mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOMMENDING THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FIND PETER K. NAVARRO AND DANIEL SCAVINO, JR., IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS
Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat, MS) \u2014 2022-4-6

the balance of my time. prgtoken , let me say for the record, if there is any Member on the other side who feels the strength to come and testify before our committee, I invite them, right now, to let us know and we will gladly entertain whatever information they have as to what happened on January 6. Some of them ran out of this building fearing for their lives, so there is no question that something happened. prgtoken And H. Res. 503 says, absolutely, we have to find the facts and circumstances as to what happened and why and make recommendations; and that is what we have to do. prgtoken We have the constitutional power to issue subpoenas. If people do not follow subpoenas, we have the right to bring them before this body and recommend contempt citations; and that is what we are doing today. prgtoken So it doesn't matter if they were a father, a mother, a sister, or a brother, had children; if they break the law, they break the law. No one is above the law, and that is the point we are trying to make. prgtoken We asked the individuals, subpoenaed them to come before the committee, and they chose not to come and, therefore, they broke the law, and that is why we are here today. prgtoken So, , as I have mentioned, when I testified before the Rules Committee, it is absurd that there should be any disagreement at all about why we are here for this contempt resolution. prgtoken If you listen to the arguments from some of my friends on the other side, they have very little to say of substance of this matter. We hear excuses. We hear attacks about process. We hear scare-mongering about the select committee. prgtoken Let me remind my colleagues, we have conducted over 830 interviews and depositions. And again, I invite any of them to come talk to us if they want to. Now, if, for some reason, they are reluctant or afraid, then I feel sorry for them. prgtoken Our constitutional democracy was challenged on January 6. We have to fix this. Over 200 years, we have operated in complete freedom, and all of a sudden, this institution was attacked; and we have to fix that. prgtoken We are the number one democracy in the world, but we lead by example. are leading by example. The select committee is leading by example by bringing these two gentlemen who broke the law, who decided that it is better to deal with the law of rather than the Constitution of the United States of America. prgtoken , s, especially my friend from Wyoming (Ms. ). prgtoken , I urge every Member to support adoption of this resolution, and .
Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-4-6

I listened to the leader speaking about the Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who is coming before the Senate either today or tomorrow, we hope, for a confirmation vote. We have solid support for her nomination on the ic side and three Senators who have announced that they will join us to make it a bipartisan majority in her favor. prgtoken She is deserving of this. She has an extraordinary background. She has the kind of resume that every lawyer would dream of: to graduate from Harvard Law School and then to clerk at every level of the Federal judiciary, including clerk to the Justice she hopes to succeed, Stephen Breyer; and then to serve on the Sentencing Commission, which is considered one of the more prestigious assignments, trying to rationalize the sentencing under Federal law; and then, of course, to serve on the district court in the DC district and to issue some 570 or 80 different opinions--written opinions--during that time; to be elevated to the DC Circuit Court, often called the second highest court in the land, where she served as well with distinction; and now to be the first African-American woman nominated to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. It is an incredible record. prgtoken And she has made the rounds, as they say, in the Senate, visiting 95 or 96 different Senators, sitting down with them privately in their offices, answering any questions or concerns that they wish to express. prgtoken So I think she is an exceptional person. If you look at her record in all of these cases that she has handed down written opinions in--as I said, it is close to 600, and 100 of them were criminal cases where she imposed sentences, and some 10 or 15 of those cases which have been highlighted by her critics, relating to the issue of the exploitation of children and pornography, in every single case, she imposed a prison sentence. prgtoken So to argue that she is soft on crime is to ignore that reality and to ignore the reality that she is endorsed--endorsed--by the largest law enforcement organization in America, the Fraternal Order of Police. She is endorsed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and other noteworthy organizations, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement, former prosecutors in the District of Columbia. prgtoken She has made it very clear that when it comes to applying the law to the facts, she does it with evenhandedness, so much so that she is respected by both sides of the table--the prosecutor's side of the table and the defense side of the table. That takes some doing, but she has achieved it. And prgtoken that is why her selection by President is the right person for the right time for the right job. She is going to make history if we give her this confirming vote. prgtoken Now, I will tell you, when you publish some 580 to 600 opinions, you are going to find something in one of those
Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson (Executive Calendar)
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-4-6

