mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROVIDING ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2023
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-7-17

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in strong support of S. 111, the Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act of 2023. prgtoken This simple but important legislation would require our regulatory agencies to provide a summary in no more than 100 words and in plain language of proposed rules on Regulations.gov, thus providing the American public with more transparency and easy understanding of new rules and regulations. prgtoken The Administrative Procedure Act already requires that the public be informed and have the chance to provide feedback to our agencies on the rules that they are contemplating. prgtoken This bill, though, would bring a new level of transparency to our agencies' hard work by giving the public a simple and easy-to- understand summary of possible new rules that might affect them or their business. prgtoken I also commend this bill's sponsors for requiring that the summary is made available online. Transparency and accessibility must go hand in hand. prgtoken This legislation has already passed the Senate. I urge my colleagues to support it and send it to the President for his signature. prgtoken , .
HONORING ANNE HOLCOMB
Jared Huffman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-17

I rise today in celebration of Anne Holcomb's twenty-two years of service as the executive director of Humboldt County's food bank, Food For People. prgtoken Ms. Holcomb grew up in Alfred, Maine, and attended the University of Maine. She began her decades of service helping people with disabilities transition into community life, and served as the executive director of Southern Maine Parent Awareness. She moved to Humboldt County in December 2000. During her tenure as executive director of Food For People, Ms. Holcomb helped dramatically improve the scope of the food bank's services. The food bank expanded warehousing, trucking, and direct services to reach the far corners of rural Humboldt County. prgtoken Under Ms. Holcomb's leadership, Food For People grew to operate 18 unique programs for children and adults at more than 85 locations. These programs included the Backpacks for Kids weekend hunger relief effort, Children's Summer Lunch and Food Box Program, Mobile Produce Pantry, Free Produce Markets, and Senior and Homebound programs. A large network of pantries for localized response, nutrition and education programs, and CalFresh outreach was developed under Ms. Holcomb. prgtoken In 2000, Food For People's main facility in Eureka was closed due to a major sewage leak. This preceded the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the community's need for food resources surged. The food bank continued operating to meet this need through creative problem- solving and hard work on the part of Food For People's staff, board, and dedicated volunteers. During this time, Ms. Holcomb launched a major capital campaign to build a new state-of-the-art food bank, warehouse, and office facility. This newly opened facility will allow Food For People to better serve the community, especially in times of crisis. prgtoken During her long career with Food For People, Ms. Holcomb always put nutrition first, ensuring that households, children, and seniors have access to high quality food distributed in a dignified manner. She has been a champion for hunger relief statewide and was also a mentor for staff and a committed community partner. prgtoken , Ms. Holcomb has dedicated decades of her life to serving people in need and addressing hunger and poverty. Her exemplary service to Food For People and the people of Humboldt County has been meaningful and will have a positive effect for many years. Therefore, please join me in congratulating her on her years of inspiring work and wishing her the best on her next chapter.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-17

I thank the gentleman from Illinois and the gentlewoman from Florida for holding this Special Order hour. I give my deep appreciation to the Congressional Black Caucus for always using this time for us to talk about timely and relevant issues. prgtoken Last week, the gasp heard around the world came after a colleague from the other side of the aisle was talking about the National Defense Authorization Act, about the military, about veterans, and decided to call Black people colored people, something you haven't heard in decades. prgtoken I thought to myself, we are beyond this. Haven't we gotten beyond this? Well, I guess we have not. prgtoken The response was, the person misspoke, so I am going to pause after saying that because I still don't understand how that could be. prgtoken It is not an ignorant slip of the tongue. You do not misspeak. If you are going to say that, that is because it is front of mind. It is because that is how you see Black people. It is probably because that is what you have called Black people. prgtoken What is also interesting is that they are not here in the Chamber to hear this, to reflect on that kind of ignorance. prgtoken I know we are in a period of time where we want to be aggressive, hyper-aggressive, we want to push the envelope, we want to stoke fires, but I am here to tell you that we are not going to take the bait. prgtoken Black people are not going to be used as bait in these culture wars, and we are also not going to stand by and let you demoralize us, dehumanize us. prgtoken What is important to note is that the majority of the people who are in these Chambers every single day, helping us do this work, keeping us safe, running this floor, are Black. How shameful is it, while they are making sure that we are doing the people's business, to then be called that; men and women who could be our grandmothers, our parents, who fought in the civil rights movement to make sure that democracy was here in these Chambers for all of us. prgtoken It is fear and cowardice and ignorance that would allow those words to come out of your mouth. prgtoken It is important that you know Black people are not going anywhere. We are here. We are in these Chambers. We are in these committees. We are in your districts. We are your constituents. prgtoken Show some respect. Show some respect. In my community people like to say, you need to put some respect on my name. I didn't think that we were going to have to say that in these Chambers, but I see we do. prgtoken This is why we should not be banning books. This is why reading is so fundamental. This is why history is important because if we remove ourselves far enough from it, we start to make the same mistakes over again, and no one wants that to happen. prgtoken We are celebrating this year the March on Washington. We are fighting against forces that want to keep us from voting, that want to take away our votes, our voice, our children, our presence,
HONORING VENANCIO "BENNY" CATALA, JR.
Ritchie Torres (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-7-17

