mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES
Carolyn Bourdeaux (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2022-7-20

I rise in support of the minibus appropriations bill the House passed earlier today. prgtoken This legislation includes my bill to support the revitalization of vacant shopping malls like the Gwinnett Place Mall in my district. This provision would catalyze additional investment in these projects and enhance economic activity, access to housing, and mobility for local residents. prgtoken The minibus also includes six of my community project funding requests, including funding for the acquisition of African-American books and historical artifacts at the Hooper-Renwick Memorial Library, as well as projects to increase wraparound services for Latino families and youth through Ser Familia, provide transportation to low-income students through Corners Outreach, and enhance access to transit and clean drinking water for many communities in Georgia's Seventh District. prgtoken Altogether, the T-HUD bill and the minibus include important investments that will make our communities stronger.
DONALD TRUMP LOST THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Ted Lieu (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-7-20

lost the 2020 Presidential Election by over 7 million votes. lost Arizona by over 10,000 votes. lost Georgia by over 11,000 votes. lost Wisconsin by over 20,000 votes. lost Nevada by over 30,000 votes. lost Pennsylvania by over 80,000 votes. lost Michigan by over 150,000 votes. prgtoken lost the Electoral College 232-306. lost the 2020 Presidential Election.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2022-7-20

I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader following consultation with the leader, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 399, H.R. 7776; that the Carper-Capito-Cardin-Cramer substitute No. 5140 be considered and agreed to; that there be up to 1 hour of debate, equally divided in the usual form, that upon the use or yielding back of time, if a budget point of order is made, the Senate vote on the motion to waive; and that if the point of order is waived, the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the bill with 60 affirmative votes required for passage; and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
RECOGNIZING THE EGYPTIAN HERITAGE DAY FESTIVAL
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-7-20

. Madam , I rise to convey my good wishes to the organizers of this year's Egyptian Heritage Day Festival in Astoria, Queens. Thanks in part to the efforts of dedicated groups such as theirs, New York City is one of the world's great cultural melting pots. prgtoken The Egyptian community has long been a pillar of New York City's vibrant immigrant landscape and events like the Egyptian Heritage Day Festival highlight the essential role that Egyptians and all cultural groups play in shaping the fabric of our great city and country. prgtoken I have the privilege of representing Little Egypt in Congress, and I have seen firsthand the beauty and strength of this community. Whether it is with authentic Egyptian restaurants, small businesses or community events, Little Egypt and our city's Egyptian community play a key role in making New York City the multicultural capital of the world. prgtoken Egyptian Americans have made significant contributions to our country in the fields of science, arts, sports or entertainment. Ahmed Zewail was the first Egyptian to be awarded a Nobel Prize in a scientific field. He studied in and taught at our nation's finest institutions and was nominated by President to serve on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Mohamed Atalla is often described as a pioneer of semiconductors and electronics. He was awarded the Benjamin Franklin medal in physics and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Rami Malek has starred in several award-winning films and in 2018 he became the first actor of Egyptian heritage to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Bohemian Rhapsody. Michael Mina, is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and now heads the Mina Group, a network of 40 restaurants worldwide. prgtoken As these examples illustrate, Egyptian Americans have played a crucial part in our country's scientific, cultural, and artistic accomplishments. Their talents, hard work and dedication help make our country a global beacon of opportunity and discovery. prgtoken Madam , I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the organizers of this festival and celebrating the enormous contributions that Egyptian-Americans have made to our country.
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-7-20

I have nine requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders. prgtoken Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:
Tribute to Jean Toal Eisen (Executive Session)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2022-7-20

