mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023--Continued
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-12-22

I want to start by saying something very simple about what we are about to vote on. This bill is about two words: reasonable accommodations. It is as simple as that. More than 30 years ago, we passed the Americans with Disabilities Act, prgtoken which said something very simple as well. It said that a worker with a disability in the workplace should have reasonable accommodations, not any accommodation--reasonable accommodations. prgtoken Thirty years of case law, thirty years of testing that principle have shown us that pregnant workers should have the same protections, reasonable accommodations, so that if a woman is pregnant in the workforce, she can do her job and have a healthy and safe pregnancy. That is all this bill is about. prgtoken The organizations supporting it are across the board. Every organization you can think of is supporting this bill. I urge a ``yes'' vote, similar to the House vote on this, which was 315 to 101, more than three quarters of the House. prgtoken I turn now to my colleague Senator Cassidy.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023--Continued
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2022-12-22

this bill gives additional funding for judges and legal officials to ensure due processing, evaluating claims of folks at the border, provides resources for technology and to construct a physical wall, gives law enforcement at the southern border additional resources, and it overrides President 's decision to end title 42. prgtoken I would encourage an aye vote on this amendment.
NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA ACT
Paul Tonko (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-12-22

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken I realize we are quickly reaching the end of the 117th Congress, and there is necessary business to finish before the end of the year. I do want to express my immense gratitude to Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, Chairman Grijalva, and Ranking Member Westerman for recognizing the importance of S. 1942, the National Heritage Area Act, and finding the time to allow it to be considered today. prgtoken National Heritage Areas are far too often overlooked, but they are so important to so many Members and the communities that they serve. There are 55 National Heritage Areas across our country, sites of cultural, historical, or natural significance that help tell our unique and very diverse American story. prgtoken In New York's 20th Congressional District, these legendary sites include the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Corridor named after our late colleague. prgtoken For decades, these sites have opened wide the doors of economic opportunity prgtoken and community engagement for constituents in my district and well beyond. I am so grateful to Bob Radcliff and Meg Downey for their leadership and commitment that drives the success of the sites in my district. prgtoken Across our country, heritage areas touch 34 States and nearly 600 counties. They create local jobs, boost local economies, and certainly bind communities together in every corner of America. prgtoken In total, heritage areas have a nearly $13 billion annual economic impact and support almost 150,000 jobs nationwide. They also return an average of $5.50 for every Federal dollar appropriated by effectively leveraging public and private partnerships in the communities which they serve. prgtoken Despite broad, bipartisan support and continued interest in the areas from communities, these sites have faced inconsistent treatment before Congress. There is no standardized programmatic system of administration for our heritage areas, which has required each area to pursue individual funding extensions and reauthorizations, often with last-minute congressional action. prgtoken Even in this year's omnibus agreement, several sites required extensions. This stopgap model puts a burden on local coordinating entities. prgtoken Heritage areas have been made to function over the past few years through multiple short-term stopgap reauthorizations while Congress has failed to provide long-term certainty. We cannot let that continue into next year as some 45 of our 55 areas face expiration dates during the upcoming 118th Congress. prgtoken For years, I have worked alongside my colleagues in the House and passionate partners from local heritage areas to pass the bipartisan National Heritage Area Act, beginning with the efforts of our former colleague, Representative Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania. prgtoken That effort has continued to grow as more a
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023--Continued
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-12-22

the logic of title 42 is a public health response to a crisis. It was determined that foreigners coming into the United States could be turned away under title 42, and more than a million were last year. prgtoken Now, what has happened to the public health crisis? In June of this year, our government announced it would no longer require COVID tests for foreigners entering the United States. We have 22 million international visitors each year, and now there is no longer a requirement for testing. prgtoken So let's be honest. This is not about public health anymore. It is our excuse for not tackling the very real challenge of coming up with a border policy on a bipartisan basis. prgtoken I want to salute Senator Sinema and Senator Tillis for their undertaking. I want to work with them in the future, and I think we should reject this amendment. Vote on Amendment No. 6563
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023--Continued
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2022-12-22

