mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2021-8-9

at long last, tomorrow morning, I expect that the Senate will approve the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. prgtoken For far too long, any discussion of transportation infrastructure in this country has been accompanied by the adjective ``crumbling.'' The backlog of needed repairs and upgrades and replacements in my State of Maine and throughout our country is simply enormous. prgtoken Americans know far too well the consequences of the chronic underinvestment in our infrastructure. Poor road conditions cost them, on average, hundreds of dollars each year in vehicle repairs and wasted gasoline due to congestion. Structurally deficient bridges often require lengthy detours when they have to be posted. Slow or nonexistent internet connections create barriers to work, healthcare and education. prgtoken The recent pandemic has certainly laid bare inequities to high-speed internet in our country. Every administration in recent memory has identified improving our infrastructure and transportation networks as a priority, but time and time again we have seen those ambitious goals thwarted by partisanship. prgtoken Well, the Senate has finally broken through the political gridlock and is on the merge of passing a landmark infrastructure package that amounts to a major victory for the American people. prgtoken I worked with my colleagues from across the aisle and across the country to produce this legislation. It will be the most significant investment in American infrastructure since the establishment of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s. prgtoken This bill will provide concrete benefits for American families, as well as for our economy, by making historic investments in our Nation's roads; highways; bridges; airports; seaports; waterways; rail; water treatment systems; and, of course, broadband. prgtoken This is important not only for American families; it is important for America's place in the world. Many other countries on a per-capita basis invest far more than our country does in infrastructure, including China. So this bill will help to improve our competitiveness, create jobs, and improve our productivity. It represents the culmination of months of bipartisan negotiations and truly is transformational. prgtoken For example, the package includes $110 billion to address the growing backlog of deficient bridges and roads. This includes $40 billion to improve our Nation's bridges. In my State of Maine, there are 315 deficient bridges and nearly 1,500 miles of poor roads. prgtoken This package provides $25 billion, as well as the flexibility, for our airports so that they can pursue the projects such as rebuilding or extending runways and taxiways or expanding their terminals. This funding will benefit airports of all sizes prgtoken The package also bolsters our rail network by including funding for programs that support crucial capital and rail safety projects. We also included
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2021-8-9

I know we have all been talking about what is going to happen in the next 2 days, and it is very significant, the things that have to take place. prgtoken But I want to remind some people out there that it doesn't mean that everything else stops. We have a couple of issues that are major issues but not to really large numbers of people. But they are issues that are meaningful--very meaningful--to a few, and it happens that there has been progress in both of these. prgtoken Now, one of them is an issue that has to do with Western Sahara. And I know that a lot of people are not really familiar with that or what the issue is, but it is an old issue. It has been around since 1966. It is a very significant issue. It is one that you have heard me talk about for quite some time, but we have made some great progress. prgtoken First of all, it bears repeating because--they are called the Sahrawis. The Sahrawis are the people from Western Sahara, and they are kind of a voiceless people. That is why I am here--because nobody else is here on that. prgtoken So how we got here: As West Africa was being decolonized, Western Sahara was clear and declared an independent nation, despite Morocco attempting to claim it as a territory. prgtoken In 1966, the U.N. General Assembly resolution agreed that the referendum of self-determination should be held. That is the U.N. General Assembly. There was no disagreement at that time except from Morocco. Everyone was in agreement. In fact, at that time, Morocco was even in agreement. This is 1966. And we were going to have a determination in the form of a referendum that would be taking place in 1975. So it was 1966, planning for 1975. prgtoken Self-determination is just merely letting the Sahrawi people decide for themselves the imperative principle of action, the right to judge for themselves to be independent or to be a part of Morocco. Now, this was just the first promise of a referendum. To date, none has been kept. prgtoken The International Court of Justice opinion from 1975 also agreed that Morocco did not have any sovereignty over the land and that the referendum of self-determination should be held. So you have the International Court of prgtoken Justice agreeing with this, the U.N. General Assembly--all in agreement. prgtoken Morocco maintained its unlawful claim to Western Sahara and, after decolonization, attempted to annex the country with force. Western Sahara--officially the Sahrawi Arab ic Republic--through the Polisario, defended their rights to the land. prgtoken And after more than a decade of violence from Morocco, the United Nations finally intervened in 1991, and both sides agreed to a cease- fire and a path forward. That was 1991. It was called at that time the Settlement Plan. It solidified that Morocco and Western Sahara agreed to hold a referendum and a date for that referendum and created the United Nations Mission for the Referendum to solid
HONORING RICHARD TRUMKA
