protect funding for the Connecticut Council on Environmental Quality, and to restore and protect State funding for the U.S. Geological Survey. That is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what Margaret did, in terms of what Margaret and the people she mentored produced in Hartfor
THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION
Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat, MS) \u2014 2024-5-15

today marks a significant milestone in our Nation's history as we gather to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. This historic Supreme Court decision was the first step towards ending segregation in our education system, opening doors long closed to Black Americans. prgtoken In my hometown of Bolton, Mississippi, I witnessed firsthand the transformative Impact of desegregation. Yet, our journey toward equality did not end there. Cases like Norwood v. on in 1973 highlighted the ongoing struggle for equal access to quality education, underscoring the disparities that persisted even after legal segregation was supposedly outlawed. prgtoken As we reflect on this anniversary, let us not forget the continuing effort towards true integration and equality. Despite the Court's ruling, many southern schools stubbornly resisted desegregation. To push for change, we had to push for changes in the law, and legal battles still had to be fought. I will never forget the courageous acts around the country, like from the students of Leland High School in Leland, Mississippi. prgtoken Even today, the fight for equal education continues. In 2017, the battle for equality in Mississippi was exemplified by the struggles of East Side High School, formally known as Cleveland Colored Consolidated High and Cleveland Central High School, illustrating that the journey toward educational equity is far from over. prgtoken , as we reflect on the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, let us recommit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and equality in education Let's work together to build a future where every child, regardless of race or background, has the opportunity to fulfill their potential through education.