I stand here to proudly support Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. prgtoken The Nation has had the opportunity to watch Judge Jackson during her confirmation hearing 2 weeks ago and see firsthand the temperament, knowledge of the law, and qualifications she brings to the highest Court in the land. She will be a fair and impartial jurist, just as she has proven herself to be on the district court and on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. prgtoken President made a commitment before he was elected to appoint the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. Judge Jackson's historic nomination is long overdue. prgtoken It was in my home State of New York where Constance Baker Motley became the first Black woman to be a Federal judge--in the Southern District. prgtoken Having diverse representation on the Court does not mean someone will rule a certain way, and it doesn't mean that is why they deserve to be on the Bench. It is important because it strengthens our institutions. It is critical because it shows who we are as a nation, and it makes a difference to the girls and women across the country, who will now have a role model and know that they can aspire to do the same. prgtoken That is why President made that promise because he knew that it was beyond time to ensure the Supreme Court has that representation; and it is clear that Judge Jackson will be a highly qualified Justice to fulfill that promise. prgtoken Who we confirm to the Supreme Court matters. While the work of the Court may feel distant from our daily decisions and day-to-day lives, the Supreme Court actually makes key decisions on whether individuals are protected when they go to school, work, or out in public; on who can and how we can cast our votes to determine our elected officials; on whether our future generations will have clean air to breathe, clean water to drink; on who we can choose to marry; and on what decisions women can make about their own bodies and their reproductive future. prgtoken The nine Justices on the Supreme Court make important decisions that impact all Americans; and in the Senate, in our advice and consent role, we have a critical role to play in ensuring that we confirm Justices who follow the rule of law and provide equal justice to all. prgtoken The perspectives Judge Jackson will bring to the highest Court of the land, both personally and professionally, will have a critical impact on all Americans. Judge Jackson will bring to the Bench significant criminal defense experience as a former public defender. She will also bring nearly a decade of judicial experience to her rulings. prgtoken When I met Judge Jackson, I asked her which of her experiences have prepared her most for this moment to serve on the Supreme Court if she was confirmed. She answered by talking about her clerkships, which she completed at each level of the judiciary: the district court; First Circuit
Coronavirus (Executive Calendar)
Christopher A. Coons (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2022-4-6

we are in the middle of a horrible global pandemic. Later this month, we will pass a tragic milestone of a million Americans killed by COVID-19. Already, more than 6 million globally have died. prgtoken And I know we are all sick and tired of it, completely tired of it, done with it. I hear all the time at home and here that we are done with this pandemic, but, unfortunately, it is not done with us. prgtoken This week, this body has failed to take minimally responsible action. And I am going to speak for a few minutes to what it means that we have failed to come together to pass another urgently needed appropriations bill both to meet our domestic needs for therapeutics and vaccines and for treatment and for the development of the next vaccine for the next variant and what it means that we have delivered zero additional resources for global public health to address this worst global pandemic in a century. prgtoken The bill that we should be taking up now and is being blocked by disagreements would have provided $10 billion to help provide additional protection for 330 million Americans, to buy the therapeutics that we need, to invest in the research to make sure that we are ready for the next variant, to finish providing the public health support for vaccinations. prgtoken While we may think we are done with the virus, 30,000 Americans yesterday tested positive. It has touched all of our communities, our families, my own family, our own neighborhoods. We are not done with this. prgtoken Senator Schumer and others of my colleagues have been saying on this floor and in public and in private relentlessly, we must deliver more resources. Well, I am here to say that we cannot get this pandemic under control here in the United States and secure the safety and health of our people until we have delivered meaningful vaccine protection around the world. prgtoken It is shortsighted for us to say that because we are done with it, it is done with us. I will remind you, we have twice before gone through periods where things were looking better, things were looking up, and then the Delta variant emerged, the Omicron variant emerged in other places in the world where vaccination rates were not what we might hope for, not what we have achieved here and in other countries. prgtoken So let me briefly explain why this is a case of ``pay me now or pay me later.'' I understand the fiscal concerns that have driven some to say we should spend no more, but I think we will discover the foolishness of a view that says we need not spend more. prgtoken First, it is just a waste of money, folks. We have already bought hundreds of millions of vaccine doses that are now not going to be delivered in countries in the world, and particularly in Africa, where the public health systems are not developed enough to actually translate vaccine doses into vaccinations. prgtoken As I learned during the Ebola epidemic in Liberia, that last m
Coronavirus (Executive Calendar)
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2022-4-6

