mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ANGELS IN ADOPTION
Don Bacon (Republican, NE) \u2014 2022-9-9

. Madam , I rise today to honor Amber Richardson who has recently been nominated for the Angels of Adoption Award. Historically, the Angels of Adoption program has celebrated individuals, couples, families, and organizations from across the nation who have made an extraordinary contribution on behalf of vulnerable children and families. Those recognized through Angels of Adoption represent a wide variety of individuals involved in the adoption, foster care, and the child welfare world. I am proud to nominate Amber for this award as she is the founder and CEO of Foster Love and has fostered 14 different children over her lifetime. prgtoken In June 2020, Amber Richardson Founded Foster Love, an official 501c3 within my district in Omaha, that has made an extraordinary impact on the lives of foster children within our community since its creation. Their mission is to provide basic needs and opportunities for children in foster care, so they feel confident, empowered, and valued, and foster families feel supported. They have done this by opening a storefront boutique in which foster children can shop the latest trends in a welcoming, unique setting where merchandise is new, high quality, and free of cost. The store front offers multiple programs each month such as shopping days, appointments for emergency needs, and an art program called Artsy Kids. prgtoken Amber and her husband, Matthew, have fostered 14 different children. Starting in 2007 they welcomed Trevor, their first foster child, into their home and later adopted him in order to give him a ``forever home''. This was the spark that led Amber to continue developing relationships within the foster community as well as volunteering and advocating on different foster panels. Amber has been a driving force within the Omaha foster care community; her drive and passion for this cause has been truly inspiring. prgtoken Through Foster Love, Amber has built a vibrant community that helps support both foster children and their families. To date, Foster Love has served and supported over 800 children and foster parents, their work continues to expand and grow. Not only are these children provided with the necessary resources that they need to thrive on a daily basis, but they are also loved every step of the way. Foster Love exemplifies love and dignity, and I could not be happier to recognize Amber Richardson for the Angels of Adoption Award. prgtoken I salute and thank Amber for her impression upon the Omaha community, which will be felt for years to come.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF THE MARSH FOUNDATION'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY
Robert E. Latta (Republican, OH) \u2014 2022-9-9

. Madam , I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Marsh Foundation. The Marsh Foundation has a remarkable history within Van Wert and the surrounding community. Over the last 100 years, the Foundation has been committed to its mission of inspiring hope, teaching others, and caring for children and families. prgtoken The Marsh Foundation was made possible by the family of George and Hilinda Marsh. George, Hilinda, and their daughter Katie donated their substantial estate for the purpose of helping children and families in need. The concept for the Foundation originated when George and Hilinda were traveling through Van Wert on their way home from Fort Wayne, Indiana when they noticed two small boys huddled together in a dark doorway. Their mother was working that evening, so the boys had to wait during the winter night for her to finish. The sight of the cold, young boys drove the compassionate Marshs to use their resources to help those in need. prgtoken Through his will, George Marsh created a foundation to benefit youth in the area. His will provided $5,000,000 for the establishment of the Foundation. During the last 100 years, the Marsh Foundation has provided many services including: on-campus group homes for boys ages ten to seventeen, a specialized residential program for male juvenile sex offenders, a strong network of foster homes, clinical services, an on-campus school for youth in care, and a full-time activities program for youth. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in paying special tribute to the Marsh Foundation and its staff, past and present, on this remarkable occasion. By celebrating the one hundredth anniversary, community members and Ohio residents recognize the contribution of the Foundation to our region and community. Congratulations to the Marsh Foundation on this significant milestone.
CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF TELESCOPE CASUAL FURNITURE IN GRANVILLE, NEW YORK
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2022-9-9

