mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Border Security (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-5-1

over the weekend, the small town of Cleveland, TX--more or less in East Texas; east at least of Conroe and the Houston area--they experienced a shocking crime. We are still learning more details about the perpetrator and exactly what happened that led to such horrific bloodshed, but here is what we know right now. prgtoken Late on Friday night, 38-year-old Francisco Oropesa was firing his gun in his front yard in this rural part of the State. His neighbor came over and asked him to stop, respectfully, because it was just about midnight and the neighbor explained he had an infant at home who was trying to get some sleep. He asked that Oropesa shoot farther away from the home, hoping to minimize the disturbance to his 1-month-old son. Oropesa refused. He said he could do anything he wanted on his property and continued shooting. prgtoken The neighbors did what anyone else would do under the circumstances: They called law enforcement. They called the police. The gunshots continued, so the neighbors called the police again, eventually calling five times. prgtoken Before police could arrive, Oropesa stormed his neighbor's home with a gun and began firing, and he killed five people before fleeing. He remains at large. All of the victims found inside the home were killed in what law enforcement has described as execution-style shooting. prgtoken The first victim was 25-year-old Sonia Argentina Guzman, a mother of three. Sonia's husband Wilson had been the one to go to the door and ask that the shooting stop so their 1-month-old son could get some sleep. While Sonia's husband, infant son, and 2-year-old daughter survived the shooting, her eldest son did not. At just 9 years old, her son, Daniel Enrique Lazo Guzman, was also murdered by Oropesa. The other victims were family friends who had been at their home that evening. This includes 21-year-old Diana Velasquez Alvarado, 31-year- old Julisa Molina Rivera, and 18-year-old Jose Jonathan Casarez. prgtoken I can't imagine the shock and grief these families are experiencing today. What they thought was just a normal Friday night surrounded by family and friends turned into a life-shattering day because of the actions of this criminal. My prayers are with these families as they search for peace, healing, and justice. prgtoken In the wake of this tragedy, Governor Abbott's office announced that the suspect had been in the United States illegally and had been previously deported four times. He never should have been in the United States in the first place. prgtoken As devastating and unimaginable as this story is, it is not entirely unique. I remember the murder of Kate Steinle in 2015. She and her father were walking alongside a pier in San Francisco when she was shot and killed. The man who killed her was an illegal immigrant who had been deported not once, not twice, but five times. He had seven felony convictions. prgtoken I want to be abundantly clear abo
TRIBUTE TO KEITH BICSAK
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2023-5-1

today I have the distinct honor of recognizing Keith Bicsak of Cascade County for his longstanding commitment to providing medical response and transport for countless sick and injured Montanans through his role as a critical care flight paramedic. prgtoken For 52 years, Keith has diligently provided emergency medical services--EMS--to folks throughout the Treasure State. His time-honored career is a testament to his passion and expertise in providing emergent lifesaving care. Keith's calling to selfless service began with his family's own ambulance service, Bicsak Emergency Air Transport--BEAT--which later became Mercy Flight, its esteemed crew proudly serving Montanans today. prgtoken EMS providers like Keith and the lifesaving care they deliver remain a vital component to the overall health and wellness of the State of Montana and the United States of America. These men and women choose to put their lives on the line as they stand ready to respond to any disaster or crisis they may encounter. Professionalism, expertise, and grace under fire enable these heroes to deliver swift and efficient lifesaving care to families in need. prgtoken Keith's passion for helping Montanans is evident through his distinguished career, as he now steps into a new season of life and enjoys a well-deserved retirement. As Keith reflects back on his time as an EMS provider, he is quick to point out the great experience it has been and the ``work families'' he has made along the way. He continues to encourage younger generations to pursue careers in emergency services to help build up Montana's EMS workforce in order to ensure needs are being met in every corner of the State. prgtoken It is my distinct honor to recognize Keith Bicsak for his revered 52 years of frontline service in helping Montanans reach health and safety. I am confident that Keith's work as an EMS provider will long be remembered and appreciated by families throughout the Treasure State. Thank you for your selfless service, Keith. You make Montana proud.
Law Enforcement (Executive Session)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-5-1