I come to the floor today on two very important subjects. The first is about an issue that is of vital importance for the United States across economic, security, and humanitarian spheres, and that is vaccinating the world's population. prgtoken I think we all have learned in a very hard, hard way the last 2 years that the coronavirus does not respect international borders. It started in China. It came to America. It went all over the world. prgtoken Experts have been warning for months that if the virus continues to spread in other parts of the world, new variants could continue to emerge, just as we are emerging and seeing each other again and going to family gatherings and having people and tour groups come into the Capitol. We cannot let our guard down. prgtoken American companies have worked with the world to create the most effective vaccines in existence. We put our faith in science, and now we have an incredible vaccine that we can be proud of. And as we continue to ensure that Americans get their shots and their boosters, we know that ending this pandemic is going to require a sustained, multinational approach to getting these lifesaving shots to the rest of the world. prgtoken This makes sense from a humanitarian perspective, it makes sense from an economic perspective, and it is just common sense, because we can't let this happen again, and we certainly can't put our heads in the sand and pretend that, just because it is going on in another continent or across the ocean, it won't affect us. prgtoken For those in America who have lost loved ones, that couldn't even say goodbye to their loved ones, because they were in a hospital, holding the hand of a nurse, and all they could do was see them in the hospital bed over a Zoom screen or on an iPad, we can't let any of that happen again. And that means that we not only do our work at home and get the vaccines out and the leadership that we have seen out of the White House on that front, but it is also about leading in the world. prgtoken The United States has long been a leader in global health programs. President established PEPFAR, which stands for President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. That program saved over 20 million lives and prevented millions of infections. It was a bipartisan effort that was led by President . prgtoken The United States has also connected global towns and villages with clean water, thought to prevent malaria, and led efforts to end smallpox and polio around the world. This is our legacy, but we can't rest on our success and the leadership from the past. We have to lead now. prgtoken At this point, only about 56 percent of the world's population is fully vaccinated. In nations around the world, the individual rate is much lower. In Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, only 5 percent of people are fully vaccinated. Few people would disagree with the assessment that new variants will continu
AFFORDABLE INSULIN NOW
Sylvia R. Garcia (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-4-6

I rise to recognize the incredible impact the bipartisan Affordable Insulin Now Act will have on Americans across the Nation. prgtoken It is no secret diabetes poses a major health burden to Americans across our country. Texas, in particular, suffers greatly from the effects of type 2 diabetes. Every day, new Texans are diagnosed. On top of that, the rate of new cases increases every single year. prgtoken This topic, , hits very close to home. I have seen firsthand the hurdles diabetes creates for families simply looking to live a quiet life and be alone and have a good, productive life. In my family, my mother faced uphill health battles because of diabetes most of her adult life. She died eventually of diabetes complications. prgtoken Diabetes runs in my family. In fact, my doctor tells me that no matter what I do, I may end up getting diabetes. I am one of 10 children. Five of us have already gotten diabetes and are dependent on insulin. prgtoken Sadly, this epidemic disproportionately impacts older adults, especially Latinos, minorities, and populations with lower levels of education. It remains one of the leading causes of death in Texas and the United States. In my own home county of County, diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death. prgtoken Even when purchased through Medicare, insulin is more than three times as expensive in the United States than in the U.K. The bipartisan Affordable Insulin Now Act is truly needed to save lives. prgtoken The Affordable Insulin Now Act caps insulin copays at $35 per month or 25 percent of an insurance plan's negotiated price, whichever is lower. It is a great first step, and it will save lives. But more must be done. prgtoken You see, , Americans without health insurance will not benefit from this bill. This will help those residents who are fortunate to already have health insurance, and we welcome this support. Again, it is a great first step. But much more is very needed. prgtoken Texas is the State with the highest rate of uninsured individuals and, in my district, 33 percent of the residents in my district do not have health insurance. prgtoken In fact, , my district has the highest number of uninsured people than in any other district in the Nation. To make matters worse, diabetes is highly concentrated in east Texas, the area where I live. It pains me that these folks were not included in the bill. prgtoken The immense health and emotional challenges diabetes brings to households are burdensome enough; but its economic strain is ruthless to families not fortunate enough to have insurance. prgtoken Because of corporate greed and companies focused only on profits, Texans without medical insurance face astronomical prices for insulin. In short, people with diabetes have medical expenses approximately 2.3 times higher than those who do not have diabetes. prgtoken The out-of-pocket costs for healthcare and insulin have crippled hardworking Americans across o
Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson (Executive Calendar)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-4-6