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate Telescope Casual Furniture on their 100th Anniversary in Granville, New York. For over a hundred years, Telescope Casual Furniture has thrived as a family business committed to Made in America manufacturing and community engagement. prgtoken Henry Joseph William Vanderminden Sr. founded Telescope Cot Bed & Novelty Co. in 1903. Mr. Vanderminden began producing new cots and camp stools with telescoping legs, giving the company its trademark and name. Vanderminden was an incredible innovator and used the same contemporary mass production techniques as Ford Motor Co. to produce his furniture. prgtoken In the early 20th century, Granville was facing an economic decline as the slate industry was slowing. Granville residents, concerned for the future of their home, founded the Granville Community Association to revitalize Granville's economic viability. The Granville Community Association recruited Vanderminden and persuaded him to move Telescope to Granville in 1921. Today, the partnership between Telescope and Granville remains vibrant. prgtoken After nearly 120 years in business, Telescope continues to serve as a great example of the entrepreneurial spirit that defines Upstate New York and the North Country and is a testimony of an incredible locally- owned and family-owned business. Telescope Casual Furniture is a staple in the Granville community. From the iconic Telescope water tower to the company's decades long involvement with Granville Little League, Telescope Casual Furniture has left an indelible impact on the Granville community. As Granville's largest private employer, Telescope provides hundreds of high-skill jobs in New York's 21st District and produces high-quality products that are in demand across the country. prgtoken The tremendous economic impact that Telescope Casual Furniture has had on Granville cannot be overstated, and I look forward to witnessing their continued success. On behalf of New York's 21st Congressional District, it is my honor to celebrate the incredible impact Telescope Casual Furniture has had on the Granville community for the last 100 years.
Judicial Nominations (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-9-12

the Senate gavels back into session to consider more Federal judges, continue working to fund the government, and to find a path forward to protect marriage equality and other critical issues. prgtoken Later this afternoon, the Senate will vote on the confirmation of Judge Salvador Mendoza to serve a lifetime appointment on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The child of Mexican immigrant farmworkers, Mr. Mendoza was the first Latino judge to ever serve in the Eastern District of Washington. prgtoken And if confirmed today, he would be the first Latino from the State of Washington ever to sit on the Ninth Circuit. In 2014, the Senate confirmed Mr. Mendoza with an overwhelming bipartisan vote, 92 to 4. Today, it should be no different. prgtoken If confirmed, Judge Mendoza's elevation will be significant for another reason. He would be the 80th, the 80th--8-0--judicial nomination confirmed under President . That is more judges confirmed under President than were confirmed by this point under President , President , and President . It is something we are very proud of because the impact of these judges will last for years, if not decades. prgtoken And we are by no means done. After Judge Mendoza is confirmed, we will turn to the nomination of Arianna Freeman to serve as circuit judge for prgtoken the Third Circuit. She would be the fourth circuit judge nominee we would consider since the beginning of this work period. prgtoken Let me say that again. We are going to begin considering the fourth circuit court nominee since we returned from the August State work period. I said judges would be a priority, and this is what that looks like. prgtoken And it is my intention, as majority leader, to keep the Senate focused on judges this week and beyond. Our fundamental rights and our democracy itself depend on it.
Egypt (Executive Session)
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2022-9-12

Egypt is one of America's closest allies. Our taxpayers send them more direct funding for their military than we send almost any other nation in the world. prgtoken But here is what happens to political opponents of the Egyptian regime when they get arrested--and they get arrested at a dizzying rate and get sent to the infamous Tora prison. Arrivals there are blindfolded and then are forced to run through a human corridor of guards who pummel them with sticks until they collapse. prgtoken Following this initiation for political prisoners, many of them are routinely beaten and tortured for months or years on end, often with no formal charges being filed. Some never make it out alive. prgtoken Human rights groups estimate that there are around 60,000 political prisoners in Egypt. prgtoken I get it. The big numbers sometimes lose their meaning in this place. But, by comparison, estimates are that Russia has 420. China likely has around a thousand. Egypt locks up 60,000 political opponents of the regime. prgtoken To keep up with the demand of President El-Sisi's imprisonment spree, the country has had to build 60 new detention centers over the last decades. These prisons house some of the country's most prominent human rights defenders, journalists, opposition leaders, but also just ordinary people who are locked up for years because they just attended a protest or they liked a Facebook post or they recorded a TikTok video. prgtoken Let me tell you a story of just one of these 60,000 people. Right now, one of my constituents is suffering through the pain and uncertainty of having a relative unjustly imprisoned in Egypt. Muhammad Amasha is studying at Yale University, pursuing his Ph.D. Meanwhile, his father, Dr. Ahmed Amasha, was imprisoned in Egypt from 2017 to 2019 and rearrested and jailed again in June of 2020. According to the U.N his detention seems ``to constitute [an act of reprisal] against Dr. Amasha for documenting cases of enforced disappearances for the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations.'' prgtoken Since his arrest in 2020, Dr. Amasha reportedly has endured abuse during his interrogations that resulted in broken ribs and other significant injuries. His abuse included rape, electrocution, threats to rape his wife, and physical abuse while blindfolded. He was forced to sign a written confession during his time of abuse. prgtoken Since President El-Sisi came to power in 2013, more than a thousand people have died in Egyptian custody. Fourteen percent of those deaths were torture. More than 70 percent are because of a denial of healthcare. prgtoken This isn't an adversary of the United States. This is Egypt, our ally. Every day that we continue to send billions of dollars to the Egyptian Government, while paying lipservice to these egregious human rights violations, it is a blow both to our Nation's character and to our credibility around the world. prgtoken
Immigration (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-9-12

