mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REMEMBERING JUDY GILBERT-GOULD
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-6-1

it is with a heavy heart that I rise to recognize the remarkable life of Judy Gilbert-Gould. prgtoken Judy Gilbert-Gould, a lifelong resident of Miami, passed away on April 21, 2023, at the age of 88. She was the daughter of the late Stanley C. and Martha M. Myers and sister to the late Kenneth M. Myers. prgtoken As a young woman, Judy became involved in the National Council of Jewish Women, eventually serving as president of the Miami chapter. In recognition of her service, Judy was awarded NCJW's highest honor, the Hannah G. Solomon Award, for her commitment to the advancement of human welfare. prgtoken Judy later served in several other important professional and leadership capacities. prgtoken Working under then-Dade County State's attorney Janet Reno, Judy was the director of victim-witness services in the State's Attorney's Office to help prepare rape victims to testify in court. prgtoken Later on, Judy's professional career concentrated on working for the Jewish people. In 1983, Judy joined the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, where she served for many years as director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, the JCRC. prgtoken As the JCRC's executive director, Judy adroitly mobilized and engaged Miami's Jewish community on many levels. She led our citizen activists in building relationships with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, was pivotal in the pro-Israel movement here at home, and successfully advocated for the national agenda supported by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. prgtoken On a personal note, we worked closely together to address a multitude of issues facing our community, from the scourge of anti-Semitism to ensuring we maintain our strong U.S.-Israel relationship. prgtoken Shortly after I was first elected to Congress, under Judy's leadership role at the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, she approached me with the idea to sponsor legislation that would create a month during which we honor the contributions American Jews have made to the fabric of our Nation. prgtoken I introduced a resolution, and since 2006 our Nation has celebrated Jewish American Heritage Month each May to educate Americans about the contributions Jewish Americans have made and continue to make to our country, helping to reduce hate, anti-Semitism, and bigotry. prgtoken Judy's commitment to Miami's Jewish community and the State of Israel was exemplary, and I will miss her guidance and wisdom. prgtoken My heart is with her family in mourning the loss of this kind, generous, and compassionate soul. We were forever privileged to have shared this time with Judy. May her memory be a blessing.
CELEBRATING CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
Yvette D. Clarke (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-6-5

I thank my good friend and colleague, Representative Jonathan Jackson, for yielding to me in commemoration of Caribbean-American Heritage Month. prgtoken , I rise this evening in commemoration and celebration of the designation of Caribbean-American Heritage Month during this month of June. I add my voice to those who have lauded Congresswoman Barbara Lee for her leadership in ensuring this designation 17 years ago. prgtoken It is with an immense sense of pride in this special moment in the lives of those of us in communities across the Nation of Caribbean descent. For nearly two decades, this month has served as a cherished opportunity to honor the boundless contributions of Caribbean Americans to our Nation. prgtoken From grass-roots activists, the first Black woman to run for President--the Honorable Shirley Chisholm--the first female Vice President--the Honorable --to thought leaders, entertainers, entrepreneurs, diplomats, business moguls, Michelin-star chefs, and the brave, highly decorated members of our military, Caribbean Americans compose an integral part of our Nation's legacy, fabric, and future. prgtoken It is indeed the honor of my life and the dream of my ancestors to be a woman of Jamaican descent representing my home and my community--the place where I was born and raised--and to carry the torch of my people in the United States Congress. prgtoken As we acknowledge the excellence and contributions of Caribbean Americans, let this month remain a beacon for uplifting diversity, the preservation of legacy, the strength of unity, and the undeniable truth that we, the descendants of Caribbean peoples, are a force to be reckoned with, and that our culture and contributions deserve every acknowledgment and all the appreciation of a grateful Nation. prgtoken From Jamaica to Barbados and every nation in between: Bless Up, One Love, Walk Good.
HONORING THE WOODEN FLOOR
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-6-5

