mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Raphael G. Warnock (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2023-7-26

servicemembers report being harassed by predatory debt collectors at a higher rate than the civilian population. Predatory and unscrupulous debt collectors send messages to commanding officers with their private financial information, all in an effort to harass our men and women in uniform--the best among us standing up for us. They harass servicemembers by threatening rank reduction--the debt collectors--revocation of security clearance, or punishment under the military justice code. prgtoken These threats cannot be carried out by the debt collectors, and these practices are manipulative, and they undermine our national security by distracting our servicemembers from focusing on their mission and caring for their families. In fact, a 2014 Army Reserve review found that the second leading contributing factor to servicemember suicide was financial stress. prgtoken This amendment reinforces the existing protections provided to all Americans but especially those who are putting their lives on the line to protect all of our families and our communities by restricting predatory debt collection practices aimed specifically at our servicemembers. prgtoken This bipartisan amendment costs nothing. It has broad support among the Nation's military and veteran community. They believe, as I do, that debt collectors should not be able to weaponize servicemembers' services. It even has the support--listen--the support of reputable and responsible debt collectors themselves, the very industry it would affect. prgtoken I want to thank Senators Budd, Cornyn, Tillis, Lummis, and Brown for their partnership on this, and I look forward to the support of my colleagues in passing this bipartisan amendment to protect our Nation's servicemembers. prgtoken . Vote on Amendment No. 199
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2023-7-26

. Madam Chair, I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy and his leadership. prgtoken I am proud to lead this amendment with the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Joyce), and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) to inject some sanity into our medical marijuana approach. prgtoken Veterans in Oregon and across the country have shared powerful stories with me about how medical cannabis has saved their lives and given them relief from wounds of war seen and unseen. These veterans have also shared their fear about what would happen if they worked with the VA doctors to incorporate their cannabis use into their treatment plans. prgtoken The VA denies veterans access to this care option by preventing providers from completing forms in compliance with State medical marijuana programs. This is a shameful disservice to the men and women who put their lives on the line. The VA is forcing veterans to seek care outside the VA or self-medicate. prgtoken Our veterans are paying the price for Congress' failure to act. That is why I am proud to join Representative Mast in leading the Veterans Equal Access Act and why I call on my colleagues to support this amendment. Simple justice for our veterans.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-7-26

. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendments en bloc. prgtoken Following recent meetings with veterans in Lewis County, I am deeply concerned about a number of issues impacting constituent veterans who receive care through the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System. prgtoken First and foremost, veterans in Lewis County have seen their access to care reduced dramatically in recent years. prgtoken The 2021 closure of the Chehalis Community Based Outpatient Clinic cut many veterans off from nearby care. Travel times went from about 1 hour to more than 2 hours to get to a VA Puget Sound facility. Not just that, but the wait times are horrific. I am hearing from veterans that they are waiting at times over 6 hours on the phone for it to be answered. prgtoken In rural communities with sparse specialty and mental health care options to begin with, the closure of a full CBOC has put lifesaving care out of reach of our veterans. prgtoken I offered two amendments that are included in the amendments en bloc that will hold the VA accountable for protecting access to care for veterans in rural areas like mine in east Lewis County. prgtoken Amendment No. 15 would require the VA to submit a report to Congress on their efforts to ensure access to healthcare for veterans residing in geographic proximity to a Department of Veteran Affairs community- based outpatient clinic subject to closure. prgtoken Amendment No. 23 will require the VA to update Patient Experience Compare Data published on their public website to break down data by county. This would give our body and Americans valuable insight about how the patient experience with a medical center may differ based on location within the center's jurisdiction, not just the jurisdiction broadly. We can compare whether it is a rural issue or an issue with the center itself. prgtoken In return for their service to our country, we have made a promise to our veterans that we must uphold. It is our responsibility to ensure they have the access to healthcare necessary to lead a full and healthy life after their time in the armed services has ended. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I ask for support for these two amendments that will help increase transparency and hold the VA accountable for access to care for my constituents and other vets in rural areas.
Joe Neguse (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2023-7-26

that article is quoting a Senator from the gentleman's region, his neighbor, Senator Shelley Moore Capito. prgtoken When House s shut down the government in 66 days, which they seem committed to doing, the American people will be right to ask the question, they will be justified to ask the question of why House s decided to focus their time on the northern long-eared bat and the lesser prairie-chicken. It is a fair question for the American people to ask. prgtoken , I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
REMEMBERING WALTER KNIGHT
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2023-7-26