like you, I am proud to represent the city of Chicago. On Friday, returning back home to Chicago, I had a chance to see the best of that great city. I traveled to the Salvation Army Freedom Center in Humboldt Park, in the city of Chicago, where residents from around our city have come together to welcome the families who are seeking refuge in America. prgtoken Our city's agencies, State agencies, members of the faith community, and kind families have stepped up to provide supplies--the basics: clothing and such--and a safe place to sleep for many of these people who have come to America. These modest acts of generosity have changed everything for the families who have arrived at that Salvation Army Freedom Center because, for the first time in months, they feel safe and secure. And that is exactly why they left their home in the first place: to survive. prgtoken In Chicago, we are honored to offer a warm, welcoming hand to these families escaping unimaginable circumstances because in them we see ourselves, we see America, we see our history as a nation. And for me, personally, I see my own family. prgtoken Back in 1911, a young Lithuanian woman set sail for America. She carried two things with her: her Catholic prayer book, published the year before the Czars outlawed it in the nation of Lithuania; and her 2-year-old daughter Ona, my mother. prgtoken More than a century stands between my mother's arrival in America and the arrival of families I met Friday, but in many ways it is the same story. America opened its doors to my family all those years ago and gave us a chance to find a place for a new land of opportunity. Today, it is our responsibility to welcome families fleeing violence and persecution, families seeking nothing more than safety and a fair shot. This is fundamental to who we are as Americans, but, sadly, it seems that some in politics think otherwise. prgtoken You see, there is a reason these families arrived in Chicago, and it is not because they booked a bus on their own accord. It is because the Governor of Texas has chosen to exploit this humanitarian challenge to score political points. When these families arrived at our Nation's border seeking asylum, what did the Governor of Texas do? He didn't help. He took advantage of the fear and confusion. He rounded these families up, boarded them onto a bus, and shipped them to cities like Chicago and New York without even telling them where they were headed and without any consultation with their destination States. This is cruelty of the highest degree. prgtoken The Governor of Texas didn't provide any notice to Illinois or Chicago. He bused them to our Union Station downtown, nearly 1,500 miles away from their Texas border, without sending as much as a text message in advance. No logic. No rationale. Just plain meanness. prgtoken Look, we can have reasonable disagreements about how to address the situation at our Nation's border,
EXTRADITION TREATY WITH THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-9-12

I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate consider Calendar No. 4, treaty document No. 116-2; that the treaty be considered as having advanced through the various parliamentary stages up to and including the presentation of the resolution of the advice and consent to ratification; that any committee conditions, declarations, or reservations be agreed to and applicable; that any statements be printed in the Record as if read; further, that if the resolution of ratification is agreed to, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
Cloture Motion (Executive Session)
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2022-9-12

