mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
MOTION TO DISCHARGE
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-6-22

on June 12, a bipartisan group of 20 Senators announced an agreement on legislation to protect our children and communities from the epidemic of gun violence. In the days since then, this bipartisan group, led by Senators Murphy, Cornyn, Sinema, Tillis, and others, have worked to move this agreement forward. prgtoken We took a test vote last night--our first Senate floor vote on the package. It was a strong bipartisan rollcall. Let's be clear: This bill is a compromise. In a 50/50 Senate, we expect nothing less. prgtoken It doesn't accomplish everything I want. It certainly doesn't accomplish everything which the colleagues who voted for it want either, but the reforms and investments made in this bill represent an important step toward making our Nation safer. prgtoken It won't end gun violence, but it will help to reduce the number of shootings and killings which number 100 Americans each day, and it will end, perhaps, guns as the leading cause of death among our children. prgtoken Let me highlight a few important provisions: $250 million in grants for community violence intervention programs which have shown great promise in communities in my State. This prgtoken would double the current annual Justice Department funding for these programs. The bill makes dramatic investments in mental health infrastructure, providing billions of dollars in school and community mental health grants and behavioral health clinics. It gives an additional $28 million to fund the trauma support in school program at HHS. This is a program that Senator Capito-- of West Virginia--and I created in 2018 to help break the cycle of trauma and violence. prgtoken The bill also provides three-quarters of $1 billion in Byrne/JAG grants to help States administer crisis intervention programs like the extreme risk protection order laws in Illinois and 18 other States. prgtoken The bill takes significant steps toward closing the boyfriend loophole: keeping guns out of the hands of dating partners who have been convicted of domestic violence offenses. prgtoken It creates a new Federal offense for the crimes of straw purchasing and gun trafficking. This will crack down on the illicit flow of guns into cities like Chicago. prgtoken Again, this bill is a compromise. There are provisions I would rather change and some I would rather do without; but, overall, it marks the most significant gun violence reduction legislation in nearly three decades. I commend the bipartisan effort that led us to this point, and we should pass this bill without delay. prgtoken I want to call particular attention to two sections of this bill that I mentioned. prgtoken One is to stop straw purchases. Straw purchases are when a person with a clean criminal record or with no criminal record goes to buy a gun for the sole purpose of giving it to another individual who has a criminal record and couldn't legally purchase a gun himself. That happen
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4176, LGBTQI+ DATA INCLUSION ACT; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5585, ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY-HEALTH ACT; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R...
C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-6-22

. Madam , due to my attendance at an Appropriations hearing, I was unable to make rollcall vote No. 280. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' members recorded pursuant to house resolution 8, 117th congress Allred (Takano) Bonamici (Manning) Bourdeaux (Correa) (Takano) Carter (LA) (Williams (GA)) Carter (TX) (Weber (TX)) Cohen (Beyer) Connolly (Beyer) Costa (Correa) Crist (Wasserman Schultz) Davis, Danny K. (Gomez) DeSaulnier (Beyer)
RESTORING HOPE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING ACT OF 2022
Grace F. Napolitano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-6-22

. Madam , I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7666, the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act. I am honored to have my bill, H.R. 721, the Mental Health Services for Students Act, included in this package. Today is a historic day in recognizing the need for more comprehensive school-based mental health resources. prgtoken The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the lives of our nation's children and youth and added additional stressors that have significantly strained and continues to strain their mental health and well-being. Children and youth across the nation continue to confront the traumatic challenges of this pandemic, including disruptions to their lives, fear and anxiety about the virus, and the tragic death of loved ones. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mental health disorders are chronic conditions that, without proper diagnosis and treatment, can lead to problems for children at home and in school, interfering with their health and future development. prgtoken H.R. 721 acknowledges this problem by providing $130 million in competitive grants for school-based mental health programs nationwide. It expands the scope of the Project AWARE program by providing onsite licensed mental health professionals in schools across the country. prgtoken H.R. 721 is based on the successful Youth Suicide Prevention Program that I helped establish with Pacific Clinics in Los Angeles County in 2001, after learning 1 in 3 Latina adolescents, age 9 to 11, had contemplated suicide. We need to secure the long-term availability of mental health services to ensure a bright future for our students, which my bill would help accomplish. prgtoken I would like to thank the many advocates in and outside of Congress who have played an integral role in this legislation. H.R. 721 has 86 bipartisan co-sponsors and has the support of over 50 mental health organizations, as well as local governments and teacher unions. I would also like to thank my co-lead Rep. John Katko, Chairman Pallone and his staff, and my own staff who contributed toward today's passage. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to support the underlying bill, H.R. 7666, which will help address our ongoing mental health crisis. it is now time to act on this bill and provide the necessary funding and resources to reach children and youth early on in life.
IN RECOGNITION OF KYLE HILL FOR FIVE YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE
Suzan K. DelBene (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2022-6-22

