mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES' BREAST CANCER CAMPAIGN
Kathleen M. Rice (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-10-25

. Madam , I rise today to recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of The Estee Lauder Companies' critical Breast Cancer Campaign. I am proud to join my colleagues in Congress and individuals around the world in recognizing those fighting breast cancer. prgtoken Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer for women in the United States, with an estimated 280,000 women, as well as thousands of men, diagnosed with the disease each year according to the National Cancer Institute. With so many people around the world at risk for breast cancer, it is crucial to raise awareness so that the disease can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. prgtoken Through its Breast Cancer Campaign, The Estee Lauder Companies have made great progress towards this goal. Whether it is in funding lifesaving research, improving healthcare access for disadvantaged people, supporting patients and their families through difficult diagnoses, or raising the public's awareness with the pink ribbon, the campaign is closer to realizing a world without breast cancer. prgtoken However, despite the significant progress over the past thirty years, we cannot rest until we are rid of breast cancer. That is why I am proud to support the ongoing work done by the Estee Lauder Companies' Breast Cancer Campaign. Please join me in recognizing October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month to further spread awareness of this disease and sustain those affected by it.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING DANIEL KANDALAFT
Michael F. Doyle (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-10-25

. Madam , I seek to correct an injustice to Mr. Daniel Kandalaft, a Lebanese citizen with three American children. At a hearing examining Hezbollah's financial network before the Committee on Foreign Affairs on June 8, 2017, a private citizen provided a prepared statement--now printed in the Hearing Record--that identifies certain individuals as arrested in France for financing terrorism under Operation Cedar, a January 2016 coordinated, multinational law enforcement action undertaken by authorities in France and other European countries. U.S. law enforcement, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), assisted French authorities. prgtoken The statement entered into the Hearing Record incorrectly includes Mr. Kandalaft as having been arrested in France. A detailed examination of the complete and official French Operation Cedar case file reveals that Mr. Kandalaft was not investigated, charged, or even asked to serve as a witness. Indeed, there is no mention of Daniel Kandalaft in the law enforcement investigative reports or court filings for Operation Cedar in France. The DEA, having no authority in France, could not (and had no reason to) arrest Daniel Kandalaft and confirmed that it ``does not have authority to perform arrests or detainments'' in France. prgtoken It is incumbent upon this great institution, the U.S. House of Representatives, to correct the false statement in a Congressional hearing from so many years ago which has unfairly and unjustly tarnished Mr. Kandalaft's good name and reputation. prgtoken I include in the Record the sworn affidavit of William Julie--a licensed attorney at law in France (avocat a la cour) who has reviewed the entire Operation Cedar case file (registered in France under prosecution number 15037000675), and who obtained authorization from French authorities to release information contained in the case file-- as part of my statement and insertion in the Congressional Record. Names other than Mr. Kandalaft and the affiant (Mr. Julie)--including any agent of the DEA or Hezbollah--are redacted from the below Affidavit for privacy reasons (and marked as ``[REDACTED]''), as are the exhibits to the Affidavit and any internal references to same (which are simply deleted). Affidavit of William Julie I, William Julie, subscribe and swear as follows: 1. I am a dual national and hold passports issued by both France and the United Kingdom. 2. I am bilingual and speak fluent French and English. 3. I am a resident of Paris, France. 4. I am a duly licensed attorney at law in France (avocat a la cour), and I have held this position since being admitted to the Paris Bar in 2000. I established my own law offices in 2002. 5. I earned my undergraduate degree in international law (BA), my masters (MA) in public law, and my doctoral certification (Doctorat d'Etudes Approfondies) in Europe
HONORING KATHLEEN THOMPSON HILL
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-10-25