I rise today in support of the nomination of Judge Salvador Mendoza, from my home State of Washington, to serve on the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. prgtoken I was honored to recommend Judge Mendoza for this seat to President and to introduce him before the Senate Judiciary Committee in May. prgtoken I was thrilled to see him advance out of the committee in a bipartisan vote, and I couldn't be happier to support him today and to strongly urge all my colleagues to join me in voting for his confirmation to the bench. prgtoken Judge Mendoza is a lifelong Washington State resident and a tremendously qualified candidate to join the Ninth Circuit Court. He has served as a district court judge for the Eastern District of Washington since 2014, when he was confirmed by the Senate with an overwhelming, bipartisan majority of 92-4. prgtoken In his time on the bench in the Eastern District, he has presided over nearly 1,500 cases--including appellate cases--where he treated every party who came before him with fairness and respect. prgtoken And before that, he served Washington State as a Superior Court Judge. prgtoken He also has experience as a prosecutor, in the State attorney general's office, and as a solo practitioner, where he often represented defendants who could not afford their own attorneys. prgtoken He also worked to establish the first drug court in Benton and Franklin counties, along with prosecutors, defense attorneys, mental health professionals, and other judges. prgtoken From representing those without means, to establishing drug courts, to serving with distinction on the Eastern District Court, Judge Mendoza has been a trailblazer, focused on building a more fair and just legal system that works for everyone--not just the wealthy and well-off. prgtoken Judge Mendoza's many years of public service and even-handed application of the law have earned him not only the support of people across the State of Washington, but also the respect of both and s. prgtoken It is why my bipartisan judicial merit selection committee, which includes top lawyers, recommended him to serve in his current district court judgeship 8 years ago and why he was confirmed to that judgeship in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote. And that should be no different today. prgtoken Beyond just his impeccable professional qualifications, Judge Mendoza will bring an important perspective to one of the most consequential appellate courts in this country: the perspective of someone whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico and worked as farm laborers, maids, and factory workers to build a better life for their family; the perspective of someone who, as a child, worked beside them on farms in the Yakima Valley; the perspective of someone who was the first Latino Federal judge in the Eastern District of Washington and who would break new ground once again as the first Latino from
Tribute to Francisco J. Collazo (Executive Session)
Richard C. Shelby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2022-9-12

I am pleased this afternoon to commend Mr. Francisco J. Collazo of Grant, AL, for his contributions to our great country and to the State of Alabama. prgtoken Born in 1931 in Puerto Rico, Mr. Collazo joined the Army at 15 years of age. He had an exceptionally distinguished career, serving in the Korean and the Vietnam wars and retiring as a chief warrant officer 4. prgtoken While in the Army, Mr. Collazo continually worked to further his education. Due to his 30 years of military service, he attended numerous Army technical schools and earned sufficient academic credits to receive the Department of the Army bachelor's equivalency degree in mathematics and computer science. prgtoken After his retirement from the Army, he continued his lifelong learning with additional coursework and the study of complex missile systems. prgtoken In 2003, the University of Alabama in Huntsville recognized his technical achievements and bestowed upon him an honorary degree of doctor of science. prgtoken In 1980, Mr. Collazo and his wife Carmen started COLSA Corporation in their garage in southeast Huntsville, AL. COLSA is a service-disabled, veteran-owned company, and it rapidly grew and received many accolades. prgtoken In 1983, COLSA was certified under the 8(a) Business Development Program. The Small Business Administration certified COLSA as a socially and economically disadvantaged company. prgtoken In 1988, the SBA selected COLSA as the Regional Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year--such an achievement. prgtoken In 1997, COLSA received a Cogswell Award for Excellence in Security Operations. prgtoken In 2004, COLSA was inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame. prgtoken NASA awarded COLSA the Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year Award in 2008. prgtoken In 2021, Forbes magazine named COLSA to two of their top lists: Best Employers by State--4th in Alabama; and America's Best Midsize Employers--17th overall in the United States. prgtoken Today, COLSA has grown to over 1,600 employees--1,600 employees from zero--and currently ranks as 76 on Washington Technology's Top 100 Federal Prime Contractors. prgtoken Frank Collazo has personally received numerous awards and declarations, some I have enumerated. In the military--just a few--he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal with two oakleaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with three oakleaf clusters, and a Bronze Star with one oakleaf cluster for distinguished service during his time in Vietnam. prgtoken As an industry leader, the Huntsville and Madison County Chapter of the National Management Association recognized Frank Collazo as the manager of the year 30 years ago, 1991. Mr. Collazo has served as president of the following: the Air Defense Artillery Association; the Air, Space, and Missile Defense Association; the Huntsville Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association. prgtoken In 2018, he received the Davidson Award for his lea