I come to the floor today as the current chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies because I want to pay tribute to the clerk who has worked with me for the last 6 years but who has been in public service here for the Federal Government for 27 years, including 26 years of service in the U.S. Senate, and that is Jean Toal Eisen, who is going to be retiring from the Federal Government. prgtoken And Jean is here along with two other members of the staff of the CJS Subcommittee, Blaise Sheridan and Michael Bednarczyk, as well as three members of my staff, Ariel Marshall, Janelle DiLuccia, and Chad Kreikemeier, my chief of staff. prgtoken We are here because we think it is important, and I especially think it is important to recognize the people who make this body run. And it is people like Jean, who have dedicated their whole careers to this institution, who allow us to--who mean that we can, on occasion, get things done that make a huge difference for the people of this country. prgtoken And I know I speak for all the members of the Appropriations Committee and its staff when I say that Jean will be sorely missed. prgtoken Just last week, as I looked at the breathtaking images captured from NASA's James Webb telescope, I thought about Jean. It is no exaggeration to say that those images exist, in no small part, because of her work on this subcommittee. And they serve as a fitting capstone for her distinguished career. prgtoken And, of course, then I thought about other ways that Jean's influence will endure, ensuring millions of people will get access to broadband because of her work on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act--and there were many late nights that she and other members of my staff and Senator Collins' staff worked with the Commerce Department to try and ensure we could get those broadband sections done--and then also helping survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse receive access to critical services because of Jean's successful efforts to release more resources from the Crime Victims Fund. In fact, every year that I have been chair of Commerce, Justice, and Science, because of Jean's efforts, we have maximized funding in the Office of Violence Against Women so that each year over year we have done better. prgtoken She has also been there to ensure that the next generation of STEM innovators and leaders get record investments in the National Science Foundation and NASA. And it is really appropriate that we are considering bipartisan chips innovation legislation on the floor this week, Jean's last in the Senate, because she played a central role drafting and negotiating this critical legislation that will bolster American manufacturing and protect our national security interests. prgtoken And though Jean will no longer be in the Senate, her legacy is already felt everywhere, and the American people are b
Respect for Marriage Act (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-7-20

before I begin, I want to say something about the House-passed Respect for Marriage Act, which would enshrine marriage equality into Federal law, which I fully and strongly support. prgtoken This legislation is so important. I was really impressed by how much bipartisan support it got in the House. It passed 267 to 157. Forty- seven s--about a quarter, a little less than a quarter of their caucus; maybe a fifth--voted for the bill. The legislation is so important. prgtoken I spoke to Senator Baldwin, who is one of the leaders of this legislation in the Senate, this morning, and she is talking to s to see where the support is. I want to bring this bill to the floor, and we are working to get the necessary Senate support to ensure it would pass.
TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023
Tim Ryan (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2022-7-20

. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this amendment. prgtoken I represent Ohio, and we have a number of VA clinics and facilities in rural areas across this country. One of ours is in Chillicothe, the Chillicothe VA Medical Center that this commission recommended for closure. They were saying it was not optimally located. prgtoken This is in the southern part of the State, by the Ohio River, serving all of the veterans in the southern part of Ohio. And 1,400 Ohioans are employed. The facility is over 100 years old. It serves 20,000 veterans in 17 counties. prgtoken This is insane that we think that that is a good idea; that of all the waste and abuse in the United States Government, we are going to target a rural VA facility in southern Ohio with a State that has 865,000 veterans. prgtoken I think this is a wise amendment. I support the McGovern amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it as well.
SOCIAL SECURITY
John B. Larson (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2022-7-20

I thank the gentleman from California for his comments. prgtoken I will point out that this is a bipartisan plan, probably more correctly called nonpartisan. Why? Because Independents, , and s of all ages, of all backgrounds and ethnic groups, support Social Security because it is, as President indicated, a sacred trust. prgtoken As Congressman Ryan pointed out, whether you are in a rural area or an urban area, whether you are on the coast or in the Great Plains of this country, you are impacted by Social Security. This is about your mother and father. It is about your brothers and sisters. prgtoken It is what I call the great mirror test. If you can look your constituents in the eye--and we have provided every Member of Congress with a card that says: How many of your constituents receive Social Security? prgtoken It is Congress' responsibility. This is not something that can happen through executive order. This is not something that the Supreme Court is going to rule on. This is only something that Congress can do. prgtoken We are blessed in the House that we have a great leader in Nancy Pelosi. It was Nancy Pelosi, back in 2005 that led the charge that was ``Horatius at the bridge,'' so to speak, to prevent the privatization of Social Security, and we were successful. prgtoken Thank God we were, for had that plan succeeded, 2008 and 2009 would have been far more disastrous. Yet, as we all know, Social Security, in the midst of that recession, never missed a payment, not a spousal or a dependent payment, not a disability payment, and not a pension payment. prgtoken And now it is Nancy Pelosi as well. Along with President and --and frankly, a number of s--who know in their hearts and know because when they give that mirror test and go home and look at their family members, in the midst of this pandemic, in the midst of this inflation, the most successful and the most efficiently run governmental program that we have should be embraced by everyone to give the access and relief that our seniors need, that our disabled veterans need, that our children continue to need. prgtoken President Eisenhower and President Nixon, the last President under whom we expanded Social Security benefits, that was in 1971, and a gallon of milk cost 72 cents--what seniors have endured. And like most, like my mother, would turn to their children and say: Don't worry about me. I don't want to be a burden. prgtoken My mother--all mothers--were never a burden. They were an inspiration to us all. And we all owe it to them to make sure that they live out their lives in the simple dignity of knowing they can't retire into poverty. That is the promise of Social Security. It hasn't kept pace. How could it if it hasn't been expanded in 51 years. prgtoken Now its solvency is in question and this bill expands its solvency. And, most importantly, it expands the benefits that are so vitally needed-
HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF SERGEANT TIM STACY
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-7-20