I rise today to honor Walter Knight, who passed away on June 20, 2023, at the age of 89. Mr. Knight will be remembered for his numerous acts of leadership in the community of Beloit, WI--notably, serving as the first African-American on the Beloit Police and Fire Commission and the first African-American to be elected to the Beloit City Council. prgtoken Mr. Knight spent the first 17 years of his life in Arkansas where he attended segregated public schools and graduated from Union Grove High School in 1951. Upon graduation, he moved to Beloit, WI, where he went on to work for Fairbanks Morse in the foundry. The grueling conditions of the foundry motivated him to enroll in Blackhawk Technical College. This allowed him to move into a position in the machine shop at Fairbanks Morse where he remained for 25 years. Later in his career at Fairbanks Morse, he was elected the president of the Local Union 1533 United Steelworkers of America from 1972-1976. prgtoken To further advance his educational career, Mr. Knight studied union policy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. At the time he attended Madison, less than 1 percent of students were African-American. After securing higher-level education, Mr. Knight's activist voice and profound leadership in the Beloit community led him to be elected the first African-American on the Beloit City Council, where he served from 1972-1985. Mr. Knight's involvement and dedication to the Beloit community did not stop there. As an African-American, he spent his early years in Beloit fighting segregation by exposing and assisting in the closure of local discriminatory and prejudice businesses. prgtoken In addition to his fight for racial justice, Mr. Knight spent over 30 years with the Rock County Opportunities Industrialization Center. As executive director, he dedicated his time to helping minority and other local residents build occupational and social skills to enhance their career prospects. Mr. Knight always wanted to be remembered as someone who did all he could to help others. His life of selfless acts for his community accurately displays this. From working in the foundry at Fairbanks Morse to becoming president of the Beloit City Council, Mr. Knight was truly a trailblazer and has left an indelible mark on the Beloit community. prgtoken By creating opportunities and a voice for the minority community in Beloit, Mr. Knight's leadership granted him induction into the Beloit Historical Society Hall of Fame in 2014. Additionally, as a part of the 2019 Juneteenth celebration, the Portland Avenue Bridge in Beloit was renamed ``Walter R. Knight Bridge'' in his honor. Mr. Knight will be whole-heartedly missed and always remembered for the years of compassion and love he bestowed upon his community.
RECOGNIZING CHEAP TRICK
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-7-26

for most Americans, April 1 is April Fools' Day, a day of pranks, misleading headlines, deception, and trickery. While that also is true for Illinoisans, in 2007, the Illinois General Assembly gave Illinoisans something else to celebrate: Cheap Trick Day, in honor of the rock and roll band. prgtoken For nearly 50 years, Cheap Trick has been part of the American soundtrack, lighting up car radios on cross-country drives, blasting through speakers at weddings, and now playing in the next generation's wireless headphones. Through it all, Cheap Trick has kept their listeners humming along to popular tunes like ``Surrender'' and ``The Flame.'' prgtoken But before they were rock and roll legends, they were just a band from Rockford, IL. In 1973, guitarist Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson, original vocalist Randy Hogan, and drummer Bun E. Carlos came together to form Cheap Trick. The band came up with their name after attending a Slade concert. Following the English rock band's show, Tom remarked that Slade used ``every cheap trick in the book'' during their set. The name stuck, and the group would go on to become a regular on the Billboard charts. prgtoken In 1974, Robin Zander joined the band, replacing Hogan as lead vocalist. While they started out playing shows across the Midwest-- Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Iowa--they would go on to tour the world, opening for the likes of Kiss, Kansas, and Queen. But it was a six-date tour of Japan in the spring of 1978 that changed everything. prgtoken Cheap Trick put on the performance of a lifetime before raucous crowds at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. They released the performances as a live album, ``Cheap Trick at Budokan,'' which went triple-platinum, selling more than 3 million certified units. The album included the smash hit ``I Want You to Want Me,'' which decades later remains a mainstay on classic rock radio stations across the country. In 2020, the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress selected ``Cheap Trick at Budokan'' as one of just 25 recordings to join the National Archives for that year. prgtoken And in 2016, Cheap Trick was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, receiving rock and roll's highest honor and taking their place next to their own musical idols, The Beatles. In addition to leaving behind an impressive discography, the band also has helped shape the sound of the next generation of great bands. Groups like prgtoken Pearl Jam, Guns N' Roses, Nirvana, and Green Day, all have credited Cheap Trick as an influence. prgtoken Cheap Trick has since become a true family business with Daxx, Rick's son, on the drums and Robin Taylor, Robin's son, floating from guitar, bass, and background vocals. The band is still on the road, playing for crowds from all generations looking to enjoy the nostalgic rock sounds of the 80s. As of this year, Cheap Trick has performed more than 5,000 concerts and sold more than 20
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2023-7-26