last month, I continued my annual 95-county tour with a swing through East Tennessee. Over the past few years, this area has experienced both economic growth and a population boom. So the people who live there have seen firsthand what can happen when Tennesseans are allowed to build and nurture a community free from the heavy hand of government. prgtoken But they also know how fragile that stability can be, and they are just baffled by 's determination to ruin what they and millions of other Americans have worked so incredibly hard to build. In just over 2 years, and the have sabotaged our national defense, our border security, and public safety in the name of dangerous woke agenda items that prioritize mandates and intellectual conformity over the safety and security of the American people. prgtoken Tennesseans are worried about the rise of the new ``axis of evil.'' is allowing Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea to cross one line after another, and that is not going over very well. Neither is the administration's neglect of a security risk that hits much closer to home. prgtoken So far this year, Border Patrol and other law enforcement officials have reported almost half a million encounters with migrants trying to illegally cross our border. Over the course of this fiscal year--now, the numbers I am going to give you are for this fiscal year. They have recorded 332 encounters with people who are on the Terrorist Watchlist. That is right. Three hundred thirty-two have been apprehended at the border. These are people who are terrorists. They are on the watchlist, which means, if you catch them, they cannot come into this country. prgtoken They have apprehended 330 dangerous gang members--that is MS-13 and that is other of these gangs--who are trying to get into the country, and they have seized almost 19,000 pounds of drugs. prgtoken Now, this is what we know, and we can only estimate how many other terrorists or gang members or criminals escaped into the country and how much deadly contraband did they bring with them because they are all in the category of ``got-aways.'' They are the people that you see on surveillance, but you cannot get to them. They are ``got-aways'' or they are people who, after the fact--you don't see them, but after the fact, you find things that they have left along their path as they have escaped into this country. So think about those numbers and who might be coming in. prgtoken Now, when you look at it, this is a total neglect of our most basic line of defense, and it might be easier to comprehend were it not for this administration's betrayal of local law enforcement. The President has denied that he supports the anti-police movement, but I would remind the President and my ic colleagues that acting on anti- police sentiment behind the scenes is still anti-police. prgtoken Making the job of law enforcement harder
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2023-5-1

today I rise to honor Matt Rothschild, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, on his retirement. Over the span of Matt's 43-year career, he has been a tireless advocate for democracy, social and economic justice, and civil rights and liberties. prgtoken After graduating magna cum laude from Harvard in 1980, Matt went to work as an editor for the Multinational Monitor, working for Ralph Nader in Washington, DC. In 1983, he moved to Wisconsin to take a job as staff writer with The Progressive Magazine. In 1994, he advanced to senior editor and chairman of the board of directors for the magazine. While with The Progressive, Matt was also the director of The Progressive Media Project and published the book, ``You Have No Rights: Stories of America in an Age of Repression.'' While at The Progressive, Matt wrote hundreds of stories on issues ranging from threats to civil liberties, to social justice, to peace, to environmental concerns. He interviewed notable figures in the arts, politics, and economics including Wendell Berry, Naomi Klein, Bill McKibben, Robert Redford, Alice Walker, Allen Ginsberg, and Joseph Stiglitz. prgtoken In 2015, Matt joined the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign where he focused the efforts of the organization on banning gerrymandering, protecting and expanding the freedom to vote, getting rid of dark money in politics, and opposing anti-democracy efforts. Matt has the distinguishing quality of being everywhere, all at once, and has taken his vital messages about protecting democracy to hundreds of radio and television broadcasts, newspaper articles, opinion columns, social media and, in person, doing talks to good government groups in nearly every community in Wisconsin, letting citizens know what is at stake and how to get involved to redirect Wisconsin's future. While at the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, he also wrote ``Twelve Ways to Save Democracy in Wisconsin,'' which tells the story of what a once- progressive State lost after Act 10 was enacted in 2010 and the s, through the creation of unfair maps, held a lock on government. prgtoken Matt has been a leading voice in Wisconsin for over 40 years. He has advocated tirelessly, doing so with kindness and good humor, always willing to engage with those who disagreed with him as much as those who did. Today, as Matt moves into retirement, he will step aside to leave space for others to fill because that is what Matt is about: paving the way for the next generation to continue the good fight. I feel honored to call Matt my friend and will be forever grateful for all he has done for the citizens in our State and for the voice he has given to democracy in these perilous times.
REMEMBERING LOWELL SACHNOFF
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-5-1