. Madam , I rise today to honor Kathleen Thompson Hill in recognition of her support of local restaurants and contributions to our community. prgtoken Ms. Hill grew up in Berkeley, California. She attended both UC Berkeley and the Sorbonne before beginning a Fellowship in Public Affairs with the Coro Foundation in San Francisco. Ms. Hill also received a Master of Arts degree in Political Psychology from Sonoma State University and helped coordinate the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations. Along with her husband Gerald, she has written 30 books and a series of guidebooks to wine regions of the West Coast. prgtoken Ms. Hill's passion for the culinary industry has resulted in years of contributions to non-profits, publications, and schools. She is both a Compagnon of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers and a member of the Les Dames d'Escoffier's San Francisco and Sonoma chapters. Since 2005, she has hosted the Kathleen Hill Show on KSVY radio and from 2009 to 2022, served as the Food & Wine Editor of the Sonoma Index-Tribune. Ms. Hill has been a consistent and generous supporter of countless organizations including the Boys & Girls Club, La Luz, Sonoma Overnight Support and St. Francis School. In 2009, she founded the Sonoma School Garden Project which builds gardens and educational programs that introduce students to healthy food and new learning opportunities. As director, she coordinated nine school gardens across Sonoma. prgtoken Outside of journalism and non-profit service, Ms. Hill is a proud mother of two, grandmother of three, and has developed lasting friendships with fellow culinary legends like M.F.K. Fisher, Julia Child, and Alice Waters. She is also a dedicated historian of culinary history and has curated a collection of nearly 4,000 antique kitchen utensils, signs, and pamphlets. prgtoken Madam , Ms. Hill has spent decades serving her community, supporting local restaurants and promoting the culinary arts. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that she is honored here today.
CELEBRATING SPINA BIFIDA MONTH
Lucille Roybal-Allard (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-10-25

. Madam , I rise today to commemorate October as National Spina Bifida Awareness Month, to honor the 166,000 Americans living with this condition, and to draw attention to the critical challenges we must address to ensure that each and every one of these individuals can achieve their full human potential and have the quality of life they deserve. prgtoken According to the Spina Bifida Association of America, Spina Bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect compatible with life in the U.S. Literally translated as ``split spine,'' it is a condition that occurs when a baby's neural tube fails to develop or close properly. Typically occurring within the first 28 days of pregnancy while the neural tube is forming, Spina Bifida often develops before a woman even knows she is pregnant. prgtoken Before 1960, the survival rate for all forms of Spina Bifida was 10 percent to 12 percent. But over the last 6 decades, advances in research and medicine, along with policies supportive of children with disabilities, have ensured that nearly two-thirds of Americans currently living with Spina Bifida have made it to adulthood. And while these strides are certainly worth celebrating, people with Spina Bifida--particularly adults--continue to face a crisis of care that could be largely prevented with the right resources and policies. prgtoken Spina Bifida is commonly referred to as the ``snowflake condition'' of birth defects because no two cases are the same. Children born with this condition typically undergo dozens of surgeries before they reach the age of 18. And prgtoken during their lifetime, someone with Spina Bifida will face at least a $1 million in medical expenses, including surgeries continuing throughout adulthood, and most can expect to spend much of their lives in a wheelchair or walking with braces. prgtoken One significant challenge facing this population is that, while we have a coordinated system of care designed to treat children with Spina Bifida in the U.S there is no equivalent for adults. Spina Bifida is still largely taught in medical schools as a pediatric condition and education has failed to keep pace with the rapid rise in the adult Spina Bifida population. The result is that adults face a ``care cliff'' and enter a very fractured medical system where they are unable to find physicians willing or even knowledgeable enough to provide treatment. Thousands of adults are left with few options other than to seek care in the emergency room or continue to see their pediatric care team until insurance will no longer cover their care because of their age. prgtoken To make matters worse, many of these adults rely on Medicaid as their insurance provider, so even if they have the means to travel to an adult specialist who may be located in another state--as is often the case--their coverage is denied. Across the country, there are more than 100 pediatric clinics devoted to caring for children
HONORING TURNER MORGAN AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK
Cynthia Axne (Democrat, IA) \u2014 2022-10-25

. Madam , I rise today to honor Turner Morgan as Iowan of the Week. Turner was born in Council Bluffs, attended Lewis Central High School, and currently lives in Council Bluffs with his wife Abby and his son JJ Murphy. Turner serves the public as the Neighborhood Coordinator for the non-profit The 712 Initiative by bringing people together and strengthening the Council Bluffs community in creative and innovative ways. prgtoken After graduating from Creighton University, Turner began working for Habitat for Humanity in Omaha. With Habitat for Humanity, he helped coordinate thousands of volunteers building affordable housing for low- income individuals. Turner remains grateful for the opportunity to help those in need, while gaining a greater understanding of the challenges involved with affordable housing. prgtoken Turner came to The 712 Initiative in Council Bluffs three years ago, serving as their Neighborhood Coordinator. Turner took the initiative to go door to door to meet people where they are and identify the needs of the Council Bluffs community. Increased social connectivity and neighborhood development were two common themes that persisted in these conversations, and so Turner began working to help improve these areas. Turner, alongside fellow 712 Initiative staff, crafted popular social engagement programming to increase community connectivity. High in popularity is their Block Party Trailer, which The 712 Initiative provides freely so that neighborhoods can put on a block party to get people out of their homes and connect with their neighbors. By removing some of the logistical barriers to community organizing, Turner and The 712 Initiative have helped people know one another better and facilitate more collaborative neighborhoods. prgtoken Turner plans to continue working with The 712 Initiative to improve housing development as well. The organization has renovated a number of properties in the Council Bluffs area in need of substantial improvements. These renovations not only directly improve the quality of those homes but also indirectly improves the quality of the homes surrounding it. prgtoken Turner Morgan has demonstrated his passion and commitment to serving the public in Council Bluffs during his time with The 712 Initiative. His service for others deserves recognition, and I am proud to be naming Turner Morgan as Iowan of the Week.
IN MEMORY OF GARRY WADE OWENS, INTERNATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE AND PUBLIC SERVANT
Adam Smith (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2022-10-25