this amendment would allow the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide support to law school clinical programs and provide pro bono legal and support services to veterans, including assistance with disability claims and appeals and foreclosures. The House passed this amendment last year. prgtoken There are already at least 22 law schools that have clinics devoted to veterans' legal needs, including William and Mary Law School Veterans Benefits Clinic, which serves as a national model for this idea and was the first recipient of the ``best practice'' award for the VA. prgtoken There are many other law schools, such as the University of the District of Columbia's David A. Clarke School of Law that are interested in starting their own VA certified clinics. More needs to be done to sustain and increase the number of these programs. prgtoken I was a tenured professor of law and continued to teach a seminar after being elected to Congress. I saw the expert attention that clinical programs provide their clients. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, a concrete measure that would assist our veterans who put their lives on the line for this country.
REMEMBERING BELLE ORTIZ
Joaquin Castro (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-7-26

today I rise in honor of Belle Ortiz, who passed away on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. Long known for her commitment to music education, Mrs. Ortiz was a trailblazer for the teaching of Mariachi music. She is survived by her husband Juan Ortiz, along with her 4 children, Annabelle Garcia, Roseanna Valenzuela, former state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, and Rolando San Miguel. prgtoken After graduating from what is now Our Lady of the Lake University with a degree in music education and performance, Mrs. Ortiz became an educator at a time when Texas schools were openly hostile to Hispanic culture. While teaching at Barkley Elementary School, Mrs. Ortiz was called before the school district's Board of Trustees for teaching children to sing in Spanish, then a prohibited practice in many San Antonio schools--but she could not be deterred. prgtoken Utilizing her role as an educator, Mrs. Ortiz pushed for the creation of music education programs that promoted the unique Hispanic heritage of San Antonio. Foremost among her efforts was the creation of the first Mariachi education program in Texas at Lanier High School. Over the subsequent decades, Mrs. Ortiz would expand her Mariachi education efforts across Texas. At both high schools and universities, she touched the lives of thousands. Her actions cumulated when she and her husband founded the world-renowned 12-piece Mariachi ensemble, Campanas de America. prgtoken , please join me in recognizing the life of Belle Ortiz. Although I am saddened by her loss, I am confident that her impact on San Antonio and Mariachi will last for years to come. I thank Mrs. Ortiz for her never-ending prgtoken passion for music and teaching. May God bless her and her loved ones.
TEXT OF AMENDMENTS
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2023-7-26

with that, I believe we have to conclude this evening. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned under the provisions of S. Res. 316 until 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 27; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate resume the consideration of Calendar No. 119, S. 2226; further, that at 11:30 a.m the Senate vote on the remaining amendments under the previous order.
CELEBRATING 88TH ANNIVERSARY OF SOCIAL SECURITY
Katie Porter (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-26

August 5, 2023, marks the 60th anniversary of the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, a milestone that shows our commitment to peace and safety. prgtoken The year before the treaty's signing, the world was closer to nuclear war than ever before. By halting most nuclear tests, this agreement cooled the arms race and demonstrated the power of diplomacy. prgtoken The anniversary of this treaty also serves as a solemn reminder that the United States has never taken responsibility for the harms of the 67 nuclear tests that we conducted in the Marshall Islands. prgtoken With world tensions heightening once again, the ideals put forth six decades ago in the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty remain just as important today. I have introduced bipartisan legislation to formally apologize for the harms we inflicted on the Marshallese people, and I will continue to demand action as a member of the House Indo-Pacific Task Force. prgtoken We owe it to our kids and grandkids to safeguard this planet for future generations. Holding the FAA Accountable
TRIBUTE TO PATRICIA LOMBARD--30TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Adam B. Schiff (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-26