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , I thank Congressman Levin for the courtesy of yielding to me and for organizing this recognition for Richard Trumka. prgtoken As has been documented here on the floor this evening, he was truly a giant in terms of organized labor, for social justice, his passion, his energy. But I wanted to just note one item that I thought was really remarkable. prgtoken As I became chair of the Trade Subcommittee on Ways and Means, Mr. Trumka arranged for me to have lunch with him and a half dozen different leaders, with six international union presidents talking about the need to be able to have a worker-centered trade policy. prgtoken It was a remarkable exchange of ideas and opinions and commitments to work together. And we took a NAFTA agreement that could not pass on the floor of the House and worked together to be able to have a process that was worthy of support. There was nobody who was more essential to that than Richard Trumka, who was tireless in his efforts to make sure that that legislation moving forward would respect workers' rights, that we would deal with enforcement of labor agreements. They should be worth the paper they were printed on. prgtoken I'll go to my grave convinced that if we had had that opportunity earlier with the administration, we wouldn't have had some of those concerns, we could have resolved issues of investor-state and worker rights. prgtoken Rich Trumka was tireless in terms of his determination. He was a tough negotiator. He was fair. He was honest. As I say, reaching out even to a new subcommittee chair. He took the time, brought people together so that we could fashion an area of common cause going forward. prgtoken It struck me, as the measure of the man, with all the things that were on his plate, that he would take the time to deal with these important details and be able to expose it to other labor leaders. It is the measure of his leadership, the legacy that he leaves, and we are all fortunate that we have had an opportunity to work with him over the years. He will be missed but his legacy will linger on.
HONORING AMERICA'S IMMIGRANTS
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , today I rise to remind my colleagues of the contributions that immigrants have made to our country. prgtoken I want to direct your attention to the poster next to me. This is Corporal Jose Angel Garibay; he is a Dreamer who lived in my district and joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Jose Angel Garibay was the first serviceman from Orange County to be killed in action in Iraq. Jose Angel Garibay was a Dreamer who made the ultimate sacrifice for America. prgtoken Madam , if I can call your attention to a second poster. This is Gregoria, a farmworker who has risked her life during the worldwide pandemic to feed our country. Even during droughts and fire season in California, these farmworkers still went to work to make sure that our country was fed, and America was kept healthy. Gregoria has been living and working in my district for 28 years. She is a mother and breadwinner. prgtoken People like these two individuals, Gregoria and Jose Angel Garibay, have prgtoken earned the right to American citizenship. Madam , I urge my colleagues to continue to fight for a pathway to citizenship for millions of individuals like Gregoria and Jose.
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2021-10-26

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2021
Kathy E. Manning (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , I rise today to express my strong support for the reauthorization of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act. This act was the first Federal law to provide resources for survivors of domestic violence and remains the primary source of funding for shelters. prgtoken This critical legislation hasn't been reauthorized since 2010, leaving vital programs like crisis counseling and safety planning underfunded and outdated. In North Carolina, a staggering 35 percent of women and 30 percent of men experience intimate partner violence or stalking. COVID-19 has only further increased intimate partner violence rates and has put a strain on services survivors urgently need. prgtoken No individual should have to endure the trauma of domestic violence. We must ensure victims have access to the support and resources necessary for their safety and well-being. We cannot turn our backs on our neighbors in need. During this Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I urge my colleagues to join me in reauthorizing this important act.
REMEMBERING WILLIAM ``BUD'' LaCOUNTE
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2021-10-26

I rise today to honor the life of William ``Bud'' LaCounte, a distinguished Montanan and decorated veteran of World War II. prgtoken While Bud is no longer with us, his legacy lives on. On behalf of myself, my fellow Montanans, and all Americans, I would like extend our deepest gratitude for his service to this Nation. prgtoken Bud's story is one of incredible courage and sacrifice, having survived both American Indian Boarding School and D-day. Born in Bainville, MT, where he now rests, he was a proud member of the Turtle Mountain Tribe of Chippewa Indians. At the age of just 6, he endured the unimaginable when was taken away from his parents and sent to Fort Totten Indian School. prgtoken But his commitment to answering the call of duty never faded. And on the eve of the Second World War, Bud enlisted in the U.S. Army. Not long after he joined, Bud deployed to France and fought bravely in the battle of Omaha Beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944. prgtoken After the war, he returned to Montana and settled into his life in Billings as a loving husband, dedicated father and grandfather, rancher, dancer, and storyteller. While he has since passed, his memory and spirit lives on in each of us--in his stories, in his children and grandchildren, and in his enduring service and sacrifice to this Nation. prgtoken I now have the profound honor of presenting Bud's family with the French Legion of Honor Medal for his bravery in the line of duty. This medal serves as a small token of our country's appreciation for Bud's incredible service and outstanding character. prgtoken Let us pay a final salute to Bud, who represents the very best of this great country.