. Madam , I rise today to thank Kyle Hill for nearly five years of invaluable service to my office and my constituents in Washington's 1st Congressional District. prgtoken Kyle joined my office as a Legislative Assistant in October 2017 and soon after became my Legislative Director. Prior to coming to my office, Kyle worked for the Hon. Steve Israel of New York for four years as well. prgtoken In each of these roles, Kyle exceeded the mark and met the challenges that come with running a legislative team with his wealth of knowledge, quick wit, and joyful personality. Over his tenure, he played an instrumental role in overseeing the smooth management of a fast-paced office and shaping internal processes--all while building lasting relationships with my team and those who had the pleasure of getting to know him. We all also deeply admire and are inspired by his commitment to reducing his carbon footprint by biking to work every day, regardless of the weather. Kyle has been an amazing leader, a terrific mentor, and a wonderful friend, and we will all sorely miss him. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Kyle Hill and wishing him the best in all of his future endeavors.
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-6-22

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision prgtoken stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
RESTORING HOPE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING ACT OF 2022
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-6-22

I thank the chairman and ranking member for the work they have done together and with the committee to bring this very important bipartisan bill to the floor. I thank them both for their hard work, and the committee for its hard work, in compiling this bipartisan package to combat two of the most important issues, Mr facing communities today: mental health and drug addiction. prgtoken The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated mental health and addiction challenges that were already present in our communities. For those already experiencing severe depression, anxiety, or even substance abuse and addiction disorders, the pandemic made it harder to access mental health care and essential help and resources, and it created, of course, much greater anxiety. prgtoken This bill would reauthorize key mental health and addiction programs while helping to strengthen communities' crisis response. prgtoken There are many important programs included, but I will highlight just a few. prgtoken , among them is legislation from my friend Representative David Trone to help States expand the availability of high-quality recovery housing for treatment from substance abuse. Representative Trone has been a leader on this issue as co-chair of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force. prgtoken , also included is legislation from my friends Representatives Cindy Axne and Chris Pappas to revise opioid treatment program criteria to help those in need of treatment access it more quickly. prgtoken Our in-house pediatrician, Representative Kim Schrier, authored a provision to help children and teens who have had their lives upended by the pandemic access the mental health care and services that they so badly need. prgtoken , I also mention a critical section added by Representative Susie Lee to provide important resources for virtual peer support programs. Representative Lee knows how much her constituents have benefited from these types of programs and how much more good they can do if given the proper resources. prgtoken Representative Tonko from New York, included legislation to expand access to prescription medications that help patients overcome addiction disorders. prgtoken , these are just a few of the very beneficial policies included in this legislation that will improve lives and, indeed, save lives. prgtoken I am so proud of the Energy and Commerce Committee and all the Members whose legislation is included in this bipartisan package, which demonstrates how we can join together, and s, to pass important legislation and show those we serve they are not alone in facing these challenges. prgtoken , I hope this strong vote today will help move these critical policies through the Senate and see them quickly enacted into law. prgtoken , I urge a ``yes'' vote.
HONORING DR. REIN BEEUWKES
Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2022-6-22

. Madam , I rise today with my friend and colleague Congresswoman Lori Trahan to recognize the work of Dr. Rein Beeuwkes and his recognition as the first recipient of the MIT Better World Alumni Service Award. This award honors a single MIT alumnus who ``has demonstrated the ability, passion, and unwavering commitment for working wisely creatively and effectively to advance the MIT idea for the betterment of humankind.'' prgtoken In 2005, deeply concerned about the need to move the U.S. and the world to a low carbon sustainable future, Rein recognized that in order to meet even the modest climate goals that had been set, there would need to be major technological breakthroughs. After considerable research, Rein was persuaded that fusion energy could become one of those breakthroughs if government adequately funded it and if the scientists working on fusion directed their focus to getting energy to the grid at a competitive price. prgtoken Rein, affectionately known as ``fusion man,'' has become the evangelist for the potential and promise of fusion energy. Rein has worked tirelessly with the community of fusion scientists to set goals that will bring fusion energy to the grid in this decade. Rein was instrumental in urging the formation of the bipartisan Congressional Fusion Energy Caucus. prgtoken Over the past decade, Rein has been an enthusiastic citizen-advocate for an accelerated fusion energy program in which MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center has played a leading role. Rein's support for MIT's fusion research helped spur the first commercial nuclear fusion reactor in North America which is being built in Devens, MA by Commonwealth Fusion Systems.
PREVENT EXPOSURE TO NARCOTICS AND TOXICS ACT OF 2021
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-6-22