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Sergeant Tim Stacy of the Dearborn Police Department on the occasion of his retirement, His honorable 22 years of service to our community is worthy of commendation. prgtoken A graduate of Southgate Anderson High School, Schoolcraft College, and Wayne County Community College Sergeant Stacy began his career in the Dearborn Police Department in 1994 as a reserve police officer. After obtaining his criminal justice degree in 1996; he was promoted to the role of Police Ordinance Officer in 1997. From there, he worked his way up the ranks becoming certified in traffic safety and accident investigations and was promoted to the position of Sergeant and Office in Charge of the Police Motor Carrier and Ordinance Enforcement Units in 2015. prgtoken Known for his caring heart and willingness to help those in need, Sergeant Stacy has always looked for new ways to advance professionally and better serve his community. He has frequently attended trainings at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. In addition to his duties as an officer, he served as a community liaison for the department, helping improve the lives of his neighbors each day. A dedicated officer and known for his commitment to improving his community, he was awarded the Chiefs Outstanding Service Award in 2018. He has always been there to help anyone who needed a helping hand. He continues to reside in Lincoln Park, Michigan with his wife Maya and is an outstanding father to their children Ava, Emma, and Lily. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Sergeant Tim Stacy for a career of exemplary service to the Dearborn Police Department. I join with Sergeant Stacy's family, friends, and colleagues in extending my gratitude to him for his decades of honorable service. We thank him for serving the people of the City of Dearborn for the past 22 years. We wish him the best in retirement and lots of time spent with friends and family as he fights cancer. He is a man of honor and bravery--Cancer has never had a more formidable opponent.
TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-7-20

. Mr. Chair, I include the executive summary in the Record. [From the United States Government Accountability Office, Feb. 2022] Incomplete Information Hinders Usefulness of Market Assessments for VA Facility Realignment The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) conducted assessments of its capacity within 96 markets to deliver health care to veterans through VA providers and, when the Department cannot provide the care needed, through non-VA providers, known as community care. For these assessments, markets are designated geographic areas made up of a set of contiguous counties that contain one or more VA medical centers and associated clinics. For an overview of VA's approach, see the figure. Text of Overview of Department of Veterans Affairs' Approach to Its Market Assessments: Compiled data about the market including veteran health care supply and demand, Identified gaps between supply and demand, Developed proposals to respond to gaps between supply and demand, and Issue final proposals. VA officials described the department's process of developing proposals as iterative in that VA continually reviewed and revised draft proposals throughout the market assessments process. The VA Secretary plans to transmit recommendations to the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission by March 14, 2022--that is, no later than 6 weeks from the statutory deadline of January 31, 2022. The Commission will then review these recommendations, hold public hearings, and prepare and issue their own recommendations to the President. GAO identified gaps in the data VA compiled and certified for the market assessments that were relevant to determining both the supply of and demand for non-VA care. For example, VA lacked complete data on the extent to which its contractors maintain an adequate number of non-VA providers to ensure veterans have timely access to community care. VA officials told GAO that they determined supply and demand based on the most recently available data at the time of data compilation--December 2018 to November 2020. In addition, while VA officials told GAO the end-of-assessment analyses included updated data on community care, these data did not address the gaps GAO identified. Without such information, VA lacks a full understanding of the extent to which community care is able to supplement VA facility care to meet veterans' current and future demand. GAO also found that VA's approach to the market assessments did not include steps to collect information on the quality of VA data compiled from numerous VA data sources or other steps to understand any relevant data limitations. Instead, VA officials leading the market assessm
MORNING BUSINESS
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-7-20

