mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ELECTION OF SPEAKER
Pete Aguilar (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-10-18

. pro tempore, I rise today at the direction of the House ic Caucus to place into nomination for the position of of the House of Representatives, the Honorable Hakeem Jeffries of New York. prgtoken Here we are again, pro tempore, and I promise to make these speeches shorter if we get closer to a compromise, but I am not certain that is going to happen at this moment. prgtoken While the candidate for is making late-night backroom deals to secure the gavel, Leader Jeffries has once again extended the hand of bipartisanship for a path forward. prgtoken One thing was very clear yesterday, the vote total: 212-200. The People's House has spoken and Leader Jeffries has the support to be the that this country needs. pro tempore, 212-200, no amount of election denying is going to take away from those vote totals. prgtoken pro tempore, we shouldn't be surprised at the vote count. I noted yesterday the legislative acumen of the gentleman from Ohio. Would it surprise anyone that in addition to not passing a single piece of legislation, he has never put up a piece of legislation that has made it to a committee? prgtoken The of the House must be a legislator, and the gentleman from Ohio falls short in that regard. He supports an extreme agenda and is hell-bent on banning abortion nationwide, gutting Medicare, gutting Social Security, and giving cover to January 6 attackers. Those aren't the values that we share. prgtoken If we don't see a elected in this round, there is going to be another candidate, another internal Conference vote, and a secret ballot. The country can't afford more delays and more chaos. Fifteen days should be enough. prgtoken House are united on this path forward. We are united behind Hakeem Jeffries. We are united to put people over politics, to lower costs, create better paying jobs, build safer communities, and defend democracy. prgtoken Once again, we are coming together to achieve this common goal, and that is to make Hakeem Jeffries of the House of Representatives. prgtoken pro tempore, Hakeem Jeffries has done what we haven't seen from the other side of the aisle, and that is to keep the Caucus united. When extreme MAGA s vowed to send our country into a devastating default, it was Leader Jeffries who led House to reject the extremism and keep the government open. pro tempore, we have the vote totals to back that up. prgtoken It has been Leader Jeffries and House who have shown a willingness and a conviction to keep our promise to deliver for American families, and it will be Hakeem Jeffries who moves our body and our country forward on a bipartisan path. prgtoken pro tempore, who on the other side of the aisle will take ``yes'' for an answer and work with us to achieve three common goals? prgtoken My colleague and good friend, the gentleman from Oklahoma, mentioned one of them: supporting assistance to Israel.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-10-18

. We know our middle class relies on strong, small businesses. Small business ownership is the second largest source of personal wealth in this country, only behind owning a home. Small businesses make up more than 40 percent of our economy--no better example than that of the Presiding Officer from Colorado and the prgtoken work that he did as he had the phenomenal success he did starting small businesses. prgtoken We know, to build strong businesses, entrepreneurs need credit. A loan lets you turn an idea into a business or invest in your company to hire more workers. That is why small business credit is so essential to our economy and to our middle class. prgtoken Today, small business lending takes place in the dark. We don't have good data about how lenders are serving the small businesses in their communities. We don't have good data about whom lenders might be leaving behind. Without transparency, it is all too easy for entrepreneurs in Ohio and around the country to lose out. prgtoken The data we do have suggests too many small business owners aren't getting a fair shot at a loan for their businesses. Take rural small businesses. We know that rural communities have seen bank branch close after bank branch close for years, drying up access to credit for lots of small businesses in rural Ohio. We need the data to understand how to reach these business owners and how to grow smalltown economies. prgtoken Or take small businesses owned by women or by people of color. The data we do have suggests they are more likely to be denied loans and they are more likely to be charged higher interest rates. You don't need reports and studies to know that most Ohioans don't get a fair shake from big banks and the financial system. You do need accurate information to fight back. That is why, in 2010, Congress required the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to get that information; and this spring, the CFPB issued a rule to finally implement the law and to bring transparency to the small business lending market. prgtoken We are talking about basic data on the borrowers' demographics, loan pricing, application approvals, and other critical information--just like we do with mortgages. It is not that complicated and not that difficult and not that expensive. With this data, we will be able to see gaps in the small business lending market, allowing programs to expand access to credit for small businesses, especially like small businesses in rural areas. More data means more accountability, ensuring that lenders reach minority communities and helping to root out discrimination. prgtoken We have seen this model work before. After we began publishing data some years ago about home mortgages, more Americans of all races and backgrounds were able to achieve the dream of homeownership. prgtoken This still protects people's privacy. Borrowers are not required to submit information if they don't want to. Of course, big banks and their
RECOGNIZING OCTOBER AS NATIONAL SPINA BIFIDA AWARENESS MONTH
Paul Tonko (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-10-18