I rise today to honor the achievements of one of the foremost creative youth development nonprofit organizations in the country, The Wooden Floor prgtoken In 1983, Beth Burns, who at the time was a sister with the order of St. Joseph of Orange, founded the organization under the name Saint Joseph Ballet as a summer dance program for at-risk youth. The program was an immediate success, and by 1989, the organization was receiving national recognition and serving 150 students in a donated 4,000- square-foot space in downtown Santa Ana. prgtoken In 1998, college scholarship awards were established for the growing number of graduates enrolling in higher education. The following year, the organization grew to a 21,000-square-foot campus with three dance studios, education, and community centers, which were funded by supporters who raised a total of $6.8 million for the construction and establishment of their Endowment Fund. prgtoken By the early 2000s, they grew to serve 375 students with expanding services, including academic assistance, college preparatory guidance, crisis intervention, and intensive dance immersion with leading dance choreographers from around the country. prgtoken After over 20 years, founder Beth Burns retired in 2005, remaining connected to the organization and honored as a Board Emerita. prgtoken 2005 also marked the first year that 100 percent of their graduates enrolled in college, a feat that has continued to this day. In 2009, the organization changed its name to The Wooden Floor, with the tag line ``From here, you can step anywhere,'' to reflect the comprehensive nature of their supportive model. prgtoken Locally, The Wooden Floor expanded in 2018 to serve an additional 100 students and their families at a second location in Santa Ana, totaling nearly 500 students year-round who are served from 3rd through 12th grade. Celebrating 40 Years of Impact in 2023, with national and international grants and awards, an innovative brand refresh and the launch of an Endowment Campaign called Step Forward, The Wooden Floor is positioned to propel young people forward well into the next 40 years through its new mission statement: ``To inspire and transform the lives of young people through the power of dance and access to higher education. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the exceptional contributions and achievements of The Wooden Floor.
AUTHORIZING THE USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR GREATER WASHINGTON SOAP BOX DERBY
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-6-5

I thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia for her steadfast support of this event and her extraordinary representation of the District of Columbia. I thank the gentleman from North Carolina for his consideration in bringing this forward. prgtoken , I strongly support this resolution. It authorizes an event that I am proud to support every year: the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby. prgtoken The soapbox derby brings people together from across the Greater Washington metro area, encouraging kids, families, and communities to compete in a fun and educational race. prgtoken , this is my 30th year introducing this resolution. I am pleased to say that every year it has passed unanimously. prgtoken This is the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby's 80th year. The race will be held on June 17 and will see soapbox racers, ages 8 to 17, compete in three divisions: Stock, Super Stock, and Masters. The winner from each division will have a chance to compete at the national All- American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio. prgtoken Soapbox derbies have been called the greatest amateur racing event in the world. Whether that is absolute fact, it is very close. They have become a staple of the American experience all over our country. They teach sportsmanship, engineering, manufacturing, leadership skills, and so many other skills, as well. prgtoken Oftentimes, racers are sponsored by local civic groups, service organizations, and police or fire departments with members coming out to cheer their local hometown participants. prgtoken , I am proud to sponsor this resolution today that will authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds, which is essential for this soapbox derby to proceed. prgtoken , I am proud that several Greater Washington Soap Box Derby champions have come from Maryland's Fifth District, including the winners from 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2018. I am sure all of you are saying, well, it is no surprise that Hoyer supports this resolution on an annual basis. His guys do pretty well. Our racers even won a national championship in 2007 and 2008. prgtoken I am excited to see how the Fifth District racers do this year, and to see their colorful and creative soapbox designs. prgtoken , I hope every Member will join me in supporting this worthy event. I invite them to join me in cheering on the Greater Washington soapbox racers on June 17.
CELEBRATING PRIDE MONTH
Wiley Nickel (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2023-6-5

I rise to celebrate Pride Month. prgtoken From trailblazing activists and leaders who fought tirelessly for equality to artists and entertainers who shattered barriers and inspired generations, the impact of the LGBTQ community is felt in every aspect of our culture. prgtoken While we commemorate the progress we have made, we must acknowledge that attacks against the LGBTQ community from State legislatures have reached an all-time high. prgtoken It worries me that these attacks most directly impact LGBTQ youth, so we must continue to uplift young people and reaffirm our commitment to equality in America. In North Carolina, y'all means all. prgtoken I will continue to work to build a world in which everyone can live safely and openly as themselves and where everyone is treated equally, no matter who they are or who they love.
INTRODUCTION OF THE PUBLIC INSPECTORS FOR SAFE INFRASTRUCTURE ACT
John Garamendi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-6-5

I introduced the ``Public Inspectors for Safe Infrastructure Act'' (H.R. 3785) with U.S. Representatives Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX). Our bill builds upon the ``Safety, Efficiency, and Accountability in Transportation Projects Through Public Inspection Act of 2019,'' introduced by former Congressman Jose E. Serrano (D-NY). prgtoken The ``Public Inspectors for Safe Infrastructure Act'' would require construction inspections for federally funded highways to be conducted by public employees. Our bill would allow State or local transportation departments lacking sufficient inspectors to contract privately employed inspectors temporarily. Our bill ensures public safety by requiring that all federally funded bridges, tunnels, and roadways are inspected objectively and thoroughly under the highest safety standards. This work can and should be done by skilled, qualified inspectors employed by state and local departments of transportation. prgtoken From the delays in building the carpool bridge connecting the San Diego (405) and Costa Mesa (55) freeways to the series of issues that delayed the Bay Bridge, there are numerous examples where outsourcing inspection work to private contractors has undermined public safety, delayed projects, and contributed to cost overruns. Our bill seeks to avoid these potential conflicts of interest, while also mandating public disclosure of any private inspection contracts used by state and local transportation departments when public inspectors are unavailable. prgtoken , I encourage all Members to join us in cosponsoring the ``Public Inspectors for Safe Infrastructure Act.'' As a senior ic member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I filed this bill as amendments to the House's 2015, 2020, and 2021 Highway Bills.
MIDDLE MARKET IPO COST ACT
James A. Himes (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2023-6-5