. Madam , I rise in support of H.R. 5274, known as the PREVENT Act of 2021. prgtoken The Prevent Exposure to Narcotics and Toxics Act seeks to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide additional training for U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel. prgtoken The training outlined in the amendment would instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection on containment devices which prevent secondary exposure to fentanyl and other lethal substances. prgtoken These containment devices reduce exposure to hazardous substances and can improve investigations by better preserving chemical substances for forensic analysis. prgtoken Fentanyl exposure as little as two milligrams can lead to trouble breathing, dizziness and a possible lethal overdose. prgtoken CBP (Customer and Border Protection) Officers are at an increased risk of exposure to fentanyl and other lethal substances through inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, etc. This exposure risk was reported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General. prgtoken The same report cited that many CBP facilities were ill equipped to store fentanyl and other lethal substances. prgtoken These facilities were also not equipped with naloxone, a substance critical in preventing overdose when faced with accidental exposures. prgtoken Without proper training on how to contain and prevent these threats, our personnel are at risk of endangering themselves and the people they seek to protect. prgtoken It is imperative to defend our law enforcement officers from dangers they face while protecting our communities and Nation. This bill would promote the safety of CBP Officers while promoting the effectiveness of their investigations. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 5274.
CELEBRATING PRIDE MONTH
David N. Cicilline (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2022-6-22

. Madam , my colleagues and I are here today for this Special Order hour to celebrate Pride Month. prgtoken Pride is a time of celebration of our community and its diversity. It is a time to uplift LGBTQ+ people all across the country and honor our identities and how these individuals have shaped our lives. prgtoken Pride is also a time of action. Fifty-three years ago, LGBTQ+ patrons fought back against discrimination and police harassment at New York's Stonewall Inn. Now, we need to harness that same strength and determination to fight back against State legislatures' attacks against our community, especially trans and nonbinary kids. prgtoken For every person able to celebrate Pride Month, there are others who are struggling. There are countless people unable to come out because of discrimination, harassment, and threats of violence. In too many States, this discrimination is being led by elected officials. prgtoken Here in Congress, the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus fights every day so that all people, regardless of sexual identification or gender identity, can live their lives openly and have every opportunity to be successful and to lead happy lives. prgtoken I am proud to have introduced the Equality Act, along with every single member of the ic Caucus as cosponsors, to ensure that LGBTQ+ people are protected from discrimination in key areas of life. I also introduced the Global Respect Act to deny prgtoken visas to those who commit gross human rights abuses against members of the LGBTQ+ community around the world. prgtoken Both of these bills passed the House with bipartisan support, and I urge the Senate to quickly do the same and advance LGBTQ+ equality both at home and abroad. prgtoken As chair of the Equality Caucus, I will never stop fighting so that all LGBTQ+ people, no matter where they live or how they identify, can live their lives openly with the full protections of our Federal laws. prgtoken We have made important progress this Congress. In addition to passing several LGBTQ+ bills through the House, two key caucus priority bills have also become law: H.R. 49, to designate the Pulse nightclub as a National Memorial, and S. 937, which included the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, which provides for grants to improve data collection of hate crimes, including hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity, and grants for States to create hotlines to assist victims of hate crimes. prgtoken I am so grateful we have a devoted ally to the LGBTQ+ community in the White House who signed both of these bills into law. President has been a champion for our community. Just last week, he signed an executive order advancing LGBTQI+ equality during Pride Month. This executive order aligns with the goals of numerous bills introduced by Equality Caucus members. prgtoken But we are not done fighting for LGBTQ+ equality. Later this week, we will be voting on the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act
RESTORING HOPE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING ACT OF 2022
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-6-22

