mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE 44TH DISTRICT COURT JUDGE JAMIE WITTENBERG
Haley M. Stevens (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2023-4-27

I would like to shift focus. I rise in this Congress reflecting on the state of the U.S. industrial base, reflecting as a Member of Congress from Michigan, as a Member of Congress who represents Oakland County, as a Member of Congress who lives in Oakland County, as a Member of Congress who represents Automation Alley, as someone who represents the largest concentration of automotive suppliers and, certainly, some of our automotive manufacturers, our original equipment manufacturers, as we like to call them. prgtoken Nearly every week since I got elected to Congress, I participate in a program. I call it ``Manufacturing Monday,'' and I visit our small businesses, our small manufacturers, our mom-and-pop shops, often passed down from parent to child; manufacturers who have been through a whole lot; manufacturers who guided the passage of the USMCA, which was done before COVID ever entered our lexicon, to give the North American Continent a fair shot at competing, a framework to compete, a framework to sell our goods internationally. prgtoken Export channels are phenomenal. They lead to revenues. They lead to productivity. People want to buy American products throughout the world. They recognize our flag. They recognize our craftsmanship. prgtoken Then, in no short order, after we passed USMCA, renegotiating NAFTA, giving our manufacturers and our workers a leg up, of course, we were disrupted. We were disrupted by a global pandemic. prgtoken In this very Chamber, as Members of Congress representing every ZIP Code throughout this Nation gathered to vote, gathered to respond to the charge of the time, people were tapping me on the shoulder. How are you doing this in Michigan so well? How are you responding to these supply chain disruptions? How do Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, otherwise sometimes known as Chrysler, know how to immediately act to these supply chain disruptions, sourcing masks, producing ventilators, finding out who has the specs and who doesn't? prgtoken We kept working. We kept making. We stood up and responded to the industrial call to action of this very Nation, similar to how we did in the World War II era. It is in our very blood. prgtoken By the way, Michiganders, we are a northern State. Spring hits later than here in the mid-Atlantic, where the Nation's Capital resides. We are full of grit. We are full of toughness. We have seen some tough times, but we know how to rise through challenges and how to stick to the knitting and stick to the good work, even when the times aren't easy. prgtoken , we find ourselves in a very unique and interesting moment, yet again on the springboard of the remarkable passage of the CHIPS and Science Act that I was so proud to play a leading role in passing as the vice chair last term of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee and the subcommittee chair for the Research and Technology Subcommittee. $52 billion for chips manufacturing is not a p
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Brian Schatz (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2023-4-27

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider the following nominations: all nominations on the Secretary's desk in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to any of the nominations; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
CELEBRATING UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL'S SCIENCE BOWL VICTORY
Katie Porter (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-4-27

I rise today to celebrate the University High School's Science Bowl team. prgtoken Recently, University High School competed in the National Science Bowl's regional competition, hosted annually at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab. Over 100 students from southern California took part in this intense, ``Jeopardy!''-style tournament. It is a marathon, not a sprint, but these students were ready to run it. prgtoken The team spent months mastering the curriculum, which included everything from natural sciences to advanced mathematics, and their hard work paid off. Against 19 of the brightest teams, University High School prevailed. prgtoken This is now the school's fifth victory at the regional Science Bowl in the past 6 years. I am honored to celebrate these students' achievement and cheer them on as they head to nationals. prgtoken Keep making Orange County proud.
REMEMBERING HARRY A. ARVIDSON
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2023-4-27