I thank the gentleman from California and my friend from Missouri, and I rise in support of this bill, H.R. 2812, the middle market IPO underwriting cost act. prgtoken I thank Chairman McHenry and Ranking Member Waters for considering these bills on the floor today, and this bill in particular, which we have been working on for a very long time. prgtoken This bill, H.R. 2812, grows out of the work that the Financial Services Committee has been doing for a long time around the JOBS Act, which did good work to reduce the cost and friction associated with a young company going public. At the time, the JOBS Act was estimated to save companies between $1 million and $2 million a year when and after they go public, but the actual cost of going public, except for the very largest companies, as the gentleman from California noted, has not changed at all in many, many years. prgtoken Over those years, middle-market companies, which arguably have less negotiating power than some of the very large companies that have been able to force down fees, have experienced a perfectly consistent gross spread of 7 percent. Think about that. The price of going public has never varied from 7 percent. That means that a young company raising a typical $200 million in capital, with a 7 percent gross spread, hands over $14 million to the underwriters. That is a lot of money for a young company. prgtoken From 2001 to 2022, 95 percent of U.S. IPOs that raised between $30 million and $130 million had a gross spread of 7 percent. From 1992 to 2017, more than 80 percent of middle-market IPOs had gross spreads of exactly 7 percent. prgtoken The cost of the technologies used during the underwriting process have come down dramatically over the decades, but the gross spread has not, so I strongly believe that this remarkably stable 7 percent gross spread is fair subject for scrutiny. prgtoken H.R. 2812 very simply asks the GAO, in consultation with the Securities and Exchange Commission, to examine the gross spread and other costs associated with going public to see if we can understand that remarkable stability, what drives it, and what might be done to try to make the market more competitive and, therefore, reduce costs for companies trying to access our capital markets. prgtoken , I again thank Chairman McHenry and Ranking Member Waters for bringing this bill to the floor today. prgtoken Finally, , I thank my good friend from Arkansas, Representative French Hill, for all of his thoughtful feedback and suggestions on this bill over the last few weeks. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2812, and I again thank the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman).
OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT AMERICANS
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2023-6-5

I rise today to discuss the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. prgtoken Last week, we passed that bill to raise America's debt ceiling and to avoid an economic catastrophe. The failure to pay our bills would have led to millions of lost jobs and possibly another Great Depression. prgtoken The bill protects the healthcare of millions of Americans, including veterans. It invests in education and childcare for American families. It protects student debt relief and supports our country's move to a clean energy economy. prgtoken I praise President for his work to raise the debt ceiling, and I thank the Members of Congress from both parties who voted for this bill. prgtoken We have a responsibility to protect Americans, and we succeeded in doing so with this bill.
FAIR INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL EXPERTS ACT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-6-5

I rise today in support of H.R. 835, the Fair Investment Opportunities for Professional Experts Act. prgtoken H.R. 835 would expand the eligibility criteria for an accredited investor for purposes of participating in private offerings of securities to include an individual determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to have qualifying professional knowledge through educational or professional experience. prgtoken The current definition of an accredited investor relies on a net worth threshold for individuals and households irrespective of the sophistication of the would-be investors. prgtoken Traditionally, the accredited investor threshold has been determined through asset and income tests, resulting in both an under- and overinclusive definition that leaves out sophisticated investors who may not meet financial thresholds while including a wealthy person with no experience in financial markets. prgtoken Excluding these individuals unfairly limits Americans' participation in capital markets. prgtoken This bill would increase the total number of Americans eligible to purchase restricted securities. prgtoken H.R. 835 would amend the Securities Act of 1933 to codify certain qualifications of individuals as accredited investors for the purposes of the securities laws.
BEST OF LUCK TO SOAP BOX DERBY COMPETITORS
Emilia Strong Sykes (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-6-5

today, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 43, which authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby. prgtoken The All-American Soap Box Derby, which first began in 1934, is the contest of the year in Ohio's 13th Congressional District, the Birthplace of Champions. prgtoken Through ingenuity, teamwork, and determination, more than 350 qualifiers from across the globe make their way to the Derby Downs track in Akron, Ohio, for the Soap Box Derby World Championship, supported by more than 1,000 volunteers and 10,000 spectators every year. prgtoken The Soap Box Derby supports education and leadership development for youth across the 13th District and the Nation. The competition empowers young people, who build their own gravity-powered and STEAM-driven cars, to learn about the value of STEM and prepare them to succeed in the future. prgtoken Again, I am proud to cosponsor this legislation and so glad to see such an important event to our community in the Nation's Capital. I look forward to welcoming everyone to Ohio's 13th District for the world championship in July. Best of luck to all the competitors.
RECOGNIZING NEVILLE RAY, 23 YEARS WITH T-MOBILE USA
Adam Smith (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-6-5

I rise to recognize Neville Ray for his thirty years of work in wireless network management, and to congratulate him on his retirement as T-Mobile's President of Technology and Strategic Network Advisor to the CEO. prgtoken Throughout his 23 years with T-Mobile, Neville has played a critical role in architecting the carrier's transition from 2G to 5G and leading a best-in-class team. He is responsible for the management and development of the company's wireless network, technology services, and technology operations. prgtoken Neville's colleagues recognize him as a strong, adaptable, and innovative leader. According to T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert. Neville ``takes the crown as the nation's overall network leader'' and ``has made T-Mobile's network a true competitive weapon.'' T-Mobile's 5G network was the first to offer coverage in all 50 states, largely thanks to Neville and his team, who anticipated that the 5G era would be won or lost on mid-band spectrum. prgtoken Neville has helped T-Mobile achieve numerous company milestones, including the first launch of Wi-Fi calling with a hotspot in 2007, the first launch of video calling using LTE or Wi-Fi in 2015, and the first-ever World Series 5G experiences in 2020. prgtoken , I thank Neville Ray for his career helping T-Mobile innovate and succeed, and I wish him a happy retirement.
SAVING SOCIAL SECURITY
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-6-5

for nearly a century, America has made a sacred promise: People who work hard throughout their lives will benefit from the fruits of their labor. prgtoken Last week, Congress passed and President signed into law a bipartisan budget agreement. It protects Social Security from harmful -proposed cuts. prgtoken That earned benefit brings peace of mind for millions of families, senior citizens, disabled persons, and children who survive a parent's premature death. prgtoken Social Security insurance is a compact of trust between generations and prgtoken ensures the safe and secure retirement for tens of millions of Americans during their golden years. It is an earned benefit. prgtoken Congress must continue to protect this pact for our citizenry. That is why our recently introduced Social Security 2100 Act is one of the most vital bills before this Congress. It will increase benefits to current and new beneficiaries, protect retirees against inflation, and repeal the windfall elimination provision. prgtoken America made a promise to workers and guaranteed workers their earned benefits. are committed to making good on that promise for Social Security for generations to come.
RECOGNIZING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF FALMOUTH COMMUNITY TELEVISION
William R. Keating (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2023-6-5

I rise today in recognition of the 30th anniversary of Falmouth Community Television. Founded on May 31, 1993, Falmouth Community Television is a nonprofit community media center that creates content covering the issues that matter most to the people of Falmouth, Massachusetts. Highlighting oral histories, scientific discoveries at Woods Hole, documentaries, political dialogues, local government discussions, as well as sporting and school events, Falmouth Community Television produces media to represent and serve the local community. Through unfiltered coverage, Falmouth Community Television strives to uplift diverse voices across its platforms and encourage civic engagement and conversations prgtoken surrounding public discourse. Whether broadcasting town emergencies and other vital information or working with local nonprofit organizations and community groups to communicate their programs and services, Falmouth Community Television is a pillar of the Upper Cape. prgtoken Not only does Falmouth Community Television work to represent the people of Falmouth through the media that it broadcasts, but it also encourages members of the community to participate in the media production process. At the Falmouth Community Media Center, a state-of- the-art facility completed in 2019, people of all ages can take a variety of video production workshops and classes. Using the two production studios, as well as a post-production space, animation suite, audio booth, and podcasting and vlogging set, community members can access and utilize the training and technology necessary to bring their media ideas and concepts to realization. Additionally, Falmouth Community Television offers the Youth Producers Club. This after-school program helps students to develop storytelling skills and learn more about media production and literacy. Across all of Falmouth Community Television's offerings, members can learn more about their community, the television production process, and how to be a critical consumer of media. prgtoken , I am proud to honor the 30th anniversary of Falmouth Community Television, and I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking the organization for its service and wishing Falmouth Community Television all the best in the years to come.