mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Texas Legislature (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-7-13

. Well, just when you think you have seen it all, , something new happens here in Washington, DC. All eyes are now on DC's newest asylum seekers, the members of the Texas House of Representatives, the ic Representatives. prgtoken But the only oppressive force that these men and women are facing is the expectation that they would actually do their jobs in the Texas Legislature, the job they campaigned for and were elected to do. prgtoken Following unsuccessful attempts to pass an election integrity bill during the regular legislative session earlier this year, Governor Abbott has now called a special session for the Texas Legislature to consider that and other matters. That special session kicked off last Thursday, but the chamber is already being held hostage by a minority of house members who are unwilling to do their job. The raised concerns about the current draft of the bill. Make no mistake. That is why the legislative process actually exists. That is why it is important that they be there and debate the issues and actually vote on the bill. The purpose, of course, is for all sides to be able to debate, potentially amend, and vote on legislation. prgtoken Yet, rather than do their jobs in Texas, yesterday, house abandoned both our State and the millions of Texans whom they represent and decamped to Washington, DC, when they were faced with the prospect of defeat. For better or for worse, the legislative process is all about arithmetic. You are not always going to win every debate you are involved in. That doesn't mean you leave the State and refuse to do your job, but that is exactly what they did. They got on two chartered jets--maskless and with at least one case of light beer--to come to Washington, DC. prgtoken The problem--and, really, what is so sad--is I don't think these legislators realize the irony of the situation. They are using their collective power as the minority party to stop a bill they oppose from becoming law. While doing so, they have come to Washington to try to convince the President and Senate to nuke the very Senate rule that protects the rights of the minority--in other words, you might say, a filibuster for me but not for thee. As a reminder, this is the second time they have denied the legislature a quorum this year. prgtoken I think it is pretty obvious that this was nothing more than a political stunt when these lawmakers skipped town with no plan as to when they would return to their jobs in Texas. Frankly, the Governor, under the Texas Constitution, can continue to call as many special sessions as he wishes and without limitation. So we all know how this will end. They will eventually go home. After the cameras leave and after the press loses interest in this political stunt, they will go home, and they will participate in the process. prgtoken It is telling that these in this house of representatives chose to race
RECOGNIZING EMSI BURNING GLASS
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2021-7-13

as a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each month I recognize and celebrate the American entrepreneurial spirit by highlighting the success of a small business in my home State of Idaho. Today I am pleased to honor Emsi Burning Glass in Moscow as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for July 2021. prgtoken Emsi Burning Glass, initially named Emsi, is a labor market analytics company founded by economists Hank Robison and Kjell Christophersen in 2001 that specializes in providing labor market data, analytics, and consulting services for higher education institutions, private enterprises, and workforce development agencies. One of the company's initial goals was to provide at least 50 high-paying jobs to the Moscow community. It has since surpassed that goal and employs 280 people. prgtoken Since its founding, the company has achieved outstanding success and now has clients throughout the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. The business has become one of the fastest growing companies in Moscow, and its success has enabled it to provide hundreds of quality jobs in the region and further invest in the local community. In 2019, Emsi announced it would construct a new 3.7-acre campus that will allow it to hire hundreds of new software developers, engineers, data scientists, economists, sales representatives, and other high-paying positions. prgtoken The company's success has not gone unnoticed. In June 2021, Emsi announced a merger with Burning Glass, a fellow labor market analytics firm in Boston and its name was formally changed to Emsi Burning Glass. The merger will allow the company to continue its growth in Moscow while expanding its presence in the global marketplace. prgtoken Congratulations to all of the employees of Emsi Burning Glass on being selected as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for July 2021. You make our great State proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.
REMEMBERING JOHN D. LEONARD SR.
Tim Ryan (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2021-7-13