today I would like to honor the life and service of a distinguished Montanan and World War II veteran, Mr. Harry A. Arvidson. prgtoken Harry was a proud patriot who loved his country. Never one to shy away from service or sacrifice, he answered the call to duty during World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy submarine service in 1942 and left high school before graduation to serve. prgtoken During his time in uniform, Harry served as a ship cook third class for his regular duty and radar observer for his battle station post. His first assignment was on the USS Pollack, where he was a member of the Pollack's ninth war patrol, a patrol that sunk and damaged more ships than any of the other Pollack patrols conducted in the Pacific. At the end of the war, Harry was assigned to a 40-man prize crew which boarded and seized a surrendering Japanese I-400 submarine. Harry and the prize crew sailed submarines into Tokyo Bay for the surrender ceremonies. prgtoken After being honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946, Harry returned to civilian life, married his wife Lola, and had two children, Lynda and Scott. While Harry was deployed during the war, Lola also contributed to the wartime effort as a member of the Rosie the Riveters, working on airplane gliders. prgtoken In 1956, Harry and Lola moved to Conrad, MT, where they established the Home Cafe on Main Street in Conrad. Harry and Lola ran the Home Cafe prgtoken until 1982, when they retired and passed the torch over to Scott and their daughter-in-law, who continue to run the family business today. Soon after, Harry and Lola moved to Lincoln, where they spent the remainder of their lives. prgtoken Harry was immensely proud of his service to the Nation. Since 1972, he was a member the U.S. Submarine Veterans of WWII organization, even serving as the Montana State commander for many years. In that role, he helped host the 53rd national convention in Billings alongside his family. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 9 in Lincoln and a member of the Montana Honor Flight that traveled to Washington, DC, in 2012. prgtoken On October 18, 2022, Harry passed away at the age of 97 at the Fort on VA Hospital, joining Lola--his wife of 72 years--who passed in 2019. Today, it is my honor to commemorate his service and legacy. Harry's exemplary service and that of the entire Greatest Generation is what makes our country the greatest in the world. He is a true patriot who made Montana proud, and he will be sorely missed.
HONORING MR. ODED NORKIN
Elissa Slotkin (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2023-4-27

I rise today to honor Mr. Oded Norkin, an extraordinary public servant who over the past year has provided extensive humanitarian assistance to the Country of Ukraine. When Russia began its illegal invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Mr. Norkin answered the call and selflessly dedicated his time to sourcing and delivering critical aid to the most vulnerable citizens of Ukraine. For Mr. Norkin, this was personal: his grandparents, Sara and Moshe Norkin, were killed in the streets of Odesa, Ukraine, in 1941, during the Holocaust. Mr. Norkin, who was born in Israel and served in the Israeli Army during the 1973 war before immigrating to the United States in 1978, has become a pillar of the community in Mid-Michigan. A man of action, he immediately looked for ways to help. prgtoken Mr. Norkin, alongside the Greater Lansing Jewish Federation and concerned citizens across the State of Michigan and beyond, gathered donations for the people of Ukraine. Separate from his activism, Mr. Norkin serves as the Vice President of Michigan Flyer, a public- transportation bus company. Because of this, he was able to translate his knowledge of the transportation industry into lifesaving help for the people of Ukraine. In the early days of the war, Mr. Norkin, together with a team of volunteers, helped evacuate elderly and infirm citizens of Odesa and Kharkiv to safety. Mr. Norkin and his team also secured five vehicles--four ambulances and one commercial vehicle--and necessary medical supplies and emergency equipment to be sent to Ukraine. The Greater Lansing Jewish Federation raised donations to cover the cost of an ambulance, defibrillators, and additional first aid supplies. prgtoken The ambulances were refurbished, supplied with emergency equipment specific to conflict zones, and delivered to cities across Ukraine. Mr. Norkin transferred the first of these ambulances to Odesa in March 2022. Within a month, a second and third ambulance were sent to Dnipro full of supplies to help aid vulnerable citizens. The fourth ambulance was later sent to Kyiv, and a commercial evacuation vehicle was sent to Chernivtsi. prgtoken Mr. Norkin has galvanized support for the Ukrainian people across Michigan and beyond. He has partnered with civil society leaders in Israel and Romania who have supported his efforts and connected him with like-minded individuals who assisted in completing these missions. prgtoken Mr. Norkin remains an important leader in his local community. Even while traveling abroad to deliver aid, he remains active in the Kehillat Israel Congregation and the Rotary International Service Club. Through these connections, Mr. Norkin continues to recruit, organize, and inspire others to join him in his mission to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine. prgtoken Mr. Oded Norkin continues to carry out this important work. He answers to a higher call to render assistance to those in greatest need, stand
WOMEN'S HEALTH PROTECTION ACT
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-4-27