Venancio ``Benny'' Catala, Jr known affectionately as ``Big Ben'' and ``Benny from the Block,'' was a pillar of the Bronx community, touching thousands of lives through his political activism and outreach. prgtoken A proud Puerto Rican, Mr. Catala immigrated from San Juan to New York City at just 4 years old. He attended New York City public schools throughout his childhood and later enrolled and graduated from Monroe College. prgtoken By age 16, he was already serving his community via his numerous jobs through the Summer Youth Employment Program. At 18, he began his career in public service as a Constituent Services Representative for the office of the Honorable Aurelia Greene, connecting constituents to resources such as education programs, housing, and state social services. He was promoted to the Constituent Services Director and later District office Liaison to the Albany Legislative Office. From 2002 to 2006, he served as Director of Constituent Services for the Office of Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr helping residents reach city agencies and services. prgtoken During the construction of the new Yankee Stadium, a beloved Bronx landmark, Mr. Catala oversaw community engagement, arranging local hiring provisions, contracts with minority and women owned businesses, and small business partnerships. In 2012, he became Director of Diversity Initiatives for the Yankees, building relationships between the Yankees and local community leaders, schools, nonprofits, and cultural organizations. prgtoken In a return to politics, Mr. Catala was appointed researcher for the State ic Assembly Campaign Committee in 2016 as well as serving as the Vice Chair and Sergeant at Arms of the Bronx ic County Committee, working with members of the Bronx ic party and New York State assemblymembers. He was also the Male District Leader of the 77th Assembly District serving Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner and the president of the Rev. Jerome A. Greene ic Club, running voter registration drives, and supporting district leaders. prgtoken Mr. Catala's lasting impact on his community is truly immeasurable. We will never forget his tireless dedication to the Bronx; may he rest in peace.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
Jonathan L. Jackson (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-7-17

I rise today with a heart burdened by the weight of history and a spirit ignited by the promise of the future. We gather here in these hallowed halls of power, where words bear the weight of action, and action shapes the destiny of our Nation. prgtoken But the words uttered by our fellow Congressman--and I have waited for a sufficient response for him to apologize to the Honorable Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and to other Members that seek truth and justice--but he has remained silent, and he says he has misspoken. prgtoken Misspoken means to also not have been made clear, so if he could clarify his remarks on who is a colored person--as the grandson of two soldiers that fought in U.S. wars, I would like to know what he was speaking about for colored. prgtoken When my grandparents could not go on the first-class car after returning from Europe, at the Union Station had to go sit in the second-class car for colored people, behind Nazi POWs that were allowed to go in the first-class car, we are trying to overcome a horrid racial past. prgtoken , I would like to take this opportunity to share with you a little history. When we hear, as African Americans, our brothers and sisters referred to as colored people in the year of 2023, it doesn't just make us uncomfortable, it transports us back through centuries of struggle, resilience, and a pursuit of justice often denied. prgtoken I stand here before you today, not just as a Member of Congress, but a freedom fighter. Our fight as Americans started before the country was even born. It has been over 400 years when the first persons that were imported from Africa had been enslaved. prgtoken Nearly two centuries after, in 1787, our Nation held a Constitutional Convention. It was there that the infamous Three-Fifths Compromise was struck. Three out of five Americans that had been enslaved were counted as representation for taxation, not for votes. The humanity of a person was whittled down to a fraction. prgtoken Can you imagine the audacity, the horror? prgtoken Just 2 years later, in 1789, we stand witness to a profound paradox that happened; the same 1789 that gave birth to this illustrious institution, the United States of House Representatives, founded in 1789. prgtoken On the one hand, we celebrate the inauguration of our first President, President George Washington--his picture stands proudly in this Chamber--a milestone in our Nation's narrative. prgtoken Yet, let us not overlook the uncomfortable truth that this esteemed leader was himself a holder of Americans enslaved; a chilling reminder that our Nation's foundation was laid with the sweat and blood of those in chains. prgtoken In the years that followed, from 1740 to 1834, Southern slave States employed another insidious tool to maintain the oppressive status quo, the anti-literacy laws. I have not been able to find any other nation that had instituted or enacted anti-literacy laws. prgtoken Imagine a system so
GLOBAL INVESTMENT IN AMERICAN JOBS ACT OF 2023
Kim Schrier (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-7-17