I endorse the remarks of my friend Senator Graham, and I want to thank him for his persistent work on this issue. prgtoken I would also like to recognize Senator Blumenthal and Senator Bennet, who had significant roles helping on our side, and Representative Malinowski, who has come over from the House, who championed it on that side as well. prgtoken I join Senator Graham in asking not only for an ``aye'' vote but a voice vote.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023--Continued
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-12-22

colleagues, this bipartisan agreement, which I have had the pleasure of working together with Senator Cornyn on for more than a year now and which has already passed the Senate by unanimous consent twice before, would give State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments the flexibility and the support they need to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. prgtoken As we all know, each community has been impacted differently by the pandemic and has different needs to recover from the pandemic. This amendment is about flexibility and prioritizing the local governments that are closest to the people. prgtoken I do want to thank Senators Cornyn, Tester, and Murkowski for their work on this effort.
BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-12-22

it was very late last night for those of us who were here and the staff. At 2 a.m. is when we finished, 2:01, to try to reach an agreement on finishing the omnibus bill. We are getting ever closer to reaching an agreement, but we are still not there. I hope that we will lock in an agreement sometime later this morning. prgtoken In the meantime, we will start today with a vote on the confirmation of Franklin Parker to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. prgtoken I want to thank my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for their cooperation. I thank the clerks for being here late, late last night as we waited and waited and waited for an agreement, which hasn't yet come, and for showing up early this morning. prgtoken And I hope we can finish the omnibus today. There is no reason why we can't. The bill is so important to get done because it will be good for families, for veterans, our national security, even for the health of our democratic institutions. To go to a CR or, even worse, a government shutdown, would be a huge disservice at any time, but particularly in the holiday season, to the American people. prgtoken To ensure that we minimize any delays, I ask Members to stay near the floor and be ready to get voting when the time comes. If we can keep this process moving, we can finish in time for Members and staff to get home for Christmas safely, before the blizzard wreaks havoc across much of the country. prgtoken .
RECOGNIZING BLUES GYM AND MR. DINO NEWVILLE OF GRAND RAPIDS
Peter Meijer (Republican, MI) \u2014 2022-12-22

. Madam , I rise today to recognize philanthropist, small business owner, and four-time world kickboxing champion, Mr. Dino Newville. prgtoken As operator of Blues Gym, a mixed-martial-arts facility in Grand Rapids, it is not just Dino's athletic accomplishments that make him worthy of recognition. For nearly a decade, Blues Gym has been both a family and a sanctuary to hundreds of at-risk young adults. While offering important lessons in selfdefense, Blues Gym also provides tutoring, counseling, and it regularly organizes food drives for those in need. The tireless work of Dino and his volunteers to uplift the youth in our community is a generous act of service for which we should all be incredibly proud. prgtoken Dino, who rallies behind the motto ``Fill the Gyms, Not the Prisons,'' runs the gym as an entirely non-profit, volunteer-based organization. Relying almost exclusively on donations and public support, Dino has even re-entered the ring himself to raise funds in support of those who find sanctuary at Blues Gym. prgtoken A highly skilled athlete and major proponent of our community, Dino has been recognized by the City of Grand Rapids on numerous occasions, the first time in 1981, for his accomplishments and philanthropy. As a vocal advocate for issues affecting young adults in Grand Rapids, Dino has proven that he will stop at nothing to ensure that they have the resources and opportunities needed to stay safe and thrive. prgtoken Madam , it is people like Mr. Dino Newville and the volunteers at Blues Gym who truly embody the spirit of giving and service. Dino is a role model for all of us, and I am proud not only to represent him, but to call him my friend.
PRESIDENTIAL TAX FILINGS AND AUDIT TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2022
Mike Kelly (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-12-22

