mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2022-9-22

. First of all, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar No. 1041 and 1150; that the Senate vote on the nominations, en bloc, without intervening action or debate; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate resume legislative session.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-9-22

let me just give as many kudo--because he taught me the word was ``kudo,'' not ``kudos''--as I can, to our wonderful Senator from Rhode Island. prgtoken There is no one--I don't think in America, let alone just in the Senate--who has done more to highlight the evil scourge of dark money that just plagues our Republic. It degrades our democracy. One of the reasons that people are so upset with what is going on in this country is because of the dark money. And no one has shined that spotlight on it like Senator Whitehouse. Hats off to him. prgtoken Now, the choice before the Senate is simple: Will Members vote today to cure our democracy of the cancer of dark money or will they stand in the way and let this disease metastasize beyond control? prgtoken Members must pick a side. Which side are you on--the side of American voters and one person, one vote or the side of super PACs and the billionaire donor class rigging the game in their favor? prgtoken Sometimes the contrast is really that simple. Today is about standing either with the American people or the dark money donor class. prgtoken And the DISCLOSE Act itself is simple to its core. It says that a healthy democracy is a transparent democracy--a healthy democracy is a transparent democracy--one where all of us can exercise our right to the franchise on an equal playing field, without regard to our wealth or our connections or lot in life. It is a quintessentially American ideal. prgtoken In the 12 years since the conservatives on the Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United, our elections have become rank with the stench of dark money. You can smell it in every corner of this country--and particularly in Washington. We must fix that. In free and fair elections--one person, one vote--American voters should have the power to determine our Nation's leaders without fear that their voices will be drowned out by powerful elites or special interests. That is simply what the DISCLOSE Act would do. prgtoken For the sake of our democracy, for the sake of transparency in elections, for the sake of breaking the wretched stranglehold that dark money has on our country, I urge my colleagues, plead with my colleagues, to rise to this occasion to protect our democracy and vote yes. prgtoken . Cloture Motion
Border Security (Executive Calendar)
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2022-9-22

reserving the right to object. First, this is a pretty long piece of legislation and impactful in the policy it makes. It was introduced yesterday. prgtoken It is probably not a great idea for the Senate to short circuit any process of reviewing this legislation and speed to its passage today, but Senator Ernst is a serious thinker on matters of national security, and so I do want to engage for 2 minutes on the merits because I think it is important to have this conversation. prgtoken Senator Ernst is right. At the heart, at the center of U.S. foreign policy has to be the protection of our citizens. We have to be coldblooded about making sure that our policy keeps our people safe, both here in the United States and abroad. prgtoken The good news, when it comes to Iran policy, is that we have tried both a policy of engagement and diplomacy and a policy of escalating sanction, and we can judge from those two periods of time which one better protected American security and the specific security of Americans here and in the region. prgtoken During the period of time that the United States and Iran were in an agreement regarding nuclear weapons together, there were not credible plots being hatched against U.S. persons inside the United States. There were not Iranian proxies firing at U.S. forces inside the Middle East. But as soon as the United States removed itself from that agreement and started this process of escalating sanction, all of a sudden, Americans and American assets were at risk all over the world. The plots started against U.S. persons here. The Iranians and their proxies started regularly shooting at Americans in the region. prgtoken And so the facts are the facts--less threat to the United States when we were in a diplomatic agreement and more threats to the United States when we weren't in a diplomatic agreement. I think that speaks to the question of whether engagement or maximum pressure actually--actually-- in the end protects Americans best. prgtoken But, second, I want to make this point, and I think it is an important one. This is called the PUNISH Act. And I understand why. It speaks to a view of sanctions as simply a mechanism of punishment. And there is an element of sanctions that is sending a moral message, a moral signal, about our values and how they differ from the values of those that we are sanctioning. But sanctions are also used to influence. In fact, most of the sanctions that we are passing are not just merely punitive. They are actually designed to try to change the behavior of a regime. prgtoken So that is why, if we entered into a nuclear agreement, the only sanctions that I think we should remove are the sanctions that were specifically put in place to influence the Iranians to give up their nuclear weapons program. prgtoken In fact, I would argue--and I think President would argue; I am sure President would argue--that we should keep in place the sa
HONORING LOWELL SACHNOFF
Janice D. Schakowsky (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-9-22