. Pro Tempore, I rise to recognize October as National Spina Bifida Awareness Month and to pay tribute to my constituents with Spina Bifida and their loved ones. Additionally, I recognize October 25th, as World Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Day. prgtoken There are currently an estimated 166,000 individuals in the United States living with Spina Bifida. According to the CDC, each year approximately 1,400 babies born in the United States have spina bifida. Those diagnosed with Spina Bifida can expect to spend most of their lives in a wheelchair, or walking with braces, and face the prospect of dozens of surgeries they turn 18. prgtoken I have been honored to attend numerous events in the Capital Region, including the Spina Bifida Walk and Roll and the Spina Bifida Dare to Dream Gala, both of which are held by the Spina Bifida Association (SBA) of Northeastern New York, that have raised funds for research, brought awareness to the public, and told the stories of those in our community with this disease. I am heartened to attend events like these. which do so much to honor those with spina bifida, as well as their friends, families, and caretakers. prgtoken I am so impressed with the breakthroughs in research that have helped to give those living with this disease a more fulfilling life. Thanks to the work of organizations like SBA, new medical treatments and technologies have been developed that allow most people with Spina Bifida to live a normal life span, ensuring they can have a full career, get married, and start a family--no different than those without this disease. prgtoken I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to ensure that organizations like the Spina Bifida Association continue to receive the funding and support they have earned. I also will continue to support federal research funding for better understanding the condition, the cause, and treatments. I hope that together we can continue to raise awareness.
RECOGNIZING THE PANCRETAN ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
Jamie Raskin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-10-19

. Pro Tempore, I rise to honor the Pancretan Association of America (PAA) on their many achievements throughout their 94 years of dedicated service. I am thrilled to congratulate the PAA on the establishment of their first-ever National Headquarters at the Hellenic Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and on the recent election of their organization's first female president, Diane Kounalakis. prgtoken The PAA and the Pancretan Youth Association (PYA) offer a rich array of programs to cultivate and preserve the extraordinary heritage of the island of Crete. The PAA and PYA have supported the enrichment and personal development of both Cretan Americans and the general public through educational events, study abroad scholarships, dance and music workshops, and translations of Greek literature. The PAA also has a long and storied history of advancing essential causes on the island of Crete and throughout both Greece and the United States. From helping to establish Crete's first public hospital in the 1950s to supporting orphanages, food pantries and disaster relief today, the PAA has made immense contributions. prgtoken I have no doubt that President Diane Kounalakis, a longtime PAA member and volunteer, will be an exemplary leader for the PAA. Mr. Pro Tempore, I urge my colleagues to join me in applauding the PAA for its many decades of service, and in wishing the PAA all the best in the years to come.
CELEBRATING EDEN HOUSING'S 55TH ANNIVERSARY
Eric Swalwell (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-10-19

. Pro Tempore, I rise to recognize Eden Housing, which will celebrate 55 years since it first opened its doors, on Friday, October 27, 2023. Eden Housing provides dignified, affordable housing to residents across the state of California. prgtoken Eden Housing was founded in 1968 by community activists in Hayward, California. Led by California State University, Hayward Professor Bill Vandenburgh, Eden Housing's mission is to provide safe, non- discriminatory, affordable housing in Alameda County. Following this mission, Eden Housing's first project was to rehabilitate six older homes in Oakland so that each family could keep making memories without sacrificing safety. prgtoken Eden Housing also develops high-quality housing communities for low- income families, seniors, veterans, and persons with disabilities throughout my district, the wider Bay Area, and California. Eden Housing properties ensure that residents receive supplemental resident and enrichment programs to support their well-being. These services include wellness checks, physical education, and financial workshops. prgtoken Over the course of its history, Eden Housing has developed nearly 12,000 affordable housing units across 155 properties in California, with more than 100,000 residents calling Eden Housing properties home. Since its inception, Eden Housing has also awarded over 620 scholarships to residents totaling more than $1 million in support of their academic and professional goals. prgtoken It has been my privilege to support Eden Housing's work by passing a direct appropriation of $1 million for the development of a veterans' park in Livermore. Their hard work was also recently recognized by the Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund award of $10 million. prgtoken In sum, Eden Housing is pivotal to improving California neighborhoods through nurturing relationships with residents and diverse community partners. I am grateful for the 55 years of hard work that Eden Housing has undertaken to become a leader in the establishment of affordable housing in our state. I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating Eden Housing's legacy and wish it many more productive years to come.
VOTE EXPLANATION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-10-19