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life of John D. Leonard Sr. of Girard, Ohio who passed away peacefully Monday, July 5, 2021 at the age of 80 surrounded by his loving family. prgtoken John was born Oct. 13, 1940, in Niles, a son to Joseph and Kathryn McMenamy Leonard. He was a 1958 graduate of Niles McKinley High School. He worked as a skilled tradesman for both the union and then Packard Electric, retiring in 2008. John was a parishioner of St. Rose Church and was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Girard. prgtoken John was a pillar to his family. He was a selfless provider always ensuring the prosperity of his children and grandchildren. Just as he sang along to Louise's piano performances, uplifting her tunes, John would always uplift those around him, supporting friends and family unconditionally. His infectious smile and enthusiastic dancing reminds us how to live life. John's fundamental values of love, dedication, and community will forever guide his loved one's path towards happiness. We have lost a truly wonderful person who will forever be missed. prgtoken He leaves to cherish his memory, his children, Karla (Philip) Smith of Virginia, John D. (Suzana) Leonard Jr. of Shaker Heights and Bob (Danielle) Leonard of Rocky River; brothers, Joseph (MaryAnn), Thomas (Lucy), Paul (Charlotte), William (Mary Ann), Richard (Sandy) and Robert; sisters, Kathleen, Margaret Mary (David); close friend and companion, Nancy Foster; and his grandchildren, Audrey and Emma Smith, Daniel and Stefan Leonard, Andrew and Anna Leonard, Alex Sapp, Adam (Janice) and Hannah Smith. Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Leonard, whom he married Aug. 18, 1962, and who passed away Feb. 2, 2015; and a brother, Jerry. prgtoken John was the uncle to my longtime District Director and childhood friend, Rick Leonard. John truly embodied the spirit of the ic Party through his lifetime of integrity and kindness and was all around a wonderful person to be around. My condolences go out to all whose lives he touched.
China (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-7-13

last night I had an interesting dinner. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware and I joined two Senators, and we met for dinner with eight Ambassadors from Central and South America. It was a rare occurrence which we prgtoken hadn't seen in the last year and a half, the kind of dialogue and communication which I think is an important part of my job and an important part of understanding the world today. prgtoken They had one consistent message. Despite the fact that they felt a closeness to the United States that had been built up over decades of generations, there was a new factor in Central and South America which each one of them repeated as significant in the future of that region. The new factor is the arrival of China. prgtoken In each one of these countries, large and small, China has become a player, a force. They have invested their resources in developing an economic relationship with these countries, have provided them with COVID-19 vaccines when others would not, and were becoming larger and larger factors in the future of the economies of these countries. prgtoken Senator Coons said at one point, and I certainly would agree with him: We have to take this seriously in the United States. We can't assume that long-term relationships and friendships will see us through. We need to be actively engaged in strengthening and creating alliances with these countries in our hemisphere. prgtoken He added--and I am glad he did--the United States has chosen, over recent history, to literally spend trillions of dollars on military efforts and those overseas commitments, which is money China wasn't spending for the same purpose. China was spending trillions of dollars to develop economic relationships, to loan money for infrastructure projects in developing countries. prgtoken The United States was spending its money in other places, which takes me directly to the statement that was made earlier by the Senate leader, Senator McConnell, about Afghanistan. You see, I was here on the floor of the Senate when we voted to invade Afghanistan, and I voted for it. We were told that al-Qaida was waiting there in hiding for the next opportunity to strike America and that if we didn't do our part to go after Osama bin Laden, there would be more American innocent victims. Overwhelmingly, on a bipartisan vote, a unanimous bipartisan vote, in the Senate Chamber, we voted to invade Afghanistan, and I was one of those votes. prgtoken Let me quickly add that I was one of 23 who voted against the invasion of Iraq. I didn't think the case had been made by the administration and still don't. prgtoken But going into Afghanistan was, with the exception of one Member of the House, a unanimous bipartisan verdict at that moment in American history. As we look back on it now, I don't think a single person who voted for the invasion of Afghanistan would have ever guessed that we were voting for the longest w
IN HONOR OF NICKI CLARKE FOR HER 14 YEARS OF SERVICE AT CAPITOL CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Ann M. Kuster (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2021-7-13

. Madam , I rise today to offer my sincere gratitude for Nicki Clarke as she moves on after fourteen years from her role as Executive Director of the Capitol Center for the Arts. prgtoken Over the span of Nicki's long and successful career, she has built a lasting memory as a leader and advocate for the arts in New Hampshire. Nicki has brought numerous rich and diverse art experiences to Granite Staters. Her leadership over the past fourteen years has been dynamic, innovative, and focused as she increased the number of shows and created the Bank of New Hampshire Stage. Her commitment to the theater and the community has touched the lives of so many in New Hampshire. prgtoken On behalf of New Hampshire's Second Congressional District and all those who have benefitted from Nicki's work, I thank her for her incredible service and congratulate her on all that she has accomplished. I wish her the best of luck in the years ahead, and I look forward to our continued work together to make New Hampshire an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.
IN RECOGNITION OF AYA'S SWEETS
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-7-13