. Madam , I rise to recognize Garry Wade Owens for his many years of service as a civil rights advocate and public servant. prgtoken Garry Owens is a Seattleite from birth. During his senior year at Franklin High School, he was part of the Seattle chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality, playing a pivotal role for African Americans in the civil rights movement. After his military service, he worked toward resolving discrimination and equity for prgtoken marginalized communities. He was a founding member of the University of Washington's Black Student Union and Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther Party in 1968, focusing on providing necessities and education to African American families and workers. He also worked for the City of Seattle's Department of Neighborhoods for 24 years as one of the first community organizers who helped the city with their outreach to underrepresented regions. He later became the manager for the Neighborhood Matching Fund, providing support to specific community projects. prgtoken In addition, he joined the Legacy of Equality Leadership and Organizing board in 1991 and traveled to serve as an agent of solidarity in Cuba, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and throughout the United States. He focused on community organizing, popular political education, and international networking to empower workers of color to have a voice and speak for themselves. prgtoken My office and I were pleased to have worked with Garry through his advocacy and are saddened to hear of his passing. He and his contributions to our community will be sorely missed. prgtoken Madam , it is my privilege and honor to remember Garry Owens for the achievements he made during his lifetime.
COMMAND MASTER CHIEF JOSEPH McMAHON: MT. EPHRAIM TOWN HALL HONOREE
Donald Norcross (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-10-25

. Madam , originally born in Pennsauken, New Jersey, Command Master Chief Joseph McMahon has been a resident of the Borough of Mt. Ephraim, New Jersey for thirty-one years. Deployed nine times in total, Joseph McMahon joined the United States Navy in 1976 where he served for twenty-one years before being honorably discharged in 1997. prgtoken During his twenty-one years of service, he was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; San Diego, California; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served on the USS Ponce, USS Barney DDG6, USS Conolly 979, USS Beagle Grove LSD 32, YTB 802 an ocean tugboat, Conningham and USS Forrestal. He was involved in two major military campaigns, the Persian Gulf War and the war in Bosnia. prgtoken Command Master Chief Joseph McMahon is the recipient of eighteen campaign medals and ribbons, many of which he received on more than one occasion. He has been honored with the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (3 times), Navy Achievement Award (5 times), Navy Expeditionary Services Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, NATO Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, as well as several others. prgtoken Following his retirement from the United States Navy, Joseph McMahon continued his dedication to public service, joining the Camden County Sheriff's Office as a police officer for fifteen years. In 2015, he returned to the Navy once more, working at the Foundry, an old navy shipyard. prgtoken Command Master Chief Joseph McMahon celebrated forty years of marriage with his wife Diane McMahon on October 16, 2022 and continues to serve his community as a member of the Knights of Columbus and as the Deputy Post Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 262. prgtoken Madam , I ask you to join me in honoring and commending Command Master Chief Joseph McMahon of Mt. Ephraim, New Jersey, a resident dedicated to his community, country, and those who have bravely served and defended the United States of America.
IN RECOGNITION OF GABRIEL BARNETT AND HIS SERVICE TO THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-10-25