I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 254, motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Jennifer L. Hall to be U.S District Judge for the District of Delaware. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted yea. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 255, confirmation of the nomination of Jennifer L. Hall to be U.S District Judge for the District of Delaware. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted yea. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 256, motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Julia Kathleen Munley to be U.S District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted yea. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 257, confirmation of the nomination of Julia Kathleen Munley to be U.S District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted yea. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 258, motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Karla Ann Gilbride to be General Counsel of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted yea. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 259, confirmation of the nomination of Karla Ann Gilbride to be General Counsel of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted yea. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 260, Passage of S.J. Res. 32, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to ``Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)''. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted nay. prgtoken I was necessarily absent for rollcall vote No. 261, adoption of S. Res. 417, a resolution standing with Israel against terrorism. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted yea.
CLOSE AGENCY LOOPHOLES TO THE JONES ACT
John Garamendi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-10-19

. Pro Tempore, today I reintroduce the ``Close Agency Loopholes to the Jones Act of 2023,'' which would close nearly 50 years of anti-Jones Act decisions--known as ``letter rulings''--by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). prgtoken As chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and having served as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation from 2013 to 2018, I am committed to rebuilding the U.S.-flagged fleet including international and Jones Act vessels. For decades, Congress has stood idly by while federal regulators chipped away at the Jones Act, allowing foreign vessels paying poverty wages to take jobs from Americans working in our maritime industry. That must stop. prgtoken In December 2020, Congress enacted my amendment to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act as section 9503 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283) affirming that the application of the Constitution, laws, and civil and political jurisdiction of the United States to the Outer Continental Shelf also applies to non-mineral energy resources and exploring for, developing, producing, transporting, or transmitting such resources. As I stated in my remarks on September 24, 2020 (Congressional Record, Vol. 166, No. 166), Congress always intended U.S. law to apply to any form of exploration, development, production, transportation, and transmission of energy resources under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953. prgtoken On January 25, 2021, President 's first executive order (no. 14005) directed federal agencies to maximize the use of American mariners, American-built ships, and U.S.-flagged vessels under the Jones Act. In response to my amendment enacted in the FY21 NOAA, U.S. CBP issued a headquarters ruling letter ``HQ H309186'' on January 27, 2021, correctly holding that the transportation of ``scour protection'' materials from the Port of Providence, Rhode Island to a wind project on the Outer Continental Shelf off the southeast shore of Martha's Vineyard is a coastwise activity under the Jones Act. prgtoken On March 17, 2021, the national trade association for the offshore wind industry sent a letter to the Commissioner of CBP requesting that the agency withdraw HQ H309186. In this letter, the offshore wind industry mischaracterized my September 2020 remarks from the Congressional Record as somehow supporting its request that CBP withdraw the January 27, 2021, letter ruling. On March 25, 2021, CBP issued a revised headquarters ruling letter (HQ H317289) contradicting its January 2021 letter ruling and the President's stated policy, allowing foreign vessels to construct energy projects on the Outer Continental Shelf. prgtoken To be clear, my September 2020 remarks in the Congressional Record stated that my amendment to Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act simply clarified that all forms of offshor
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-10-19