I rise today as we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our Nation's women during Women's History Month. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Patricia Lombard of the Larchmont Village neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. prgtoken Patricia Lombard has worked as a communications consultant and writer since moving to Los Angeles in 1988. She served as a contributor to the Larchmont Buzz an online newspaper covering news from Hancok Park, Larchmont Village, and the Greater Wilshire areas of Los Angeles, since the inception of the site in 2011. In 2015, Ms. Lombard along with Elizabeth Fuller, acquired the Larchmont Buzz from founders Mary Hawley and Julie Grist, and over the years have produced thousands of local news stories. Patricia is currently the editor and co-publisher of the Larchmont Buzz which has given her the opportunity to highlight the work of neighborhood leaders and city officials regarding important local issues. prgtoken Ms. Lombard has been a tireless and dedicated volunteer in local civic affairs. She has served on the Fremont Place Association board of directors for over 15 years, and represented the Association on the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council until she joined the Larchmont Buzz. prgtoken Since 2007, Patricia has been an active member of the Hancock Park Garden Club, where she served as president from 2009 to 2011. She is a member of Larchmont Village Business Improvement District, Wilshire Rotary club of Angeles, Larchmont Boulevard Association, and The Ebell of Los Angeles, a women's nonprofit organization established in 1894, where she served as the organization's 64th president from 2020 to 2022. prgtoken For nearly 20 years, Patricia was involved with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, where she served as a Trustee and was inspired to pursue local history. The Natural History Museum Seaver Center for Western History Research provided a key image of Larchmont that motivated her to research the story of this unique street. Patricia's book, ``Larchmont,'' was published in 2015. Patricia and her husband, William D. Simon, live in Fremont Place, and they have 2 daughters, Emily, and Alexandra. Emily and her husband Dan live in the Larchmont Village area, and Alexandra is currently planning to move to San Francisco, California to pursue a career in social work. prgtoken I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well- respected woman of California's 30th Congressional District, Patricia Lombard.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2023-7-26

. Thank you very much to Senator Coons for his strong words and for focusing on what matters here, which is the people of our own country, the military and those who support them, who believe that this situation is simply untenable, that these Afghans who have stood with us risk, at any moment, being deported--not right now because of an order that President has in place. prgtoken But that is not the only problem about uncertainty. The problem is they can't go on with their lives as has happened with past evacuees-- after Cuba, I noted; after Vietnam. They are part of the fabric of life in the United States of America now. prgtoken So let's hear what some of these security experts have to say. I am going to read a portion of a letter that a group of them sent to congressional leadership. prgtoken They said this. These aren't my words. This is theirs: The bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act honors our nation's commitment to its wartime allies by providing a path to permanent status for Afghan evacuees. It also ensures that these evacuees are properly and scrupulously vetted prior to considering them for such status. The status quo leaves tens of thousands of evacuees in legal limbo while failing to put to rest security concerns raised in the Office of Inspector General reports. prgtoken So we can just pretend that report doesn't exist. We can just do nothing. How can that be the answer? (Mr. HICKENLOOPER assumed the Chair.) prgtoken How can the answer be to just put our heads in the sand while they put their lives at risk for us in the sands of Afghanistan? That is why we have to vote on this amendment. prgtoken They go on to say--the security experts who worked for a number of and ic Presidents: ``No action is not an option--we urge you to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act.'' prgtoken I want to repeat that last point: ``No action is not an option.'' prgtoken Here is another letter of support from the former Ambassadors to Afghanistan. Eight former U.S. Ambassadors--think about this: They actually served in Afghanistan, and a number of us--probably nearly everyone in this Chamber who was around during that time, which is many of us, has visited with these Ambassadors during one President or another. These Ambassadors served under Presidents , , , and . Each has an intimate understanding of the stakes for getting this right. prgtoken They wrote together: We are a group of retired Ambassadors, all of whom served as Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, who have dedicated our professional lives to furthering America's interests in the world. We are writing today because we are convinced that the Afghan Adjustment Act furthers those interests. The need is urgent and time is short. . . . Without the Afghan Adjustment Act, the task of American diplomacy wi