mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING HANEEN OMAR FOR HER SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY
Jason Crow (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2021-11-3

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Haneen Omar. A brilliant entrepreneur and dedicated civil servant, Haneen has made it her life's work to aid the underprivileged and make our community a better place to live. prgtoken Many American families struggle to find quality caregiving for their loved-ones, forcing them to shoulder the immense responsibility themselves. In 2016, Haneen recognized this need in our community and founded the 2nd Home Adult Day Service Center of Aurora to provide the elderly and individuals with disabilities daytime programming, emotional support, and assistance with healthcare issues. Haneen designed 2nd Home to provide the highest quality care to these individuals so family members and caregivers can take a break and relieve stress--all while maintaining the much-needed peace of mind that their loved ones are in safe hands. prgtoken Haneen did not stop there. In 2019, she founded Helm Community Services (HCS), and this past August, HCS organized the second annual ``Taste of the Middle East'' festival to celebrate the Middle Eastern culture that is such a rich part of our community. Community members from every walk of life came together to listen to Middle Eastern artists and try Middle Eastern staples like Manooshe, Turkish Coffee Cup Reading, Henna, and delicious food from local restaurants. Our community is stronger for its embrace of diversity. prgtoken Throughout Haneen's career, she has been a tireless advocate for those who are all-too-often marginalized. Driven by her mission to bring the community together--regardless of beliefs, race, or cultural background--Haneen has found unbelievable strength in differences and diversity. I congratulate Haneen on her incredible achievements and express my sincere gratitude for her dedication, leadership, and service to our community.
MOTION TO DISCHARGE
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-11-3

from Hawaii for that very powerful explanation for why we are here today, and I thank Senator Klobuchar for her incredibly important and impactful leadership in this area as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Antitrust of the Judiciary Committee. She has led informative and profoundly significant hearings, and now she has brought to the floor, with many of us as cosponsors, along with Senator Grassley, this major piece of legislation, the American Innovation and Choice Online Act. prgtoken I will just begin by restating what a number of my colleagues have said. These complaints about inflation are really totally misplaced as applied to the Build Back Better legislation. In fact, the Build Back Better legislation will drive down costs for Americans, make childcare affordable and accessible, make preschool free and universal for all Americans, and lower the cost of prescription drugs--for the first time, a major piece of legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs for Americans and lower costs, as well, for energy and housing. The ripple effects of these major steps in reducing costs for everyday Americans will be profound and enduring. prgtoken To my colleagues who say on the floor today that this bill is changing or complex, yes, it is complex because it is big and impactful in lowering costs. And, yes, we have listened to Americans in making improvements to the bill, and we will continue to listen to Americans. prgtoken Now, inflation also is tied to the bill that is before us, the American Innovation and Choice Online Act. Competition is the lifeblood of our economy. Competition is the way that prices are kept competitive in benefits to consumers. Competition among businesses is the key. prgtoken Today, in our digital marketplaces, Big Tech in effect controls access to consumers. prgtoken Go back to an earlier time in our country's history. After the Civil War, we saw railroad tycoons use their monopolies to favor big, repeat businesses, with costs to average Americans. They imposed discriminatory terms on farmers and other businesses that needed access to the rails in order to get their products to the public. The American people wanted to do something about it. Congress did. In 1887, Congress responded by passing the Interstate Commerce Act, which stopped railroad monopolies from offering less favorable terms to smaller businesses and farmers. prgtoken The analogy is not completely exact because we are dealing now with Big Tech, but the principle is the same. Think of it as the big tech companies controlling the means of delivery of goods and services. They are the modern-day railroads. In our digital markets, they are dominant gatekeepers with total control of essential online platforms. But, even worse, they have another role as marketers of their own products on those platforms. In other words, big tech companies own the railroads of our digital economy, but
EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH CUBAN CITIZENS FOR FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
Val Butler Demings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2021-11-3

during his inaugural address in 1960, President Kennedy said these words: ``Let every nation know . . . that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.'' prgtoken We know what freedom means in America. It is the lifeline of our Nation. The people of Cuba have cried out for freedom, and because of who we are, America must answer the call. prgtoken The failed socialist regime in Cuba has delivered tyranny instead of freedom, poverty instead of prosperity, and violence to silence its own people instead of protection and safety. We denounce that regime and we stand with the people because we stand for freedom. prgtoken One protester said this: ``It's only human to feel fear but that moved to the background because you knew you were doing the right thing.'' prgtoken I say to America, this statement should be familiar to all of us. We will not stay neutral for neutrality helps the oppressor, never the oppressed. Democracy and a free economy are the right path forward for Cuba. prgtoken We stand today and we support this resolution so that every Cuban, like every American and every Floridian, will know that they have a God-given right to safety, liberty, and the right to freely choose their own future. Together we stand.
EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH CUBAN CITIZENS FOR FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
Lois Frankel (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2021-11-3