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise to speak in support of H.R. 813, the Global Investment in American Jobs Act. As this legislation's name would suggest, we should work to encourage foreign direct investment that supports high-quality jobs here in the United States. Foreign direct support and investment from prgtoken nonadversarial nations can be used to grow critical sectors important for our economic success and national security, including by creating new jobs in our Nation's manufacturing sector. prgtoken Once the envy of the world, our manufacturing base has faced steady headwinds for the past several decades. Our Nation's share of global manufacturing activity declined from 28 percent in 2002 to just over 17 percent in 2020. Investment in America's small and medium manufacturers, the bedrock of our industrial might, has also declined over the past 20 years by more than $200 billion. In that same two- decade period, our domestic manufacturing base has shed more than 4 million jobs. prgtoken It is time to reverse these trends by revitalizing our Nation's manufacturing industry and bringing jobs back home. The work we did last Congress passing the bipartisan infrastructure law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act is already helping to turn the tide. The United States added nearly 700,000 manufacturing jobs during President 's first 20 months in office. Total construction spending on manufacturing in the United States has skyrocketed to nearly $200 billion per month, more than doubling prepandemic levels. prgtoken Foreign direct investment can be another part of the solution to revitalize American manufacturing and job creation. Over a third of all foreign direct investments are in domestic manufacturing, exceeding a total of $120 billion a year. This bill would ensure we keep that flow of investments strong and that such investments support quality, good- paying jobs right here at home. prgtoken I commend Representatives and Eshoo for their leadership on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. prgtoken , .
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-7-17

I thank my coanchor, Representative Jonathan Jackson from the great State of Illinois. prgtoken Last week, a colleague of mine on the other side of the aisle referred to Black servicemembers as ``colored people'' on the very floor we stand on today. prgtoken I, like many of my esteemed Congressional Black Caucus colleagues, could not believe what I was hearing. As a person of color, it was jarring. Not only was the Congressman's comment beneath the office he was elected to serve, but it was a stinging reminder that racism is very much alive in today's day and age. We see it everywhere, from the highways we drive on to the neighborhoods plagued with disinvestment. As we have learned, we can see it even here on the congressional floor and in the Halls of Congress. Despite the progress we have made as a nation, a dark cloud of racism looms directly over our heads. We hear about it and see it every single day. prgtoken Unfortunately, Congressman Crane is not alone. Senator Tuberville has struggled to denounce white nationalism. prgtoken Let me be clear. The term ``colored people'' is a racist and antiquated term and is simply beyond the pale. In no place should it be tolerated and certainly not on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. prgtoken It was Maya Angelou who once said, ``When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.'' prgtoken Last week, Congressman Crane showed the Party's true colors and their agenda. It is plain as day to see that their roots and what they are trying to push us back to is a day and age when racism and white supremacy actually led the way. prgtoken Their attacks on DEI are astonishing and are an attempt to roll us back to the dark and gloomy days of the United States when we did not embrace and see each other as equals. prgtoken As we stand here today, not only should these words be stricken, but every Member of this body should stand in alliance with the Congressional Black Caucus to denounce these terms and vow to never return back to the day and age where we saw Black people or colored people as less then.
INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO REQUIRE THE DIRECTOR OF THE COURT SERVICES AND OFFENDER SUPERVISION AGENCY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PRETRIAL SERVICES...
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2023-7-17