in the Jewish faith, there is a concept known as Tikkun olam. It refers to our responsibility to heal the world through good deeds and devotion to others. I want to tell you about a man who devoted all 92 years of his life to healing our world. His name was Lowell Sachnoff. He was a man who found joy in life, the law, and the cause of equal justice for all. And he brought that joy to all of us who were lucky to count him as a friend. prgtoken Lowell passed away last month, peacefully, in his home in Evanston, IL. And saddened as I am by his loss, I am--above all--grateful that I got to know him. Lowell was a model of kindness, curiosity, and integrity. And in the words of his wife Fay, he was ``absolutely fearless when it came to representing the downtrodden, ignored, and abused.'' Our world is a better place because of his lifetime of service. prgtoken Lowell's commitment to serving others began where he was born and raised: on Maxwell Street in Chicago. He grew up in a community of hard-working, Jewish immigrants during the Depression. And even from a young age, Lowell had a hunger for healing our broken world. It is only fitting--Lowell was raised by a family whose own world had been shattered by hate and persecution. His parents and grandparents were forced to flee their ancestral homeland of Ukraine because of pogroms targeting Jews. prgtoken As a child, Lowell's grandparents would tell him stories about those dark days in Ukraine, about the relatives and friends who were tortured and murdered by the Russian regime, and the terrors of life in a ``lawless society.'' It was these conversations around the Sachnoff dinner table that inspired Lowell to become a lawyer--and to wield the law as an instrument for justice. prgtoken As a student at Chicago's Senn High School, Lowell excelled in and outside of the classroom. He was a star on the swim team--and was even offered a full academic scholarship at Harvard and, later, Harvard Law. But before beginning his legal career, Lowell decided to first serve his country. He enlisted in the military and served as a lieutenant commander and naval intelligence officer during the Korean war. It was an experience that led to Lowell discovering one of his many lifelong passions: the Russian language. At first, he learned Russian as part of his intelligence responsibilities--but he stuck with it. prgtoken In fact, I remember a conversation we had about 10 years ago. Lowell told me he was still practicing Russian--60 years later--through the online education platform Coursera. It is just one example of his boundless love for learning and discovery. And Lowell's curiosity--like his commitment to equal justice--only grew as the years went on. prgtoken After serving in the military, Lowell brought his fight for justice home. He graduated from Harvard Law, with honors, and soon emerged as a legal legend and a civil rights icon. Lowell always understood that the
Introductory Statement on S. 1392
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-5-1

I rise to introduce the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act. prgtoken This legislation would provide a pathway to citizenship for these workers and their families, who have played a critical role in getting us through the pandemic and are helping with recovery efforts. prgtoken A little over 2 years ago, after I was first sworn into the U.S. Senate, this was the very first bill I introduced. prgtoken Every day, over 5 million essential workers without permanent legal status kept Americans healthy, fed, and safe during the COVID pandemic--all while risking their own health and the health of their families. prgtoken They couldn't just Zoom into the office. prgtoken Many served us while living in constant fear of deportation. prgtoken Back then, for the first time, Americans were waking up to a reality what families like mine knew for years: that not only were these immigrant workers saving lives in a time of need but that their work had always been essential to our country. prgtoken As the proud son of immigrants from Mexico whose mother worked as a housekeeper and father a short order cook--two jobs that today would be deemed essential--I can only imagine the fear and uncertainty my family would have experienced every day my dad walked out the door or my mom set off to enter another family's home in the middle of a pandemic. prgtoken The Federal COVID-19 public health emergency comes to an end next month, but we can't forget the sacrifices these workers made--and still make every single day--for our country. prgtoken My legislation not only honors their sacrifice but also recognizes how critical essential workers are to our economy even beyond a public health emergency. prgtoken They have earned their place in this country.
ORDERS FOR TOMORROW, TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2023
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-5-1

finally, I ask unanimous consent when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m Tuesday, May 2; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; that following the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Farbiarz nomination; further, that the cloture motions filed during Wednesday's session ripen at 11:30 a.m. and that notwithstanding rule XXII, following the cloture vote on the Farbiarz nomination, the Senate vote on cloture on the Kirsch nomination; that following the cloture vote on the Kirsch nomination, the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair to allow for the weekly caucus meetings and taking of the official photograph of the 118th Congress; further, that when the Senate reconvenes, all postcloture time on the Farbiarz nomination be considered expired and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination; that at 5 p.m if cloture has been invoked on the Kirsch nomination, the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination, followed by a vote on cloture on the Merchant nomination; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
Nomination of Julie A. Su (Executive Session)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2023-5-1