I thank Representative Ted Deutch and my colleagues. prgtoken , I rise today in solidarity with the people of Cuba who deserve the right to stand up peacefully for freedom and basic human rights without fear of repercussions. prgtoken This summer, as my colleagues have already described, thousands of Cubans took to the streets peacefully to raise their voices for basics like food, and medicine, access to the internet, for freedom and opportunity in their country. And what was the response by their Cuban Government? Violence and arrests and detention without due process of hundreds of the protesters. prgtoken Here is what I think we can all agree with: the ability to speak freely, to rise and protest our fundamental human rights that everyone deserves, no matter where they live in the world, and that is whether you are marching here in Washington, or in south Florida, or on the streets of Havana. We must continue to support and stand up for those who are standing up for fundamental freedoms. And we must condemn the acts of violence and undue repercussions against people for exercising these rights. prgtoken So today, by passing this important resolution, we take a stand and we shine a spotlight on these blatant attacks on human rights in Cuba by condemning the acts.
EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH CUBAN CITIZENS FOR FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
Henry Cuellar (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-11-3

I want to thank Mr. Deutch for yielding and for his strong leadership on this issue, and I certainly want to thank my classmate, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, for bringing this bill to the floor, plus all of the Members in a bipartisan way, I thank them so much. prgtoken , I rise to express my solidarity with the Cuban people who have exercised their human rights to peacefully demonstrate for their rightful freedoms and their liberty, their libertad. This past July thousands of Cuban citizens took to the streets and in unison, they chanted: libertad, libertad--liberty, liberty. prgtoken They protested for freedom. They protested for liberty. They protested for vida--life--and for patria--also country. They wanted a change after more than six decades of authoritarian rule. prgtoken Demonstrators were shown waving American flags symbolizing the liberty that they so desperately want. One protester remarked to the press: It felt so good to finally be able to protest in our country. It is only human to feel fear, but that moved to the background because you knew that we were doing the right thing. The Cuban Government reacted to such demonstrations with unjust imprisonment of hundreds of protesters, and, of course, they cut off people's access to the internet as part of the government's crackdown. prgtoken In closing, the people of Cuba deserve the right to protest. They have the right to have freedom--libertad--patria y vida. prgtoken , I ask that we support this legislation and pass this.
EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH CUBAN CITIZENS FOR FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2021-11-3

I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership as well on human rights worldwide. prgtoken , I proudly rise to urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 760. I authored this bipartisan resolution co-led by my dear friend, Mario Diaz-Balart, to send a message to the brave Cubans who are desperately yearning for freedom and legitimate self-governance: The American people are firmly by your side. prgtoken The passionate human cry for self-determination ringing out from the streets of Havana has moved this Congress and achieved something beautiful and all too rare. It has united and s behind this call for freedom. prgtoken Today, we are here to do something simple and unifying that is at the heart of American values: support human rights and freedom of expression and freedom from repression. prgtoken Today, this body stands arm in arm to condemn the Cuban regime's acts of repression. Together, we proclaim the strongest possible support for the Cuban people to take a courageous stand in the streets on November 15, as they did on July 11, and peacefully express their opposition to the brutality and dehumanization of the Cuban regime. prgtoken As representatives of the American people, we proudly express unyielding solidarity with the Cuban people who wish to peacefully assemble and boldly demand their freedom from oppression. prgtoken The regime has all the tools of repression in their possession, but the Cuban people are armed with truth, conviction, and courage. Dictators thrive on silence, lies, and fear. That is why the resolution before this Chamber today is so important. This body must use our platform to shed light on the tyranny that casts a shadow over such a beautiful island. prgtoken The Cuban regime's deception, repression, and arbitrary imprisonment of citizens, activists, and artists cannot withstand the people's demands for freedom, agency, and accountability. prgtoken By passing this resolution today, we will make sure the Cuban people's calls for freedom are not silenced. Instead, we will amplify them as we are here this afternoon. prgtoken And we are not alone. In adopting this resolution, we will join with the European Parliament who adopted a resolution earlier this summer that condemns the Cuban regime's blatant disregard for human rights. prgtoken Now we too must loudly proclaim that this Congress stands for democracy and denounces the unaccountable corruption clinging to power just across the Straits of Florida. prgtoken , I want to take one moment to thank all of those, including President , and especially President , for standing with the Cuban people; for standing up for freedom, for free and fair elections on the island, for freedom of expression, and for making sure that we can help hold this unaccountable regime accountable. prgtoken I also want to thank those who helped deliver this message today, my good friends: Albio Sires, Mario Diaz-Balart, and, of
IN RECOGNITION OF NEAL K. TODD
Dean Phillips (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2021-11-3