today, I introduce a bill that would require the Directors of 2 federal agencies, the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (CSOSA) and the District of Columbia Pretrial Services Agency (PSA), to reside in the District of Columbia during their terms. Residency requirements for certain government positions are found in federal law, D.C. law and the laws of jurisdictions throughout the United States. The primary reason such laws exist is so that government officials have a connection to the residents they serve and in-depth knowledge of the unique issues and challenges faced by residents. Last Congress, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform passed this bill. prgtoken CSOSA and PSA are federal agencies that focus exclusively on D.C. CSOSA supervises individuals on probation, parole or supervised release under D.C. law. PSA makes recommendations regarding pretrial release and supervises defendants for the D.C. Superior Court and the U.S. District Court for D.C. The Directors of CSOSA and PSA should be required to be D.C. residents since these agencies serve only D.C. prgtoken Congress has justifiably required that certain federal officials live in the jurisdictions to which they are appointed, including U.S. district court judges, U.S. Marshals and U.S. Attorneys. Similarly, Congress, which controls the local D.C. court system, has justifiably required local D.C. judges and members of the D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission and the D.C. Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure to reside in D.C. prgtoken There is no reason that the Directors of CSOSA and PSA, federal agencies that uniquely serve D.C should not be required to live in D.C. These federal officials need to be part of the community they serve. A D.C. residency requirement for these federal officials will lead to better outcomes in the criminal justice system and is a matter of fairness for D.C. residents. prgtoken I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.
HONORING ANEIRA BANWAR FOR HER VOLUNTEERISM
Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2023-7-17

I rise to congratulate Aneira Banwar for her volunteerism, service, and acts of kindness. prgtoken Aneira started volunteering at the age of 5. As she began this journey, she realized that there are limited opportunities for children to donate their time. This gap led her to create the ``12K plan''--12 months of kindness. This plan consists of 12 monthly kindness projects that kids can do at home. prgtoken Recently, Aneira assembled and donated more than 500 ``boredom buster kits'' for patients at a local children's hospital. She accomplished this project by inspiring others in her community to join her in making the kits. prgtoken Now 7 years old, Aneira has logged more than 100 hours of community service. Her hope is to encourage other children to volunteer in their community, because she believes that kids ``hold the power to shape and change the future in a positive way by performing random acts of kindness 1 month at a time.'' prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Aneira Banwar. Her commitment to others is noble and inspiring--and I look forward to all that she will accomplish in the future through her volunteer work.
UNWAVERING DEDICATION OF THE DEADHEADS
Wiley Nickel (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2023-7-17

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate and pay tribute to the Grateful Dead. Last night, the Dead and Company closed out their final act in San Francisco, and while this marks the end of an era, it also gives us an opportunity to reflect on the immense impact they have had on generations of fans. prgtoken Jerry Garcia said it best when he said: ``Maybe we are just one of the last adventures in America,'' and for those of us who are fans who follow the Dead, they truly were an amazing American adventure. prgtoken For over five decades, their unique blend of rock, folk, and improvisation transcended boundaries inspiring countless artists and enchanting millions of dedicated fans. prgtoken In a world often divided, the Grateful Dead reminds us that music has the power to bridge divides and bring people together. Their music served as a beacon of hope, an escape, and a testament to the power of artistic expression. prgtoken Through their music, the Grateful Dead taught us the value of community, compassion, and the beauty of living in the moment. As we celebrate the Grateful Dead, we also pay tribute to the late Jerry Garcia and all the band members who graced the stage with their exceptional talents. prgtoken Let's also acknowledge the unwavering dedication of the Deadheads, the devoted fans who traveled far and wide to be part of the Grateful Dead experience. Their unwavering support and enthusiasm nurtured a unique bond between the band and its audience, making each concert totally unique. There was never a concert that was the same as the last. prgtoken As we celebrate Dead and Company's final performance last night, let's remember that their music and spirit continue to live on in the hearts of all those that they touched. Their journey may have reached its final destination, but their melodies resonate across time, reminding us of the enduring power of music to inspire, uplift, and to bring us together. prgtoken Madam , I like people who like the Grateful Dead, and whether in the Halls of Congress or back home in North Carolina, I will always be thankful for the memories they gave us, the music they shared, and the profound impact they had on the lives of everyone in this country.