RECOGNIZING THE PUERTO RICAN BAR ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK
Nydia M. Velázquez (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the Puerto Rican Bar Association of New York (PRBA) on the occasion of its 64th Annual Scholarship Fund, Inc. gala. prgtoken Founded in 1957, PRBA was created to connect lawyers and judges who shared common goals, ideas and concerns relating to the practice of law, the courts, and the community. PRBA has successfully mentored and helped generations of attorneys develop their careers in line with their core mission of empowering and giving back to the Puerto Rican and Latino communities. prgtoken With the Puerto Rican Bar Association Scholarship Fund, the Association promotes opportunities for educational and professional advancement for underserved young professionals. Throughout its storied 60-year history, PRBA has benefited from the leadership of fantastic board members and presidents. This year's PRBA President, Steven M. Cordero is an esteemed attorney and recipient of the Sanctuary for Families 2016 Above & Beyond Pro Bono Award. PRBA's members have ascended to the highest levels of the legal community within private practice, non-profit and all levels of government including the U.S. Supreme Court by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. prgtoken Madam , please join me in saluting this year's extraordinary honorees: Judge George J. Silver, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for the New York City Courts, Judiciary Excellence Award; Juan Cartagena, Esq outgoing President and General Counsel of LatinoJustice PRLDEF, for Public Service Award; Christopher L. Garcia, Esq Partner, Co- Chair of Global White Collar Defense, Regulatory and Investigations Practice and Co-Chair Diversity Committee at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, for Attorney of the Year Award; and Judge Ruben A. Martino, posthumously, Supervising Judge of Bronx Family Court, for Champion of Justice Award, presented to Joyce Martino.
HONORING RICHARD TRUMKA
Paul Tonko (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding. I thank Congressman Levin for arranging this evening's special order. prgtoken Today we honor the remarkable life of Richard Trumka, a person who poured his entire heart and voice and passion into what is right for workers and what is right for union workers. Rich emboldened that mission and fought with great fierceness in order to achieve. Rich taught us that anything worth fighting for deserves our efforts beyond belief, and he poured himself passionately into his mission. prgtoken A fierce champion of the labor movement and fearless proponent of the rights of working people, Rich revolutionized collective bargaining and civil disobedience as a mechanism for meaningful change in our modern era. prgtoken I was deeply saddened and stunned to learn of Rich's sudden passing back in August. prgtoken A great friend to so many of us, myself included and my district, we worked together to build strong enforceable labor standards into the heart of the new NAFTA agreement, which gives American workers a fair shot and level playing field on the global stage. prgtoken That kind of fight was at the heart of Richard's lifelong work, using unionism as a tool to build a fairer economy, a more just economy, a more robust and competitive economy for our society. prgtoken We must honor his indelible legacy and deliver the kind of generational change for which he fought day in and day out by creating good-paying union jobs and tackling the climate crisis, racial injustice, and economic injustice that disproportionately hurts working people. prgtoken My sincerest condolences go out to the entire Trumka family and all of his loved ones. prgtoken May Richard rest in peace.
FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2021
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-10-26

. As indicated, 76,000 victims of domestic violence are helped, but 11,000 are unable to get help because of the lack of funding. prgtoken It is important, as well, to note that, on average, more than one in three women and one in four men in the United States will experience rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner. prgtoken It is also important to relieve the regulations, the strangulations that were on this bill before. It now opens it to up provide more to individuals who are suffering. prgtoken What we want to do is to end family domestic violence, and what we want to do is to end that intimate partner violence and bring families together, protect children. I am supporting this legislation, and I believe it is long overdue. prgtoken Madam , I rise in support of the Jackson Lee Amendment to H.R. 2119, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act, which makes a good bill even better. prgtoken , Congresswoman McBath of Georgia, for introducing this important legislation which will improve the protection and prevention for Americans affected by family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence. prgtoken The Jackson Lee Amendment improves the bill by requiring the Comptroller of the United states to produce a report on the success of outreach efforts to minority communities. prgtoken Through the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), survivors receive services such as emergency shelter, crisis counseling, safety planning, and assistance recovering from financial abuse and housing insecurity. prgtoken FVPSA is the only federal funding source dedicated to providing support to domestic violence shelters and programs. prgtoken Madam , this bill marks an historic effort to acknowledge and address the unique suffering of family violence survivors from marginalized communities. prgtoken I thank the Rules Committee for including my amendment, because this amendment is straightforward and makes this important bill even more effective than it already is. prgtoken We must recognize that not all survivors are a monolith. prgtoken Different communities and cultures have different perceptions of domestic violence and reactions to it--therefore different communities and cultures need different treatments and prevention measures to address domestic violence. prgtoken That is why I am proud to support this bill, which includes provisions that are tailored to these specific populations. prgtoken Such provisions include: prgtoken 1. Providing new grants to local programs serving culturally specific or traditionally underserved communities; prgtoken 2. Increasing access for survivors from racial and ethnic communities to services by creating a national grant program to build the capacity to address domestic violence; and prgtoken 3. Increasing funding for Native American tribes by allocating tribal grants as a set-aside to acknowledge their sovereign authority. prgtoken T
EMPOWER MEDICARE TO NEGOTIATE DRUG PRICES
Jake Auchincloss (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , I stand for patients and taxpayers in support of empowering Medicare to negotiate drug prices and to pass on the savings to lower out-of-pocket costs. We must seize this once-in-a- generation opportunity to make healthcare affordable and to promote the development of new cures. prgtoken Some policymakers have argued that lowering costs and sustaining biomedical R&D are an either/or proposition, that Medicare negotiation for all drugs in parts B and D must necessarily degrade innovation. I disagree. Cracking down on exploitations of exclusivity with thoughtful policy could turbocharge new therapeutics and lower the price of old ones with the effect of lowering out-of-pocket costs for patients, promoting high-impact science, and saving the government money that Congress can use to expand health insurance for low-income Americans and senior citizens. prgtoken That policy is within reach, and I strongly support meaningful Medicare negotiation in the Build Back Better agenda.
HONORING RICHARD TRUMKA
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2021-10-26

. Madam , I thank Congressman Levin so very much, my Great Lakes buddy, for sponsoring this very deserved tribute this evening to Richard Trumka. prgtoken It truly is an honor to be here today in fellowship with my colleagues and those who are unyielding in their commitment to creating a better world for the hardworking men and women who build our Nation and world forward. prgtoken No one embodied that devotion more deeply than the man whose life we celebrate here today: Richard Trumka. prgtoken For nearly 50 years, President Trumka was steadfast in his dedication to advancing the dignity and worth of American and guest workers who clock into work every day to earn a living to provide for themselves and their families and do the work before them. prgtoken Each bring about their own version of the American Dream. prgtoken I knew Rich from his earliest days leading the United Mine Workers of America from 1983 to 1995 as its president, and I was blessed to call him a friend. prgtoken I well recall when the mine workers conducted a national strike against Peabody Coal in 1993 to achieve better wages and working conditions in this dangerous industry. prgtoken I always respected Rich as an ally in the battles against job- outsourcing trade agreements like NAFTA, which opened up the chutes for corporations to ship jobs overseas, unleashing a devastation of America's middle class and industrial America, the likes of which we had never seen before. prgtoken Having stood alongside him for many of these fights over the years, I witnessed firsthand how global his reach truly was. prgtoken I recall one convening in particular that he organized with workers from across the world. prgtoken There I saw how acutely he understood the need for working people to band together across national boundaries in common cause to better working conditions for all. He saw the future. prgtoken From the coal mines to Congress, workers had no fiercer advocate than when they were attacked by special interests or antiworker lawmakers. prgtoken We shall all miss him and his passion immensely. prgtoken I take heart in the knowledge that he left behind a coalition that is well prepared to take on the challenges that lie ahead. prgtoken America's unions are strong as the cause they pursue is just. prgtoken And in his memory, let us push forward on the path to building back better for the American people. prgtoken The working men and women of labor are poised and will distinguish themselves in retooling our Nation for the century ahead. And there will be many pylons that will be installed that will be done in the memory of Richard Trumka. prgtoken May God carry him high and give him deserved rest.