. Madam , I rise to thank Gabriel Barnett for his service to the Committee on the Judiciary. prgtoken Gabriel received his bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and began his career in public policy and advocacy on the for President campaign as the Deputy Director for National Jewish Engagement. Gabriel first joined the Judiciary Committee as a Staff Assistant in June 2021, and in April 2022 was named Professional Staff Member to the full committee. prgtoken As Staff Assistant, Gabriel supported the full committee's senior staff and myself directly. A core part of my administrative team, Gabriel acted as assistant clerk for over 40 hearings and 12 markups and oversaw the committee's internship program. When two full committee staff left their positions, Gabriel seamlessly assumed their duties in addition to his own and worked diligently to support the Staff Director and two Deputy Staff Directors for all of their research and administrative needs. prgtoken Recognized for his dedicated service, Gabriel was promoted to Professional Staff Member for the full committee. He prepared weekly memoranda for me for House committee leadership meetings and worked with our Member Services, Communications, and Digital Directors on highlighting committee accomplishments for the 117th Congress. In addition, because of his keen expertise in Israeli foreign policy and Jewish issues, Gabriel worked closely with my staff director to make policy recommendations and meet with key stakeholders in these issue areas. Gabriel was also a founding member of the committee's first diversity, equity, and inclusion working group to facilitate trainings, plan initiatives, enhance our recruitment, and be a resource to other staff on diversity, equity, and inclusion. prgtoken Throughout all of his work, Gabriel brought his commitment to public policy, a tireless work ethic, and a devoted dedication to justice for all. Our Committee, Congress, and the American people greatly benefited from his service. prgtoken While we are sad to see Gabriel go and he will certainly be missed, we are happy that he will continue to serve the public interest in his new role at the White House. prgtoken We thank Gabriel Barnett for his service to the Committee and wish him the best of luck with this new chapter.
SPINA BIFIDA AWARENESS MONTH
Kevin Hern (Republican, OK) \u2014 2022-10-25

. Madam , I recognize today as National Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Day, and additionally October as National Spina Bifida Month. Spina Bifida impacts families across our great nation, including my own; many in my family have suffered with Spina Bifida. prgtoken Spina Bifida is a birth defect which forms from a hole in the spiral cord where it fails to close properly, allowing nerves and fluid to form a sac outside the body. To correct this, the child must undergo dozens of surgeries before they become adults, and even then, they face a myriad of physical and mental health issues. No two children will be affected the same way, as each condition is unique. prgtoken In a testament to the innovation and research of our American scientific ingenuity, we currently have the first generation of adults to live with Spina Bifida. Still, there is much work to do. It is our responsibility to ensure proper funding for Spina Bifida care and research so that both treatment and quality of life improve for all Americans with the condition.
RECOGNIZING SPINA BIFIDA AWARENESS MONTH
Christopher H. Smith (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2022-10-25

. Madam , each October we recognize National Spina Bifida Month and pay tribute to the nearly 166,000 Americans living with Spina Bifida--the most common permanently disabling birth defect compatible with life. prgtoken Literally translated as ``split spine,'' Spina Bifida is a condition that occurs when a baby's neural tube fails to develop or close properly. Typically occurring within the first 28 days of pregnancy while the neural tube is forming, Spina Bifida often develops before a woman even knows she is pregnant. prgtoken Sponsored by the Spina Bifida Association (SBA), National Spina Bifida Awareness Month is a time to highlight the needs of the community and recognize the importance of the work done year-round to advance research, programs, and policies aimed at meeting those needs. prgtoken As co-chair of the Congressional Spina Bifida Caucus, I've had the honor to work alongside SBA to advance Spina Bifida awareness, research, and public health efforts in Congress. Founded in 1973, SBA is the Nation's only organization solely dedicated to advocating for and assisting those living with and affected by this debilitating birth defect. prgtoken Through its nearly 60 chapters in more than 125 communities, the SBA brings expectant parents together with those who have a child with Spina Bifida. This interaction helps to answer questions and concerns, but most importantly it lends much needed support, solidarity, inspiration, and hope. prgtoken Madam , Spina Bifida is a birth defect that can happen to anyone. Every day, an average of eight babies are affected by Spina Bifida and approximately 3,000 pregnancies are affected by this birth defect each year. prgtoken We do not know the exact cause of this condition, but research has found that if a woman takes 400 mcg of folic acid every day before she becomes pregnant, she reduces her risk of having a baby with Spina Bifida or another neural tube defect by as much as 70 percent. prgtoken No two cases of Spina Bifida are ever the same and so this birth defect is commonly referred to as the ``snowflake condition.'' Children born with Spina Bifida typically undergo dozens of surgeries before they reach the age of 18. And during their lifetime, someone with Spina Bifida will face at least $1 million in medical expenses, including multiple surgeries, and most can expect to spend much of their lives in a wheelchair or walking with braces. prgtoken Despite these challenges--and thanks to advances in research and medicine, along with policies supportive of children with disabilities--nearly two-thirds of Americans currently living with Spina Bifida have made it to adulthood. And while these strides are certainly worth celebrating, people with Spina Bifida--particularly adults--continue to face a crisis of care that could be largely prevented with the right resources and policies. prgtoken There are number of concrete steps we could take that would make dramatic improve