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the culmination of hard work and dedication by Aya Islim and her family that has resulted in the grand opening of Aya's Sweets, a shop and bakery in the Dearborn Heights community in Michigan's 13th Congressional District. prgtoken Small businesses are the life blood of our economy, contributing to local economies and fostering a sense of community. But, what truly makes the grand opening of Aya's Sweets shine is that it is the realization of a dream. Aya, at the age of sixteen, and with the support of her family, has committed so much of herself into seeing this business succeed. prgtoken Mostly self-taught, Aya began baking at the age of nine by watching cooking videos and shows. She has never shied away from a challenge. As she honed her skills, she earned a reputation for her beautiful and tasty creations, and has taken the step of opening her own bakery. prgtoken Please join me in recognizing and celebrating Aya and the lslim Family on the occasion of the grand opening of Aya's Sweets. We wish them many years of success in service to our neighbors in Michigan's #13th District Strong.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR--Continued
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2021-7-13

today's workers are really struggling through one of the most unequal economic crises in modern American history. With millions out of a job and millions more struggling to get by, it is clear that workers need a Deputy Secretary of Labor who is committed to building back a stronger, fairer economy. They need someone who will work diligently to make sure workers have a fair and just workplace, a livable wage, a secure retirement, safe working conditions, access to accommodations, and are treated with dignity and respect, which is why I am so glad to support Julie Su's nomination. prgtoken As a labor lawyer, Julie Su fought to defend Thai garment workers who were trafficked into the United States and forced to work behind barbed wire and under armed guard. Then she pushed to change the law to make sure corporations were held responsible for working conditions in their supply chains. prgtoken As California labor commissioner, Julie Su cracked down on wage theft and launched a multilingual campaign to help workers understand their rights and feel safe about speaking up about employers who stole their wages. prgtoken As California's secretary of labor, Julie Su has implemented increases to the State minimum wage, created good-paying, high-quality jobs, expanded access to benefits for gig workers and workers who are paid low wages, and protected essential workers who are bearing the brunt of this pandemic. prgtoken It is clear that her experience in leading one of the largest State labor departments in the Nation, her decades-long commitment to fighting for workers' rights, and her personal story as the multilingual daughter of Chinese immigrants have given her the experience, background, and values to be a successful Deputy Secretary of Labor. prgtoken She is the right person for the job, and I urge our colleagues to join me in voting to confirm her because, right now, too many workers still lack crucial protections and rights and struggle to make ends meet, especially women, workers of color, LGBTQ workers, migrant workers, and workers with disabilities. prgtoken To build back an economy that works for everyone, not just the biggest corporations and wealthiest individuals, it is critical that we have a fully staffed Department of Labor and leaders who are committed to protecting workers. So it is critical that we confirm Julie Su as Deputy Secretary of Labor without delay. prgtoken .
CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-7-13

now, on another issue, infrastructure and climate. Over the past few weeks, we have seen an awful heat wave hit Oregon and Washington. Those States in the beautiful Northwest, always known for their cool summer breezes, had temperatures like 115 degrees. It was just astounding, not just a little temperature bump but dramatically unusual. prgtoken Temperatures in the Pacific Northwest climbed so high that power cables melted and roadways cracked in two. At the same time, in the American Southwest, the lack of rainfall and depleted reservoirs have led to a historic lack of water. According to the National Drought Mitigation Center, more than 77 percent of the great State of New Mexico is in a state of severe drought. prgtoken As climate change continues to worsen, extreme weather like this, unfortunately, is only becoming more common, putting our agriculture, our infrastructure, our economy, and our people's health at grave risk. prgtoken That is why I have made addressing the climate crisis in a bold way a primary focus of our upcoming debate on infrastructure. We are working with great urgency to make this happen. And we are going to do it in two ways: prgtoken First, climate change has forced us to repair and rebuild our infrastructure in a way that takes into account our new reality. Our infrastructure must become more resilient to extreme weather. In New York, I insisted that the Hurricane Sandy aid, for which New York and New Jersey got $60 billion, focus on resiliency. And as we rebuild from Hurricane Sandy using those Federal dollars, we have done it in a way that makes flooding in downtown New York City and Long Island less likely. We need to repeat that effort across the country to deal with heat waves, droughts, wildfires, more powerful hurricanes and even more. prgtoken But, second, we must use infrastructure investment to combat climate change itself, not just make ourselves more resilient. If it keeps getting worse, resiliency goes up, global warming gets higher-- resiliency goes up. We need to have this go down. That is so, so important. prgtoken And what are we doing? In President 's proposal and in the proposals are putting forward, we are investing in green infrastructure, clean and renewable power, electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, and retrofitting our economy to reduce carbon emissions and slow climate change in both urban, suburban, and rural areas. Investing in both elements--resiliency and green infrastructure--that will create thousands upon thousands of good- paying union American jobs in the process. prgtoken So as discussions continue on both a bipartisan infrastructure bill and a budget resolution, Senators of both parties must understand that the issues of climate change and infrastructure cannot--cannot--be separated from one another. prgtoken .
HONORING GERTRUDE JACKSON'S 100TH BIRTHDAY
Ami Bera (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-7-13