I rise today to speak on the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. prgtoken When confirmed later this week, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will be the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court in its 233-year history. prgtoken Yesterday morning, I had the privilege of meeting with her, and we discussed her judicial methodology as well as her story and her path in the law. Rising up to overcome so many barriers, Judge Jackson's story and her family's story is truly an American story. It is a story of hard work and sacrifice. It is a story of commitment to excellence. prgtoken Judge Jackson's academic credentials are impressive: graduating from Harvard College and Harvard Law School with honors from both college and law school. prgtoken Her unparalleled professional credentials and the breadth of her legal experience equal or exceed that of any nominee in recent history. She has worked in private practice. She has worked as an assistant public defender--Federal public defender--and as a law clerk at every level of the Federal judicial branch, including a law clerk to Justice Breyer, who is going to be retiring from the Court. Perhaps most important, she has worked as a Federal judge for nearly 10 years, presiding over trials and later hearing appeals. prgtoken During our meeting yesterday, Judge Jackson spoke about her career transition from attorney to Federal judge and specifically highlighted how her career as a trial attorney helped her grow into becoming a Federal judge. prgtoken Often lost in our discussions regarding Federal judges are the people, the people who are impacted directly by our legal system in our judges' decisions. At its core, our court system, more so than any other institution, is dedicated to the idea that everyone--everyone, not just the wealthy or powerful--should have a fair shot at justice and that no one--no one--is above the law. prgtoken The Beatitudes in the New Testament speak to this idea of justice. We have all heard it over and over again: Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied. prgtoken The power--the power--of our judicial system and our judiciary stems from the integrity and the independence of our judges. It stems from their unrelenting commitment to the rule of law and to equal justice for all Americans. prgtoken Throughout her career but particularly as a public defender--a Federal public defender--Judge Jackson has fought for a more equitable and a more just America, representing individuals accused of committing crimes and those who cannot afford a lawyer. All of those cases are difficult cases for any lawyer. The lawyer must be committed to upholding a core American value that our legal system must protect all Americans, including defendants, to ensure ``Equal Justice Under Law,'' as is inscribed on the front of the Supreme Court
STANDING WITH BURMA
David N. Cicilline (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2022-4-6

I rise in support of H.R. 5497, the BURMA Act, which would provide badly needed resources to civil society actors in Burma and impose sanctions on the Burmese military for upending years of progress, democracy, and human rights for a self-serving and brutal agenda of repression and violence. prgtoken Having visited Burma, I have seen the strength of its people as they have struggled to create and sustain democracy. prgtoken Now, under the authoritarian Tatmadaw, the divisions, prejudices, and violence have been exacerbated and progress has been reversed. prgtoken The Rohingya and other vulnerable populations continue to be displaced and assaulted. Journalists are purposely targeted for harassment and violence. prgtoken The political opposition has faced unspeakable violence and imprisonment. prgtoken We must commit to holding those responsible for the collapse of democracy and human rights to account, and we must support those that are working in dangerous circumstances to reestablish the rule of law. prgtoken As we continue to work against global authoritarianism and for democracy and human rights around the world, let us stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Burma and their struggle for freedom.