. Madam , I rise today to recognize and honor Navy Fireman First Class Neal Kenneth Todd, who served aboard the USS Oklahoma, and we lost on December 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor. prgtoken A Minnesota native, born in the city of Akeley on November 5, 1919, Neal enlisted in the Navy just days before his 21st birthday in the fall of 1940, making him one of eight children of Irena Staffenhagen to serve in the armed forces. Each one of the children would return home safely, except for Neal, her fourth born. prgtoken Neal was assigned to the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu where he served alongside his brother, Fireman First Class, Wesley Roland Todd. America was not yet at war, but on December 7, 1941, Neal would be among the first Americans to make the ultimate sacrifice in the largest conflict humanity has ever known. His brother barely survived the attack. prgtoken What makes his sacrifice even more crucial to recognize today is the time and effort it took to get here. On the day of the attack at Pearl Harbor, Neal and other sailors like him were considered missing for decades and presumed to be casualties. Over 400 crewmembers died on the USS Oklahoma alone. At the time, the U.S. military lacked the technological capacity to identify these individuals and return them home. prgtoken Until March 1942, when months later, Neal's mother was formally notified that he was missing in action and had likely perished, but his family was not offered the closure of a proper burial. Families like Neal's have been left in the dark for years, knowing that surely their brothers and sons would not be able to share another smile or embrace with them, but still wishing they could give one last goodbye. prgtoken Thanks to recent efforts by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency started in 2015, along with the assistance of family members of the lost, DNA recognition and retrieval of remains from Pearl Harbor is finally possible. Neal Todd's identity was confirmed in February of this year, and this July, dozens of prgtoken members of his family welcomed him home to Minnesota along with a traditional water salute on the airstrip of Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. Neal Todd was finally returned to his hometown of Akeley, Minnesota, 80 years after his death for a funeral service before being buried in his final resting place next to his mother and father. prgtoken I hope my fellow Members of Congress can join me in honoring Navy Fireman First Class Neal K. Todd and commend the efforts by the DOD and families like Neal's in bringing our honorable lost back home to rest. I thank them.
PROTECT OLDER JOB APPLICANTS ACT OF 2021
Chris Pappas (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2021-11-3

I will correct the record again on the fact that the committee did hold a hearing on this subject on March 18, 2021. prgtoken At that hearing, Laurie McCann, a senior attorney at AARP Foundation, testified about the erosion of protections for older workers in judicial decisions under the ADEA, including specific mention in her testimony of the Seventh Circuit's Kleber decision and its harmful impact on applicants. So, that is well-documented. prgtoken This particular amendment seeks to give us additional information going forward that would be valuable in understanding the plight of older job applicants. prgtoken , I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Newman).
MOTION TO DISCHARGE
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2021-11-3