. Madam , I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 100th birthday of Gertrude Jackson. Born on May 2nd, 1921, Mrs. Jackson grew up in Prichard, Alabama and left her hometown to pursue a nursing degree at Saint Mary's Nursing School in St. Louis, Missouri. She graduated and became a registered nurse in 1944 and moved to settle in Sacramento, California. Mrs. Jackson also served in the U.S. Army in WWII as Second Lieutenant Gertrude Clarke. After she moved to Sacramento and finished her time in the Army, she met her late husband and was married the following year on May 15th. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson spent a wonderful 70 years together. prgtoken Mrs. Jackson is a very accomplished woman, and her children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren all look up to her. As she began her career in nursing in 1944, she was the second African-American registered nurse in Sacramento, working at Sutter Memorial Hospital. This achievement helped pave the way for women of color in the health care sector, and our community is grateful for her service. prgtoken Although her 100th birthday was earlier this year, we continue to celebrate this milestone as she reunites with her family for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mrs. Jackson celebrated her birthday at Elk Grove Regional Park last weekend, and we wish her well this year. I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing a happy birthday to Mrs. Jackson and a profound thank you for her work in our community.
CONGRATULATING MICHAEL MIRRA ON HIS RETIREMENT AND THANKING HIM FOR SERVING HIS COMMUNITY
Adam Smith (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2021-7-13

. Madam , it is my privilege to congratulate Michael Mirra prgtoken on a well-earned retirement and thank him for nearly two decades of service to the Tacoma Housing Authority. prgtoken The positive impact Michael has had on his community cannot be overstated. He has diligently served as Executive Director of Tacoma Housing Authority for the last 17 years, where in that time he helped countless people and substantially improved the Tacoma Housing Authority by growing the number of units and increasing the reach of their services. Prior to this role, Michael was a highly successful litigator who represented homeless families and poor neighborhoods in several high-profile legal cases. prgtoken Under Michael's leadership, the Tacoma Housing Authority completed a reconstruction project of 200 urban acres costing $250 million in Tacoma's Salishan neighborhood. Not only was this the largest project in Tacoma's history, but also the largest West of the Mississippi. The project increased the total number of units under the Tacoma Housing Authority by 29 percent. prgtoken Michael also spearheaded innovative ways to use federal housing dollars to further benefit families. With the Education Project, Michael was able to help the children of families working with the Tacoma Housing Authority succeed in public schools and pay for the college education of students experiencing homelessness. Michael was instrumental in finding new ways to use funds and enlisted local developers to incorporate low-income housing into market-rate developments. prgtoken He also established the Tacoma Housing Authority as a Moving to Work agency, becoming just one of 39 in the country. Moving to Work agencies are given the flexibility to test innovative, locally designed strategies to use federal resources more efficiently and help residents find employment to become financially stable in the long-term. This work was absolutely critical in piloting a new approach to more effectively and efficiently using Federal housing resources to serve low income communities. Not only do they help these families become economically stable, but they also increase housing options for low- income families. In 2016, in recognition of his distinguished career, Michael was awarded the Margaret M. Sevy Lifetime Achievement Award by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. prgtoken Madam , it is my distinct honor to honor Michael Mirra on an outstanding career in public service, thank him for serving his community so well, and congratulate him on retiring.