. Madam , this phrase keeps coming up that no person is above the law. That is true. But, also, no person is denied protection under the law. prgtoken Why would we wait 4 years? prgtoken Why would this come up at this time that we have to check the former President of the United States' tax returns? prgtoken The answer is because we want to make them public. prgtoken Why do we want to make them public? prgtoken Because we need to have every single citizen understand just who this person is and what is in their tax returns with no regard to the protections that are already in place that these kinds of things don't happen, that they do not become a political weapon. prgtoken Yet, now in the very last days of this session, we have decided that this is the most important thing this Congress can do. No other President has ever gone through this type of scrutiny. prgtoken We keep saying he is not above the law. He is not above the law. The truth of it all is, he is not protected by the law because we are going to change the law. We are going to make it a weapon that we can go after. prgtoken I will just tell you this: The American people continue to lose faith, trust, and confidence in a system that cherry-picks what it decides to go after and go after in a way that is detrimental to the very form of government that we have. prgtoken To be here today, talking about this, in the last hours of this session, has nothing to do with what is good for the American people. It is a political hit job. It is sad and, especially in this age, for the Ways and Means to be doing this at the end of the year? Horrible.
OMNIBUS
John Kennedy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2022-12-22

this bill, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of FY23, addresses an issue that I have been dealing with for well over a decade, since I was Louisiana State Treasurer. The U.S. Treasury Department is sitting on nearly $30 billion in mature, unredeemed savings bonds, issued years or decades ago to hard-working Americans who wanted to invest in America. States, who have long held the responsibility of holding and making available lost assets, have tried to subject these savings bonds to the time-honored, reliable escheatment and unclaimed property process. At every turn, their efforts have been opposed by Treasury, which has also rebuffed any offers from the States to use their vast capabilities to help reunite bondholders or their rightful heirs to these funds. Instead, Treasury has made its own attempts at digitizing and updating its voluminous bondholder records and creating a database for users--efforts which have failed to make any meaningful dent in the amounts of unredeemed debt, according to their own status report. prgtoken This bill includes a provision that directs Treasury to provide States with information relating to bond purchases, including the name, applicable address, co-owners or beneficiaries, and the bond serial numbers which claimants often need to reclaim their funds. I understand that Treasury has said it may not have enough data in its records to match the serial numbers with the name and address of the bondholder; this is why the bill's language includes some flexibility, stating that the information Treasury must provide to States ``may'' include bond serial numbers. This wording allows Treasury to use its discretion in the limited instances when it is incapable of providing those numbers, but the overall language makes clear that Treasury is obligated to make every effort to locate relevant and necessary information and provide it to the correct States. I expect Treasury to issue regulations which will fulfill these responsibilities. prgtoken The bill's definitions ensure that this will cover both paper and paperless bonds--and I want to clarify also includes bonds that were issued in paper but have been lost, stolen, or destroyed. Treasury's own 2021 report on mature unredeemed debt describes the process for bond owners who have the necessary information but not the paper document itself as lengthy, complex, and a hindrance that discourages claimants. The clear purpose of this legislation is to make this process simpler by opening it up to States, and Treasury should issue regulations reflecting this intent.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023--Continued
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-12-22

for years, Members of Congress have lamented their inability to control spending and debt. On rare occasions, though, Congress has actually passed rules to try to tame their primal urge to borrow and spend. prgtoken From Gramm-Rudman-Hollings to PAYGO, good legislation is out there to restrain deficit spending, only to be universally ignored and rejected by future Congresses. prgtoken Today's legislation breaks the Congressional Budget Act rules, so congressional leaders have included in this monstrous spending bill language to simply waive the PAYGO rules. Congress has time and time again waived its own rules, and the result has been over $31 trillion in debt, inflation, and a weakened economy. prgtoken Let's respect the American people by being responsible stewards of their tax dollars and adhering to our own budget rules. prgtoken The pending measure, Senate amendment No. 6552, contains matter in division O, title X, section 1001(d) that relates to the operation of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, which is matter within the jurisdiction of the Budget Committee. The pending measure was neither reported nor discharged from the Budget Committee. prgtoken Therefore, I raise a point of order against this measure pursuant to section 306 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
HONORING THE LATE DR. MILDRED FAY JEFFERSON
Louie Gohmert (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-12-22