. Madam , I rise today to honor Lowell Sachnoff, renowned fighter for justice, who will be receiving the 2022 Justice John Paul Stevens Award on September 29, 2022. The Stevens Award, presented by The Chicago Bar Association and Chicago Bar Foundation, is the highest and most prestigious award that is presented annually to lawyers and judges whose career best exemplifies the distinguished career of United States Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. prgtoken Lowell Sachnoff was born on Maxwell Street in Chicago, the son of Ukrainian immigrants who fled Eastern Europe, settled in Chicago, and raised their family during the Great Depression. He was inspired to become a lawyer by his grandparents' stories about how terrible life was in a lawless society. Since graduating from Harvard Law School in 1957, Mr. Sachnoff has been on two parallel tracks: doing well and doing good. prgtoken He has had a long and successful legal career in Chicago. After a few years at Ross, McGowan, and O'Keefe, he was appointed General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Mental Health, where he overhauled the state mental health code to expand the rights of the mentally ill and worked with the medical community to bring treatment of the mentally ill into the 20th century. prgtoken In the early 1960s, Mr. Sachnoff established the law firm of Sachnoff & Weaver with a few friends. As he puts it, ``We had a vision. We prgtoken wanted to do well, because we were young and had growing families, but we also wanted to do good. As the firm grew to 130 lawyers, we found that we could still do both; after our merger with Reed Smith, the firm encouraged us to stay on the same path.'' prgtoken On that path, Mr. Sachnoff was a successful securities and antitrust lawyer, winning groundbreaking price-fixing and takeover cases. But he also advocated for the wrongfully incarcerated, for women, minorities, the poor, and society's most vulnerable. prgtoken In 2006, Sachnoff & Weaver was one of the first firms to represent Guantanamo Bay detainees. Lowell and his colleagues helped successfully negotiate the release of three prisoners who had been held for many years without being charged with any crime. He also litigated women's rights issues, winning a jury verdict in the 1980s against the City of Chicago allowing police officers to routinely strip search women for minor traffic violations and represented a class of women's health clinics, obtaining a celebrated jury verdict and nationwide injunction in 1998 against forcible blockades of clinic entrances. prgtoken Now retired as a corporate litigator, Sachnoff continues to volunteer on public interest matters, most notably working with Senator Dick Durbin and his staff toward closing the Guantanamo prison, thus removing a moral and legal stain on our country, and to release patients unlawfully held in state mental hospitals. prgtoken Lowell Sachnoff is a cherished friend, mentor, and advisor. He works a
HONORING COUNCILWOMAN RYSHEEMA DIXON--FORMER WILMINGTON CITY COUNCILWOMAN AND ENTREPRENEUR
Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2022-9-22

. Madam , I rise today with a heavy heart to honor and commemorate the life of former Wilmington City Councilwoman Rysheema Dixon. We lost Councilwoman Dixon unexpectedly and far too soon on September 16, 2022. During her 35 years of life, she demonstrated exceptional leadership, entrepreneurship, and dedication to public service. The people of Delaware, myself included, will profoundly miss Councilwoman Dixon and her inimitable spirit. prgtoken Councilwoman Dixon was born in Philadelphia and moved to Wilmington, Delaware, at the age of 15. After graduating from the University of Delaware in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in Sociology, she began her career by serving two terms with Public Allies Delaware. Public Allies, an AmeriCorps program at the University of Delaware's Center for Community Research and Service, recruits and trains emerging leaders with a passion for social justice and impact. In 2013, Councilwoman Dixon furthered her education, earning her master's degree from the University of Delaware. She would later return to her alma mater as an educator, to share the knowledge she had gained with the next generation of students, serving as a professor of social entrepreneurship. prgtoken Councilwoman Dixon was a true public servant. As the first Black woman and youngest candidate to win an at-large Wilmington City Council seat, she was an exceptional and tireless advocate for her community. During her time in office, she established a legacy of inclusion, creative policymaking, and fearlessness. Notably, Councilwoman Dixon served as Chair of the Community Development & Urban Planning Committee, Chair of the Health, Aging, & Disabilities Committee, and Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee. Among her significant legislative accomplishments was the launch of Wilmington's first disparity study which would help ensure Wilmington City government used its purchasing power fairly and equitably. She also sponsored legislation promoting sex education, consent, and reproductive health. prgtoken In addition to her years of direct public service, I must also mention Councilwoman Dixon's entrepreneurial prowess and talents in business. In 2011, she founded RD Innovative Planning, now called RD Innovative Solutions. The organization aims to educate and support individuals advocating for more equitable access to affordable services and resources. With issues spanning from health care to nutrition, education, youth development, and beyond, RD Innovative Solutions offers support and advice. Councilwoman Dixon remained the Chief Executive Officer until her untimely passing. prgtoken Councilwoman Dixon also served as Executive Director of Delaware Pathways to Apprenticeship which helps individuals from low-income communities attain apprenticeships and sets them up for future success. The program serves particularly vulnerable groups including formerly incarcerated people, those on public assistance, and Delawarea
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4118, BREAK THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE ACT; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5768, VIOLENT INCIDENT CLEARANCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIVE METHODS ACT OF 2022...
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-9-22

