mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
prayer
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-12-13

. Madam , thank you very much for visiting with us, and thank you, especially, for your great leadership of the Congress. prgtoken The mentioned Don McEachin, our fellow Virginian, and she also mentioned Norm Mineta, both of whom passed away recently. prgtoken I would also like to say a few words about our good friend Jim Kolbe. As many of you may know, Jim passed away about a week ago. It was quite sudden and quite unexpected. prgtoken With his passing, we and FMC lost a good friend, a longtime board member, and a voice of reason and compassion during these tumultuous political times that we are currently experiencing. All of us at FMC, from the staff to the board, loved working with Jim. We will certainly miss him greatly. prgtoken As you may know, and many of you participate in this service, we, each year, organize a memorial service in Statuary Hall. The just talked about it. This is to honor the Members whom we have lost in the previous year. It is a fitting tribute to their public service. prgtoken I include in the Congressional Record the names of all the Members whom we honored in Statuary Hall this past September. prgtoken List of Former Members Who Passed Away Fall October 2021-December 2022 The Hon. Todd Akin (Missouri), Brad Ashford (Nebraska), Dan Benishek (Michigan), Bill Brewster (Oklahoma), Clarence ``Bud'' Brown Jr. (Ohio), Albert Bustamante (Texas), Max Cleland (Georgia), Barbara-Rose Collins (Michigan), John Cooksey (Louisiana), Bob Dole (Kansas), Fawell (Illinois), Vic Fazio (California), James Florio (New Jersey), Ed Foreman (Texas and New Mexio), George Gekas (Pennsylvania). The Hon. Jim Hagedorn (Minnesota), Orrin Hatch (Utah), Kaneaster Hodges Jr. (Arkansas), Larry Hopkins (Kentucky), Carroll Hubbard (Kentucky), Johnny Isakson (Georgia), Timothy Johnson (Illinois), Dale Kildee (Michigan), James ``Jim'' Kolbe (Arizona), Bob Krueger (Texas), Claude ``Buddy'' Leach (Louisiana), Gary A. Lee (New York), Romano ``Ron'' Mazzoli (Kentucky), Jack H. McDonald (Michigan). The Hon. A. Donald McEachin (Virginia), Carrie Meek (Florida), Norm Mineta (California), Dennis Moore (Kansas), John Porter (Illinois), Harry Reid (Nevada), J. Roy Rowland (Georgia), Norman D. Shumway (California), Neal Smith (Iowa), Mark Souder (Indiana), James Stanton (Ohio), Standish ``Fletcher'' Thomson (Georgia), Esteban Torres (California), Jolene Unsoeld (Washington), Jackie Walorski (Indiana), Don Young (Alaska), Bill Zeliff(New Hampshire).
TRIBUTE TO CHESNA FOORD
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-12-13

I rise today to recognize and give thanks to one of the hardest working and most integral members of my team, Ms. Chesna Foord. Chesna has been my director of scheduling for 6 years and has spent nearly a decade in my offices in Washington, DC, and in San Francisco. prgtoken Every Member of this Senate knows the importance of their scheduler, and Chesna has been a 10. She is the first person I call in the morning and often the last person I check with at night. She gets me where I need to be and ensures that I am prepared when I get there, but she also has developed a sixth sense for what needs to be done and pitfalls to avoid. And I am forever grateful that she does it all with unflappable patience and good cheer. I am pleased to have her not just on my staff, but as a friend. prgtoken As a Senator, I have the pleasure of seeing young people come into public service and, in some cases, flourish in the environment. Chesna is one of those people. prgtoken She joined my San Francisco office as an intern shortly after graduating from the University of Puget Sound. After distinguishing herself there, Chesna moved across country to intern in my Washington, DC, office and was promoted to staff assistant and then to deputy scheduler. prgtoken But it has been over the past 6 years as director of scheduling that I have gotten to know Chesna and watched her grow in skill, in communication, in leadership, and into the woman I now get to see day in and day out. prgtoken She has been here with me through good times and bad and has helped me get through impeachments and Supreme Court confirmations, vote-a- ramas and insurrection. And I will be always be thankful for her help with arrangements and support when my husband passed away earlier this year. prgtoken I am sad to see Chesna leave, but I understand that the lure of the West Coast and personal ties are calling Chesna back home to California. Thankfully, Chesna will remain on the team, as a field representative in my Los Angeles office. prgtoken And so, on behalf of this grateful Senator, I thank Chesna Foord for her friendship and her forbearance, and thank her for her years of excellent and caring service.
RECOGNIZING DAREK NEWBY ON HIS RETIREMENT
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2022-12-13