. Madam , we are blessed in the First District of Texas to have been home to a multitude of extraordinary individuals who have made significant impacts upon not only the State of Texas and our nation, but the entire world. One of those east Texans is whose life we honor today, the late Dr. Mildred Fay Jefferson. prgtoken Dr. Jefferson was a young prodigy raised in the town of Carthage, Texas. Her early education was complete before she reached the age of fifteen, graduating from Carthage Colored High School--later known as Turner High School--in 1943. prgtoken The determined young woman obtained a Bachelor's degree in Medicine from Texas College at the age of eighteen, then completed her Master's degree in Biology from Tufts University in 1947. Dr. Jefferson then conquered the odds and earned her M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1951, making her the first African American woman to graduate with that degree from the Medical School. prgtoken After becoming a medical doctor, Dr. Jefferson continued to make history with a long string of ``firsts'' for women--including the first woman to serve on staff of Boston City Hospital, the first woman to be granted membership in the Boston Surgical Society, and the first female surgeon general at Boston University Medical Center. prgtoken Dr. Jefferson married former Navy Lieutenant Shane Cunningham in 1961. After their divorce in 1978, Dr. Jefferson turned her life to activism by establishing the Massachusetts Citizens for Life Counsel. prgtoken A 1970 decision by the American Medical Association to allow member physicians to perform abortions ethically in states where the procedure was allowed sparked a passion in Dr. Jefferson's soul, as she viewed this decision as abandoning the Hippocratic Oath which demands a doctor to ``do no harm.'' She began a nationwide outcry against abortion. prgtoken Dr. Jefferson helped form the Value of Life Committee which was one of the organizations that initiated the national ``right-to-life'' movement which endures today. She quickly became one of the most sought after and fervent spokespersons in the nation to represent the pro-life stance. In 1981, Dr. Jefferson testified before Congress as a result of the historic 1973 Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade. prgtoken Dr. Jefferson was quoted as saying, ``I became a physician in order to save lives, not to destroy them.'' She also said, ``I am not willing to stand aside and allow this concept of expendable human lives to turn this great land of ours into just another exclusive reservation where only the perfect, the privileged, and the planned have the right to live.'' prgtoken The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) was co-founded by Dr. Jefferson in 1973. She then entered the world of politics, running for the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts in 1982, 1990, and 1994. prgtoken Dr. Jefferson was honored with twenty-eight honorary degrees from numerous universities and colleges. Although Dr. Jeff
TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PREVENTION AND PROTECTION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2022
Jim Jordan (Republican, OH) \u2014 2022-12-22

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , S. 3949 requires that certain services be provided to trafficking survivors with a history in the State child protection and welfare system. For example, it would require that trafficking victims with a history in the child welfare system receive basic education, life skills training, job skills training, and other professional development. prgtoken The bill also prohibits officials who are investigating trafficking from engaging in illicit relationships or contact with witnesses, victims, potential witnesses, and potential victims during the course of the investigation. prgtoken It also requires all Federal agencies to ensure that all staff receive training related to human trafficking and acknowledge the agency's code of conduct as it relates to human trafficking. prgtoken Additionally, this bill requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the prevention of trafficking of persons in the Federal contract supply chain. prgtoken Madam , I would just say if we really want to deal with the trafficking problem, the number one thing we could do, the number one thing we should do, the best thing we could do is actually secure the border. But this week, the are looking to do just the opposite and make an already chaotic situation even more chaotic with the repeal of title 42. prgtoken That is what we should be focusing on. If we really care about this terrible human trafficking concern and problem, we would secure our southern border, but that is not, unfortunately, where this administration wants to go. prgtoken This legislation is fine, but if we really want to address the overriding problem here, we would be focused on the border. prgtoken Madam , .
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023--Continued
Ron Johnson (Republican, WI) \u2014 2022-12-22

I have a chart showing monthly apprehensions of the southwest border since 2012. This little blip over here in 2014, this is the humanitarian crisis declared by President when monthly apprehensions exceeded about 60,000 a month. prgtoken President had to deal with, in one month, about 4,000 people a day but still under 150,000 people per month. He solved the problem by returning people and having a consequence for illegal entry into this country. prgtoken President took office, opened up the border, and now we are exceeding over 200,000 people entering this country illegally every month. prgtoken This is a crisis. This is a humanitarian crisis, but this administration won't even admit it is a problem. They say it is a challenge. prgtoken My amendment is pretty simple. It takes whatever funds are appropriate for transporting illegal immigrants and only allows those funds to be used to send them home or to a safe third country or to Mexico or to a detention facility here in America. We need a consequence. We have to secure our border. This is out of control. prgtoken I ask all my colleagues to support my amendment.