. Madam , you heard that right: 21 of our colleagues across the aisle opposed a simple bill honoring the heroes of January 6; officers who now bear physical and psychological scars from that day because they fought to protect us in the Capitol. It is disgraceful. Yet, nothing about that from the other side of the aisle in terms of just how disgraceful that was. prgtoken You can talk politics, but if you want to talk about the substance of these bills, then do so and acknowledge what they are. They are bills that will help make our community safer. They are bills that, quite frankly--I should also point out that I think all but one of the bills is the same as they were in July. prgtoken I am not quite sure what the fuss over the fact that we are bringing these things up right now is all about. They are good bills that will help make our community safer. Look, I trust that we pass the rule. Some thoughtful s will vote in favor of some of them or all of them. prgtoken If you don't believe that this is an appropriate thing to do, then you can vote ``no.'' That is your right, and you can go home and explain it to your constituents. prgtoken Madam , .
MENTAL HEALTH JUSTICE ACT OF 2022
Frank Pallone, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-9-22

. Madam , pursuant to House Resolution 1377, I call up the bill (H.R. 8542) to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to States, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Urban Indian organizations, and political subdivisions thereof to hire, employ, train, and dispatch mental health professionals to respond in lieu of law enforcement officers in emergencies involving one or more persons with a mental illness or an intellectual or developmental disability, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
COMMEMORATING THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOUTH HAMPTON BAPTIST CHURCH
Chris Pappas (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2022-9-22

. Madam , I rise today in honor of the South Hampton Baptist Church on its 250th Anniversary. This incredible milestone is a testament to the impact of the church on the town of South Hampton, and the vital role that faith plays in the community. prgtoken The town of South Hampton and the church have undergone tremendous change since 1772, but the values and faith of the towns' founders can still be seen in the community today. As one of the oldest churches in New Hampshire, South Hampton Baptist continues to involve itself in the town through volunteerism and community get-togethers to celebrate the history and legacy of this house of worship. prgtoken As Granite Staters come out of the pandemic looking for comfort, guidance, and how to best help their neighbors, the South Hampton Baptist Church remains an important resource and a partner for many families here on the Seacoast. The history and insights into early American life found in this church give congregants a glimpse into the past, while the volunteerism and public service they perform allows them to look toward the future of South Hampton. prgtoken I would like to thank Pastor Jeremy J. Pataro for his dedication to the town of South Hampton and congratulate him on maintaining 250 years of tradition. On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I congratulate the South Hampton Baptist Church for its outstanding contributions to the state and wish them another 250 years of success.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-9-22