I look forward to responding to my colleague in the future, but I can tell you that people I know around the country want to see their costs go down, and that is exactly what this bill is about. It is about bringing families' costs down, from childcare to taking care of loved ones; seniors; to bring down the cost of prescription drugs--something that has eluded our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, despite a lot of claims that they would do something about it. prgtoken So we look forward to debating this bill and getting it done. American Innovation and Choice Online Act prgtoken , I come to the floor today to speak on behalf of a very important piece of new legislation that is bipartisan. prgtoken I introduced this bill, the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, in the last month with Senator Grassley, who was here with us today and will be here shortly; as well as my colleagues Senator Durbin, the chair of the Judiciary Committee; Senator Lindsey Graham, the former chair of the Judiciary Committee; Richard Blumenthal, who is here with us today; Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana; Senator Cory Booker; Senator Josh Hawley; Senator Cynthia Lummis; and Senator Mazie Hirono, who is here with us today; as well as Senator Mark Warner. prgtoken America has a major monopoly power problem, and nowhere is this more obvious than with tech. It is because, in part, it is 20 percent of our economy. prgtoken And while we love the new jobs, the new ideas, the new technology that have come out, we all know that you can't just do nothing on privacy, do nothing on competition, and that our competition laws haven't been updated in any serious way since the invention of the internet. prgtoken I am here, again, joined with Senator Grassley. I am going to let him go ahead of me and then turn to Senator Blumenthal and Senator Hirono, and I will finish up because they have been very patient. prgtoken I so appreciate Senator Grassley's leadership in this area; one, to make sure the FTC and the Department of Justice Antitrust have the funding they need with the bill that we passed through this Chamber to update merger fees, as well as the work that we are doing right now. It is so important on self-preferencing. prgtoken It is this simple: Companies, just because they are dominant platforms, shouldn't be able to put their own stuff in front of everyone else that advertises on our platform. They shouldn't be able to steal ideas and data and develop products off the people who are simply trying to advertise their products on the platform and develop knockoffs, which is exactly what we know, from some really good reporting from the Wall Street Journal and others, has been happening. prgtoken And they shouldn't be able to, because they are dominant platforms, tell people who advertise: Hey, if you want to get your stuff near the top of the search engine, then you are going to have to buy
FISCAL STATE OF THE NATION RESOLUTION
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2021-11-3

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I would just remind the gentleman this is a bipartisan bill put forward by a bipartisan commission, and I am glad to hear him talking about the debt. I wish some of my colleagues would have talked about it when they controlled the House and the White House, but the debt that we are talking about was accumulated by Presidents and Congresses and ic Presidents and ic Congresses. prgtoken President has only been in office 9 months, and the spending that he is proposing is to be fully paid for, with a recognition that we do not want to see an increase in our deficits and our debt. prgtoken But this is a bipartisan moment, and we should celebrate it. But maybe I am sounding a little eccentric when I say that. prgtoken Madam , .
Nomination of Rajesh D. Nayak (Executive Calendar)
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2021-11-3

first of all, I come to the floor to call for the confirmation of Rajesh Nayak to serve as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Policy. prgtoken Over the past year and a half, our working families across the country have really struggled through the most unequal economic crisis in recent history. prgtoken COVID put a glaring spotlight on many of the problems workers were already facing before this pandemic and has worsened longstanding inequities, making life harder for women, workers of color and workers with disabilities, and others. prgtoken If we are going to build back stronger and fairer from this pandemic, then our Federal Agencies must be fully staffed with highly qualified people who will help us tackle the many challenges hurting workers, retirees, and their families. prgtoken Mr. Nayak already has an impressive track record of doing just that. Mr. Nayak served as a senior adviser to Secretary Walsh at the Department, and also previously served in the Solicitor's office as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Deputy Chief of Staff. In those roles, he has worked on a broad portfolio of issues important to workers across the country, including workforce development, worker protection, counter-trafficking, overtime pay, health and safety, retirement security, and more. prgtoken He has also worked twice at the National Employment Law Project, including most recently as deputy CEO. As an advocate and a policymaker, he has shown time and again his commitment to empowering workers, supporting families, and advancing equity. And I have no doubt that, if confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Policy, he will continue working in the best interests of workers and their families, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting in support of his nomination.
PROTECT OLDER JOB APPLICANTS ACT OF 2021
Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2021-11-3

the balance of my time to close. prgtoken Passing the bipartisan Protect Older Job Applicants Act should be a priority of every Member of Congress. s and worked together just a few months ago to advance the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. This bipartisan effort was a major step toward ensuring older workers can assert legal claims to hold employers accountable for disparate treatment that results in age discrimination. prgtoken However, we cannot defeat age discrimination in employment if we leave older job applicants behind. Without equal protections, older workers are still being denied job opportunities because of hiring practices that, while not intentionally discriminatory, ultimately exclude workers based on their age. prgtoken Providing job applicants with the tools to seek justice for discriminatory hiring practices is not just the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do. In 2018 our economy missed out on as much as $850 billion in gross domestic product because older workers who wished to switch jobs, grow in their jobs, or reenter the workforce were denied that opportunity. prgtoken The Protect Older Job Applicants Act addresses this gap in an important ADEA protection and helps older workers eliminate barriers that prevent them from fully contributing to our economy. prgtoken More broadly, this legislation will deliver on the promise of the ADEA and help ensure that all older workers, regardless of whether they are looking for a job or already have one, are equally protected against age discrimination under the law in every part of the country. prgtoken I want to again thank Ms. Garcia for her leadership. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and .