I rise today to express my strong support for Julie Su's nomination to serve as our next Secretary of Labor. prgtoken As we continue working to rebuild and strengthen our economy, it is critical that the Department of Labor is led by someone committed to protecting the rights of all workers, and that person is Julie Su. From combating wage theft to expanding workforce training, Acting Secretary Su has spent her life fighting for workers. For the past 2 years, she has served as Deputy Secretary of Labor alongside Secretary Walsh. Together they helped make life better for workers across the prgtoken country. Thanks to their hard work, our country has added a record 12.6 million jobs over the last 2\1/2\ years. What is more, unemployment is at its lowest level in more than 50 years, a testament to the hard work of Secretary Walsh and Deputy Secretary Su. prgtoken And before coming to Washington, Julie spent decades fighting for workers in her home State of California as Secretary of Labor in California, Commissioner of Labor, and as a civil rights attorney. prgtoken Beyond her stellar professional track record, Julie's personal history informs her commitment to building an economy that puts workers first. Like me, Julie is a daughter of immigrants. Her mother came to America from China on a cargo ship, unable to afford a passenger ticket. After arriving in the United States, she got a good job with a union with predictable hours, paid sick leave, and a reliable income. That job helped Julie's mother and father go on to become business owners themselves, ultimately running a franchise pizza restaurant and a laundromat. prgtoken Thanks to her parents' hard work, Julie went on to attend Stanford University and Harvard Law before receiving a prestigious MacArthur Genius award for her work fighting for undocumented garment workers in California. prgtoken Julie Su is a relentless advocate for workers, and she also knows how to build consensus. It is no wonder, then, that she enjoys broad support from business and labor alike, garnering the endorsement of groups including the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Majority, the AFL-CIO, and dozens of labor unions across the country. prgtoken She has the support of leaders like Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America, who said last month that Acting Secretary Su is ``straightforward, very knowledgeable and a passionate advocate for workers and their families. President has made the right choice for Secretary of Labor''--and Secretary Walsh himself, who said that he has ``the utmost confidence in [Julie's] ability to sustain the work of the department and advance the President's vision of an economy that puts workers first and leaves no one behind.'' prgtoken I couldn't agree more. Confirming Julie Su should be a no-brainer, just like it was 2 years ago when every in the Senate voted to confirm her as Deputy
Nomination of Anthony Devos Johnstone (Executive Session)
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2023-5-1

I rise today to speak in support of Anthony Johnstone's confirmation to be a judge for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. prgtoken I am very proud to be supporting this Montanan for such an important position. He is going to bring something that we are in need of in this body a lot of the time, and that is common sense. He is also a man of integrity. prgtoken Americans expect their judges to apply the law without bias, in a nonpartisan way, and that is exactly what Anthony Johnstone has done throughout his legal career. He has an outstanding record of service to the people of Montana. He served as clerk for Judge Sid Thomas on the Ninth Circuit and then as our State solicitor and assistant attorney general at the Montana Department of Commerce. prgtoken For more than a decade, he has encouraged the next generation of legal minds at the University of Montana's Alexander Blewett III School of Law. prgtoken He is supported by and s alike, including the past two attorney generals from Montana--one from each party. He is supported by Montana's former solicitor general. He is supported by retired Montana Supreme Court justices. He is supported by Tribes across the great State of Montana. And he is supported by former Yale and Chicago Law classmates and countless other public servants across the Ninth District. prgtoken Mr. Johnstone has stood up for our Constitution time and time and time again. I have no doubt that he will continue to do that as a judge. We have the opportunity--the opportunity here in a moment--to confirm an excellent and impartial legal mind to the Ninth Circuit bench. I would urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting Anthony Johnstone's nomination. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that the scheduled vote occur immediately.