. Madam , I rise as Chair of the Appropriations Committee, and on behalf of the Members of the Committee, and its staff, to pay tribute to Darek Lane Newby as he retires following 25 years of service to the House of Representatives. prgtoken Hailing from North Carolina, Darek began his career with Congressman David Price as a Legislative Assistant before serving as the Congressman's Appropriations and Budget Committee associate staffer, Legislative Director, and Acting and Deputy Chief of Staff. In these roles, he advised the Congressman on issues and legislation related to the federal budget, homeland security, health care, and the environment. prgtoken In 2009, Darek came home to the Appropriations Committee, initially joining the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, of which he took over as Clerk in 2011. Since 2013, he has been serving as the Homeland Security Subcommittee Clerk. He provides other Members and me with vital counsel and expertly leads staff in developing the Subcommittee's bill. prgtoken During his time with the Appropriations Committee, Darek has proven time and time again to be a fair negotiator whose superb leadership and compassion have made our nation and the world safer and more humane. His career was never shy of managing crises, but he led with dedication and poise through any conflict that came his way. Darek's profound technical knowledge, coupled with his diligence and poise, has been critical in reducing refugee and asylum application backlogs, bolstering maritime security, strengthening our cyber infrastructure, respecting the dignity of immigrants, and supporting disaster relief. prgtoken I am excited for what the future holds for Darek and wish him, his wife Patty, and their children Ben and Sam all the best. As Darek stalls a new beginning, the Appropriations Committee and our Nation will miss him, are indebted to his service, and are forever grateful for his hard work. Congratulations on a remarkable career.
EQUAL ACCESS TO GREEN CARDS FOR LEGAL EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 2022
Judy Chu (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-12-13

I rise today in support of H.R. 3648, the Equal Access to Green cards for Legal Employment, or the EAGLE Act of 2022. prgtoken While I, like many others here today, would prefer to see a more robust approach to fixing our broken immigration system, the bill before us today is an important step in the right direction. This bill will have a large impact on many immigrants and notably an overwhelming impact on Asian immigrant workers who have been historically barred from applying for U.S. citizenship. prgtoken Right now, there are approximately 1.4 million individuals trapped in our backlogs waiting for available employment-based visas. The vast majority, as high as 80 percent, are Asian immigrants who are currently facing waiting times as high as 90 years from India or 44 years from China. prgtoken Critically, the bill also more than doubles the per-country limit on family-sponsored visas from 7 to 15 percent, bringing relief to the nearly 4 million people who are forced to languish in limbo due to a backlogged and broken family-sponsored system. This backlog keeps families separated; causes birthdays, weddings, and funerals to be missed; and hampers the ability of immigrants to build their lives here in the United States while their families are waiting overseas. prgtoken Additionally, while not all communities are facing the same impact as ours, I want to reassure everyone that this bill does not adversely affect immigrants from other countries and those who do not benefit directly from these provisions. prgtoken Finally, I am proud that this bill does not include the racist anti- Chinese language that was added at the request of former President to the previous iteration of this bill. Instead, the manager's amendment before us today simply replicates what is in current law for all green card applicants. prgtoken While I will continue to push forward for more comprehensive action that addresses many other parts of our immigration system for all immigrant communities, we must not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. We must pass this bill today in order to help hundreds of thousands of immigrants who are stuck in our employment visa backlogs.
EXPRESSING THE COMMITMENT OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO BUILDING ON THE TWENTY YEARS OF SUCCESS OF THE GEORGE McGOVERN-ROBERT DOLE FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-12-13

. Madam , I have one additional speaker, but I don't see her. the balance of my time to close. prgtoken First of all, let me thank the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Mann) for his support of this resolution and for his advocacy on behalf of the McGovern-Dole program. As we listened to the back-and-forth here today, it is really quite inspiring to see the breadth of the bipartisanship here, that we are all dedicated to trying to deal with this horrific problem of childhood hunger around the world. prgtoken Hunger is a political condition. We have the resources, the funds, and the infrastructure. We have everything we need to eradicate hunger in this country and across the planet. What we have lacked is the political will. prgtoken The McGovern-Dole program was inspired by George McGovern and Bob Dole, a liberal from South Dakota and a conservative from Kansas. Their efforts together have made a dent in childhood hunger. It has made a huge difference. It has allowed more young kids, especially girls, to go to school, to become literate, to be able to get an education, to be able to succeed in their countries. prgtoken It is so incredible when you travel and you see a McGovern-Dole project anywhere in the world, how grateful people are to the people of the United States for supporting this. prgtoken Parents are the same everywhere. We all want to make sure that our kids are safe, that they are fed, that they have a good future. What this program does is, it helps parents ensure that their kids' future is bright. prgtoken I believe that when we talk about national security, it has to be more than just about the number of bombs we have. It has to be about how we alleviate these global challenges like hunger, and in this case, childhood hunger. That is the way we build a more secure and a more stable world. prgtoken I am proud of all the organizations that have participated in the McGovern-Dole program. I am proud of all those who have helped administer the McGovern-Dole program, and I am proud to serve with colleagues, and s, who support this important initiative. prgtoken I will close simply by saying, this is not only a good program, it is a great program. At a time when people wonder where the bipartisanship is in Washington, here is an example where we can bring people together. prgtoken I know I mentioned her briefly in the beginning, but I do want to acknowledge our former colleague, Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson from Missouri. She was a strong partner in this effort early on, in getting the legislation that established McGovern-Dole up and running, and I can't ever thank her enough. prgtoken To all my colleagues, please support H. Res. 1156, and please let us all commit to doing more to eradicate hunger and food insecurity here in the United States and around the world in the year to come. prgtoken Madam , .
Immigration Reform (Executive Calendar)
Jacky Rosen (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2022-12-13