I rise to highlight the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's vote to favorably report the Peace Corps Reauthorization Act to the full Senate for its consideration. This legislation, the first reauthorization since 1999, is critically important to strengthening American leadership in the world. prgtoken Last year, the Peace Corps celebrated its 60th anniversary of when President John F. Kennedy established this important program, run by its first Director, Sargent Shriver. The Peace Corps' mission then, as it is today, is to ``promote world peace and friendship'' by encouraging economic growth and well-being to underserved populations abroad, as well as giving Americans a better understanding of the wider world and vice-versa. prgtoken The Peace Corps is emerging from one of the most challenging crises it has ever faced. On March 15, 2020, as the gravity and uncertainty of the COVID pandemic gripped the world, every mission was suspended for the first time in the Peace Corps' history. In addition to executing the enormously complex operation of evacuating more than 7,000 Peace Corps volunteers from all around the globe, the Peace Corps was faced with the challenge of how to operate and serve during a period of global social isolation. prgtoken As the world continues to recover from the pandemic, the Peace Corps is busy executing plans for reentering countries and resuming its mission of service around the world. While the prgtoken Peace Corps' return is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of this vitally important branch of U.S. foreign affairs, COVID's continued presence around the world requires the Peace Corps to undertake a wide array of new public safety measures to keep volunteers, staff, and host communities healthy and safe. prgtoken And so this reauthorization comes at a most critical time for the Peace Corps. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enact long overdue reforms and to make sure the agency can effectively promote international peace, development, and people-to-people engagement. And it represents significant reforms and strong bipartisan congressional support for the Agency at an inflection point in its history. prgtoken This legislation will strengthen the Peace Corps, giving it the baseline budget it needs to build the program that Americans deserve. It sets a $375 per month minimum for the Peace Corps volunteers' readjustment allowance. It suspends student loan interest during volunteer service. It extends healthcare coverage for returned Peace Corps volunteers. And it provides greater whistleblower protections so the Peace Corps will be transparent and accountable, honoring the standards and aspirations of its original vision, as outlined in 1961. prgtoken The Peace Corps is on track to redeploy volunteers to 30 countries by the end of this fiscal year. And it has set an aggressive goal of returning volunteers to almost all of the prepandemic countries by
HONORING GLORIETTA ROWLAND
Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-7-20

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the retirement of Ms. Glorietta Rowland after 33 years of public service to Monterey County and her dedication to supporting the Central Coast's unhoused community. Her legacy of service is one of unwavering devotion to improving the lives of others. prgtoken Ms. Rowland began her career in 1987 with Domestic Crisis Services, kicking off her admirable and wide-ranging career. Following her departure from the agency in 1988, Ms. Rowland worked with the Salvation Army, providing resources to those experiencing homelessness. She then worked for Sun Street Center, an organization that provides educational services, as well as treatment and recovery opportunities for those battling addiction. prgtoken In 2005, Ms. Rowland joined the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers, where she assumed the role of Executive Officer. In this position, Ms. Rowland created and developed many programs and campaigns, including the Lead Me Home Ten-Year Plan for Ending Homelessness, Monterey County Stand Down for Veterans, and the Monterey County Homeless Connect Project. prgtoken Following her time with the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers, Ms. Rowland joined Monterey County Department of Social Services in 2012 as a Management Analyst in the Community Action Partnership and Director's Office. In this role, Ms. Rowland continued her career-long pattern of developing programs to support unhoused people in Monterey County. Here, she influenced programs like the Monterey County Safe Parking Program and was critical in the creation of the Salinas Housing Advancement, Resource and Education (SHARE) Center. prgtoken At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Rowland took the initiative to support our community's relief efforts through the Alternate Housing Site project. She also dedicated her time and talents to the Commission on the Status of Women, the Emergency Food and Shelter Local Board, the Salinas Downtown Community Board, and the Homeless Census Point-in-Time Planning Committee. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Ms. Rowland's decades of service to Monterey County. Her career will serve as a model for selflessness and compassion for our community. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor her today.