from Rhode Island for yielding. I appreciate his kindness. I know he has got a lot to say on the subject, and hopefully he will be able to get back to it. Energy prgtoken , I want to speak just a minute about the issue of high energy prices and high grocery prices that have become a distinguishing feature of the economy. prgtoken Electricity prices increased 15.8 percent in August, the largest year-over-year increase since 1981--1981. I wasn't even married the last time we saw electricity increases like this, and now I have grandkids. prgtoken Utility gas service was up 33 percent from a year ago in August--33 percent increase year over year from August. prgtoken The price of home heating oil, which many households in places like New Hampshire rely on to keep their homes warm in the winter, has soared. All told, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association estimates that home heating costs for the winter heating season will average $1,202--a 17.2-percent increase from last season. prgtoken I haven't even mentioned gas prices. Gas prices may have decreased from their $5 high this summer--partly as a result of President 's problematic decision to draw down our Nation's emergency petroleum reserves to their lowest point since 1985, with no plan to refill them--but customers are still paying $1.30 more per gallon than they were when President took office. The average price for a gallon of gas has increased this week, ending a streak of diminishing, although still high, gas prices. prgtoken , if there is one thing we should be doing about high energy prices, it is increasing our domestic energy supply, including our supply of conventional energy--namely, oil and natural gas. I am a longtime supporter of alternative energy, and I come from a State that derives a substantial portion of its electricity generation from wind. In fact, in 2021, over 50 percent of our State's power generation came from wind and 30 percent came from hydroelectric on the Missouri River. But if it weren't for traditional fossil fuels backing up that generation, especially on days when the wind is still, we would be left in the dark. prgtoken The fact of the matter is, no matter how much might wish it were otherwise, alternative energy technology has simply not advanced to the point where our country can rely exclusively on alternative energy. Attempting to pretend we have advanced further than we have or have solved all the requisite supply chain hurdles will lead to nothing but economic pain for American families. prgtoken Just look at California, whose overreliance on alternative energy technology has resulted in an electricity grid that cannot sustain the demands being placed on it. Californians were recently asked to ration their energy usage and refrain from charging electric cars during certain hours t
VIOLENT INCIDENT CLEARANCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIVE METHODS ACT OF 2022
Tom McClintock (Republican, CA) \u2014 2022-9-22

in the summer of 2020, mobs of radical leftists burned our cities, preyed on innocent citizens, attacked our police officers, and occupied business districts during what one leftist mayor called the summer of love. At least 25 people were killed. prgtoken s called for law and order. called for defunding our police departments and releasing dangerous criminals onto our streets, often within hours of their arrests. In the cities they controlled, they did just that. prgtoken In those cities, crime has skyrocketed, including the fastest increase in homicides ever recorded in our Nation. Ironically, the greatest victims are their own constituents, who are now turning on them. prgtoken Crime doesn't concern House , but losing political support before an election, that scares them to death, so we have these bills brought hurriedly to the floor today. prgtoken Let me point out the obvious. communities have backed their police departments with the local funds and the moral support they need to do their jobs. ic cities have defunded and demonized their police departments. prgtoken The ' response is to take the taxes paid by the citizens who fully funded their police departments and give them to those ic cities that have cut them, and still virtually none of the money they propose to spend is for actual law enforcement. It is, rather, for intervention, de-escalation, training, public health, and social work training, all administered by the increasingly corrupt and politicized Department of Justice. prgtoken We have watched the utterly destroy the cities that they have dominated for decades. Do we really want to let them do the same thing to our country? prgtoken Americans need to ask themselves how much farther down this dismal road they are willing to go. We can restore safety to all of our communities the moment we summon the political will to do so.
General Leave
Matt Gaetz (Republican, FL) \u2014 2022-9-22

it is head-spinning that House either want to defund the police, as Judiciary member Cori does, or they want to Federalize the police, as Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler does. I am against both, here is why. prgtoken In my community, the voters in one of the reddest counties in Florida voted to raise their own taxes to fund school resource officers. Protecting our schools was that important, and we understood that that was the responsibility of our community. prgtoken Now, as places like Detroit, Chicago, almost every major metropolitan area in California, defund their police as some virtue signal, as some way to sacrifice the safety of their constituents on the altar of wokeism, now they want my Florida constituents to subsidize the bad decisions that they make at the State and local level, both constitutionally and practically. prgtoken The police power is not a power of the Federal Government, it is a power of our State and local governments. When we excessively entangle ourselves in that, we do to law enforcement what we shamefully did to education. prgtoken In our schools all across this land there was innovation, creativity, school projects, different ways to learn. Then the s and joined with President in passing the No Child Left Behind Act, and we got Common Core, in this theory that we had to have every kid on the same page, in the same book, on the same day, and we lost what was so special about it. We don't want to do that now to law enforcement. You see, this entire package of legislation today is intended to do just that. prgtoken They don't want to fund the police. They want to edict the police to the Federal dollar. That comes with a more efficient way to ensure centralized decisionmaking, not the localized decisionmaking that our Constitution promises, and that has offered great promise to this country for generations. prgtoken Do not buy this theory that this legislation is intended to help law enforcement. The best thing we could do for law enforcement is get out of their way, have their back, and call out the politicians like those in Congress who keep trying to defund the police and devalue the commitment they make to our communities.