I rise today to express my strong and continued support for Dreamers, TPS recipients, and immigrant communities in Nevada and across our Nation. prgtoken It has been decades since Congress has passed real immigration reform, and almost a decade since we have made a real attempt at taking action to provide a permanent solution for those communities and allow families--allow families to stay together. As a result, our broken immigration system has been left with a patchwork of policies that are outdated and inefficient. This is why Congress needs to take action now on comprehensive immigration reform, so we can, once and for all, fix this severely broken system. prgtoken It shouldn't be a partisan issue. We are talking about families who deserve peace of mind about their future. They shouldn't be subjected to the uncertainty they currently face every single day. prgtoken Unfortunately, some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle refuse to come to the table to work with us on comprehensive immigration reform. They would rather leave Dreamers in limbo and have this issue for their own political gain than work toward solutions. prgtoken But a number of reasonable s have said in the past that they do support a legislative fix to protect our Dreamers and their futures. So let's start there and work together to provide an immediate, permanent legislative solution for DACA recipients right now--right now--while at the same time, we keep working for more comprehensive immigration reform. prgtoken In the 10 years since the DACA program first went into effect, it has protected nearly 600,000 Dreamers and allowed them to make a home and build a life and a future here in our country. In my State of Nevada alone, thousands of individuals and families rely on DACA to live, work, and raise a prgtoken family, free from fear in a country--the only country they have ever known or ever called home. prgtoken DACA has provided vital protections and opportunities for Dreamers, ensuring that they can attend college, fully contribute to our economy, serve in our military, and really make a difference in our communities. prgtoken Because of DACA, thousands of people have been given access to the American dream. And yet yearslong threats to end this policy have left nearly 600,000 DACA recipients in limbo, facing uncertainty and awaiting court decision after court decision that can jeopardize their future and threaten the lives that they have built here. prgtoken So we cannot wait any longer to take action. That is why I am calling on my colleagues to work to pass a permanent legislative solution this year--this year--for Dreamers, one that gives them permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship, while we continue working on comprehensive immigration reform. prgtoken So let's put a stand-alone proposal to provide a permanent legislative fix for DACA recipients. Let's put that proposal right here on the S
CONCLUSION OF MORNING BUSINESS
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2022-12-13

let me say to our colleague from Louisiana that I very much agree with much of the statement he has given. I have been interested in these sensible policies with respect to providers since the days when I was codirector of the Oregon Gray Panthers. So our colleague from Louisiana is talking about important issues. prgtoken As chair of the Finance Committee, I can say that nobody on either side wants to see financial hardship for healthcare providers or disruption to the healthcare system. This is particularly important when you have got COVID, what looks like a god-awful flu, and an RSV crisis filling up the doctors' and hospitals' waiting rooms nationwide. prgtoken What I can tell my colleague from Louisiana is that, on both sides of the aisle on the Finance Committee, and s have put in some long hours--long hours--discussing solutions to these physician payment issues with our colleagues in the House on both sides and the administration. prgtoken Our discussions include other critical healthcare issues. For example, I think my colleague knows that Senator Crapo and I have been very focused on mental healthcare, making it easier for Americans to get mental healthcare when they need it. prgtoken And we are especially proud that this bipartisanship is paying off. As our colleagues may know, Senator Crapo and I got four major provisions--four--into the commonsense gun safety law--everything from helping kids on Medicaid, behavioral health--our colleague, Senator Stabenow. So we believe strongly in writing black-letter law on a bipartisan basis. prgtoken Now, the reason I am taking the time to put this into context, it is very important that our bipartisan discussions on a yearend healthcare package continue. Time is, obviously, short. prgtoken I am just coming off two red-eye flights to Oregon in the last 4 days, and I want my colleague to know, again, I appreciate much of what he has said. I didn't come to the floor to say, Senator Kennedy is horrible. Quite the contrary. I think he has good ideas here. Time is tight, and I am confident there is a bipartisan agreement around the corner. prgtoken I do say to my colleague, passing this proposal now, in my view, would make this process that we are part of, Senator Crapo and I-- talking to the administration, talking to the House, and doing all the things that my colleagues have a lot of experience on--passing this proposal now would make it harder to reach a bipartisan agreement on physician payments, mental health, a variety of other key kinds of issues. So I will just say, with the understanding, a, that my colleague has raised important points and, b, that Members on both sides are working towards a prgtoken shared goal on this issue, , I object.
AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE WORK
Adam B. Schiff (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-12-13