. The Senator from Missouri is absolutely right about the horror of the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. prgtoken I was at the Kfar Aza kibbutz at the end of June. That was the site of one of the massacres--50 people gunned down, killed: dads, moms, kids. We have to condemn the horror of the Hamas attack in the strongest of terms. And we will, as a body, make sure that we stand by our ally and partner Israel as it prosecutes its fight against Hamas. Not only does Israel have the right to defend itself, it has an obligation and duty to its people to defend itself. prgtoken I am confident that in the coming days, the U.S. Senate will provide more than just words of support--those are very important, and I want to applaud the President of the United States for what he has been doing--but also tangible support. prgtoken This resolution is not about condemning Hamas's attacks on Israel. prgtoken What this resolution does is condemn certain speech around the country. prgtoken Now, let me just say to my colleague from Missouri: I stand with anybody and second to none when it comes to condemning anti-Semitism, whether in words or in actions. And I have stood up throughout my time in public service to do exactly that. If the Senator from Missouri wants to bring to the floor of the Senate a resolution condemning anti- Semitism, a resolution that points out what we just saw from the most recent FBI statistics about the rise in anti-Semitism, I will join with him in that effort. But what this resolution does is attempts to smear students, many of whom engaged in anti-Semitic remarks but many who did not. prgtoken My view is that when you come to the Senate floor to pass such a resolution and you are talking about freedom of speech, it is very important not to paint a broad brush and condemn everybody engaging in speech. prgtoken This is what this resolution does. It is an attempt to say, even to those who had legitimate--legitimate--statements to make about war and peace, to smear them all as making anti-Semitic remarks. prgtoken I would also say to my colleague that there have been a lot of other anti-Semitic remarks around the country, from radio show hosts to others. And if we want to make it a practice of regularly coming to condemn remarks--hateful remarks--whether anti-Semitic or racist or anti-gay or whatever it may be, then the U.S. Senate is going to have to think long and hard about doing exactly that. prgtoken I heard you mention violence. Most of these protests--as repugnant as some of them were in terms of the words--were not violent. The one terrible violent hate crime we have seen in the United States since Hamas's awful attack was the 6-year-old Palestinian-American Muslim boy in Chicago stabbed 27 times. prgtoken You mentioned here, ``Whereas Columbia University was forced to close its campus to the public after an Israeli student was violently assaulted,'' I ask whether my colleague from Missouri wants to also
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-10-19

first, I know that we will be voting on shortly the resolution showing our support for the State of Israel from the horrible attack by Hamas. I just really want to thank our colleagues for the cooperation in getting this resolution before us. Right after this horrific attack, I worked with Senator Risch to show bipartisan support to draft the resolution that would express our strong support for Israel, that we had their back, that prgtoken we stand shoulder to shoulder with them, and that it enjoyed the support of the U.S. Senate. prgtoken I want to thank Senator Schumer and Senator McConnell for their leadership in being able to bring this up for a vote today. It is a clear message that the United States stands with the State of Israel; that Israel has the right to defend itself; that it has the obligation to defend itself. We certainly have made it clear that if any of the enemies of Israel try to take care of this situation, they better think twice because the United States has made it clear that we will not tolerate such actions. And we have also made it clear that the hostages need to be released safely, immediately. prgtoken So it is a clear message, and we know that President 's presence in the Middle East was also a clear message. I want to thank the President for what he has done, and we are now hopeful that we are going to get some humanitarian assistance in to the innocent people who are being affected by this campaign. prgtoken And I must tell you, we are working very hard to make sure that we maintain the efforts toward normalization. We know that Hamas is trying to derail that. We are working very energetically to get back on track the Saudi-Israel normalization talks. But today, we have a chance in the U.S. Senate to speak with one voice. prgtoken I am proud of the action we are going to be taking this afternoon. I want our brothers and sisters in Israel to know they are not alone, that America is with them. prgtoken . prgtoken .
RUSSIA
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-10-19

now, on a detained journalist. Unfortunately, yesterday, authorities detained a journalist with dual U.S.-Russian citizenship on specious charges of failing to register as a foreign agent. Alsu Kurmasheva is now the second American journalist detained by Russia this year after Evan Gershkovich of the Wall Street Journal was arrested in March. prgtoken We unequivocally condemn Russia's unjustifiable detention of Alsu Kurmasheva and of Evan Gershkovich, and we demand they be released immediately. prgtoken It is no secret that Russia has a long and disturbing history of unjustly detaining U.S. citizens, especially members of the free press. But let me be clear: Journalism is not a crime and should never be met with persecution, intimidation, and suppression. prgtoken America stands with Alsu Kurmasheva, Evan Gershkovich, and their families.
HONORING THE LITE OF JERICHO MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
Cori Bush (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2023-10-19

. Pro Tempore, St. Louis and I rise to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Lite of Jericho Missionary Baptist Church in Missouri's First District. prgtoken The Lite of Jericho Missionary Baptist Church has been a spiritual beacon in the St. Louis community. Under the leadership of Reverend Reginald D. Rogers, Sr the church has provided meals for those in need and organized health fairs for residents in the surrounding neighborhoods. prgtoken The church has also been an avid supporter of Annie Malone Children and Family Services. I am thankful for their work and commitment to community service, including partnering with Beyond Me Outreach, which sits under the North City Community Development Corporation. prgtoken I wish the Lite of Jericho Missionary Baptist Church success in their future endeavors, including their goal of constructing an educational facility to promote literacy among youth in the First District. prgtoken St. Louis honors the Lite of Jericho Missionary Baptist Church on a blessed 90 years of service and worship.