I rise in support of the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022. prgtoken I thank all of my committee members on both sides for months of work on this important bipartisan legislation, which reauthorizes and strengthens critical mental and behavioral health programs that will help address public health issues like the opioid epidemic, which claimed over 107,000 lives in the United States last year alone. prgtoken The mental health package before us contains strong mental health parity provisions that my colleague Congresswoman Katie Porter and I led. This will close a critical gap in healthcare coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatment for thousands of frontline workers across the country. prgtoken It also includes a provision I worked on with my friend and colleague, Congressman French Hill, that provides incentives for co- prescribing when a doctor pairs an opioid prescription with a prescription of an opioid overdose reversal drug like naloxone. This is a proven method to reduce overdose deaths. prgtoken Finally, it is good to see consideration of an amendment I coauthored with Congressman McKinley cracking down on suspicious orders of opioids, which will help further curb abuses and save lives. prgtoken , all of us have had family members or know someone who has had a mental health crisis or issue or suffered from depression. For too long, people have been afraid to even acknowledge it, to seek help, or to get help. There has been a stigma associated with it. Today, all of us on both sides of this aisle need to help remove that stigma. prgtoken My sister died of a drug overdose, and my father was a drug addict. Perhaps we wouldn't have suffered some of the traumas had people not been afraid to speak of it. prgtoken , this is a strong package that will improve our national response, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
BIPARTISAN SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-6-22

for far too long, Americans have grappled with the epidemic of gun violence that has taken lives and shattered families and communities in my home State of Michigan as well as all across the country. prgtoken These shootings and attacks not only cause unimaginable pain and grief for victims and their families but terrorize entire communities, who must cope with the lasting effects of unspeakable tragedy in their schools, in their theaters, houses of worship, and other public places. prgtoken There is no one easy solution to address this matter, but Americans deserve to feel safe where they live, where they work and learn and shop and pray; and these senseless acts of violence occur far too often. prgtoken From the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre of young students and school staff, to the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Tree of Life synagogue shootings that killed Americans simply practicing their faith, to the deadly and hateful and heinous attacks at Pulse nightclub and a grocery store in Buffalo, gun violence has left no corner of our country untouched. prgtoken In Michigan, sadly, we know all too well the terror and the devastation caused by gun violence. Late last year, in Oxford, MI, a horrific shooting unfolded at Oxford High School. In a matter of just mere minutes, a routine school day at Oxford High turned into a scene of chaos and heartbreak when a gunman--a 15-year-old classmate--opened fire inside the school, taking four young lives and wounding seven other people. That attack forever changed the lives of the students, the teachers, staff, and shattered the assumption that schools are a safe haven. prgtoken Oxford High School students and the entire community have been resilient, but as they continued to process the shooting and to work to heal from it, those emotional wounds again reopened for many when they watched yet another horrific scene play out at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX, where 19 young students and 2 teachers were murdered. prgtoken Schools are supposed to be a safe haven. Parents and family members should not live in fear that their children or their loved ones who are at work won't return home at the end of that school day. And while there is no single solution to end the gun violence epidemic, for far too long, partisan gridlock has prevented Congress from advancing commonsense legislation that can save lives. prgtoken For decades, politics have stood in the way of progress, and that is despite 90 percent of the American people--including a majority of voters--supporting commonsense steps like expanding background checks. In today's partisan environment, it is tough to get consensus, but that just shows how much support there is to getting something done. prgtoken This should not be a partisan issue. We know that many responsible gun owners across our country support gun safety legislation. I am a gun owner. I enjoy hunting, as do s
PELL GRANTS OPEN DOOR TO OPPORTUNITY
Kathy E. Manning (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2022-6-22

50 years ago, Congress launched the Pell Grant Program to provide direct financial aid to low-income students to increase access to higher education. This program has opened up the door of opportunity and made the dream of college a reality for millions of students across the country. prgtoken In North Carolina's Sixth District, over 30,000 students are utilizing nearly $140 million in Pell grants to pursue their higher education goals at local colleges and universities. Nationwide, nearly 7 million students, or 40 percent of undergraduates, are Pell grant recipients. prgtoken As a member of the Education and Labor Committee, I am proud to share my support for Pell grants and to have supported a $400 increase to the maximum annual award. By increasing the Pell grant award, we are ensuring that more students can attend college and join the skilled workforce in their desired career field. prgtoken I look forward to Congress continuing the bipartisan support for expanding student access to college through Pell grants for another 50 years.