I rise today in support of H.R. 6611, which would authorize the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C to establish a commemorative bench honoring the extraordinary contributions of Jean Monnet to restoring peace between European nations and establishing the European Union. prgtoken Jean Monnet, known as the ``Father of Europe,'' was a French diplomat and political economist who was instrumental behind the scenes in negotiating an early end to the Second World War, fortifying American and French relations, and politically and economically integrating Europe in the post-war era. Thanks to his innovation and vision, the United States and the European Union continue to share an enduring commitment to defending peace and liberty around the world and to standing together in the face of great challenges. prgtoken Throughout his many years of diplomatic service, Jean Monnet was a frequent visitor to Washington, D.C.--and like many of us, he felt a special connection to the natural beauty of Rock Creek Park. My hope is that this small token of respect in the place he loved will inspire others to follow in his footsteps and celebrate the democratic values that unite us all. prgtoken I ask all members to join me in supporting H.R. 6611, and in paying tribute to one of the great peacemakers of the 20th century.
EXPRESSING THE COMMITMENT OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO BUILDING ON THE TWENTY YEARS OF SUCCESS OF THE GEORGE McGOVERN-ROBERT DOLE FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2022-12-13

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for allowing me to speak on this bill. prgtoken I rise in support of H. Res. 1156. from Massachusetts, whose bipartisan efforts more than 20 years ago led to the creation of the George McGovern-Robert Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. prgtoken Since then, this program has enjoyed bipartisan support. The United States continues to produce the highest quality, safest, most abundant, and most economical food and fiber anywhere in the world. prgtoken Drawing on this abundance, we are able to provide school meals, teacher training, and nutrition programs for pregnant and nursing women. Whether at home or abroad, we know that by reducing hunger and improving nutrition, we help support better educational outcomes. prgtoken This program is a win-win for America, supporting America's farmers and producers by providing donated U.S. agricultural commodities and using them to help reduce child hunger, improve education, and support greater security in the world. I believe this program has been and will continue to be an essential tool for diplomacy. prgtoken As chair of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, it has been my honor to fund this program each year. It is true to the spirit of service and compassion that Ambassador and former Senator George McGovern and former Senator Bob Dole embodied. This program helps bring the bounty of America's farmers, ranchers, millers, producers, shippers, and commodity groups to assist vulnerable children and mothers around the world. prgtoken So, in celebrating the first 20 years of its success, I look forward to the program's enduring impact in the years ahead. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I urge its passage.
FIGHTING CHORDOMA
Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2022-12-13

I rise today to recognize a member of my staff, Joshua Smith, who was recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer known as chordoma. prgtoken Classified as a rare cancer of the spine and skull, chordoma is diagnosed in thousands of people worldwide every year, about 300 of whom live in the United States. prgtoken In honor of Josh and others diagnosed every year, I introduced a resolution last week to help shine a light on the need for more research and awareness of this kind of cancer which is very rare. prgtoken Thankfully, Josh is recovering and back at work, but his illness serves as an important reminder of the need to bolster research and funding to combat cancers of all kinds. Fighting cancers, particularly rare forms like chordoma, can and should bring us together, prgtoken , I ask all my colleagues for their support for this resolution.
EQUAL ACCESS TO GREEN CARDS FOR LEGAL EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 2022
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-12-13

the balance of my time. prgtoken , I just want to make a note on the issue of nursing, which is very important. As you know, we have had a very tough time with nurses in America. They have been through COVID; the trauma has been enormous, and we have a need for more nurses while nurses are leaving the profession for understandable reasons. prgtoken Part of the answer is nurses who want to come to the United States and practice nursing. That is not the whole answer, but it is part of the answer, and so at the request and suggestion of Senators who we have been talking about, there is a carve-out of 4,400 visas for nurses and physical therapists during the transition period. We think once the transition is over, we will be adequately accommodated, but during the transition, that is included. prgtoken I would note that the Society of Hospital Medicine does support this bill. prgtoken We had three hearings in the Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee on this topic, and I think we had an understanding on the subcommittee kind of on what all the issues were. prgtoken This is our best effort at dealing with those issues. It has received broad support in the past, bipartisan support in the past, and I hope it would do so again. prgtoken , .