the decision last year by the Supreme Court's conservative majority overruling Roe v. Wade and the right to abortion marks the first time in our Nation's history that the Supreme Court has ever repealed a constitutional right. prgtoken One of the most striking features of the Dobbs decision was the almost complete absence of any serious discussion about the impact the ruling might have on the lives and health of women. In a 79-page ruling, women receive only a few paragraphs. Justice Alito, the author of the majority opinion, defended this disregard for women's lives and health by arguing that it is ``hard for anyone--and in particular, for a court--to assess . . . the effect of the abortion right on society and in particular on the lives of women.'' prgtoken Perhaps the Court's conservative majority should have paid closer attention to amicus briefs filed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association, who warned that overruling Roe would unleash an immediate healthcare crisis across America. Ten months later, it is clear for anyone to see that the consequences of the Dobbs ruling are devastating. Instead of settling old controversies, the Dobbs decision has unleashed chaos for women and doctors. We are seeing a torrent of new State laws that aim to reduce abortion access by threatening to punish or criminalize those who provide abortions and, in some cases, those who help someone to obtain an abortion. prgtoken Nearly half of all States now impose severe restrictions on abortion--and at least a dozen States have enacted near-total bans. The laws surrounding abortion--and miscarriage management--seem to be changing by the week. A few weeks ago, a Federal judge in Texas issued a ruling that would ban the sale of mifepristone, one of the safest forms of reproductive care, nationwide--even in States where abortion remains legal. prgtoken Mifepristone was approved more than 20 years ago by the Food and Drug Administration as safe and effective. It is used in more than half of all abortions in the country. And it is used to help women suffering from a miscarriage. It has a better safety profile than penicillin, Tylenol, or Viagra. Thankfully, the Supreme Court issued a temporary reprieve by staying the decision. So, for the moment, mifepristone remains on the market while the case works its way through the legal system. prgtoken But the initial ruling by the Federal judge in Texas marked the first time that a judge has ever overruled the FDA to ban a medication deemed safe and effective by medical and scientific experts. And it is troubling confirmation that instead of ending the debate on abortion, Dobbs was actually the beginning of a different debate: How far will the war on women's healthcare go before we say enough is enough? prgtoken The number of horror stories that have emerged over the past year is staggering: stories of rape victims--as y
RECOGNIZING GIFFORDS
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2023-4-27

I rise today to honor the 10-year anniversary of an organization that has been instrumental in our efforts to protect kids and families from gun violence: Giffords, the organization founded by former Congresswoman and gun violence victim, Gabby Giffords. prgtoken This anniversary is particularly important to me because Gabby Giffords and I were in the same House of Representatives freshman class in 2007. Our offices were right next to each other, and we became fast friends, dreaming up the idea for supermarket office hours called ``Congress on Your Corner.'' Four years later, on January 8, 2011, Gabby was shot in the head at one of those events. Eighteen others were also shot, and six died. She almost lost her life that day and began a very long road to recovery. prgtoken But my friend Gabby is a fighter, and she doesn't back down. Two years after she was shot and just 25 days after 20 children and six educators were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School, she launched an organization dedicated to the fight to end gun violence. Today, that organization is known as Giffords. prgtoken Giffords and the gun violence prevention movement spent the next decade growing stronger, more determined, and more convinced that the righteousness of our cause would eventually prevail. Gabby and her organization channeled the outrage and frustration of millions Americans into action. Across the country, they helped to pass 525 lifesaving laws that make sure guns only end up in the hands of responsible, law-abiding Americans. They took on the gun lobby in State legislatures and the courts. They raised awareness, recruited volunteers, and registered new voters. prgtoken On May 24, 2022, at Robb Elementary School, an all too familiar tragedy struck, 19 children and 2 teachers shot and killed in their classroom. A weary American public once again called on Congress to act, and for the first time in 30 years, it did. One month later, President signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, legislation to tighten our gun laws, invest in mental health services, and make our schools and communities safer. prgtoken That historic piece of legislation would not have been possible without Gabby Giffords. In the face of unimaginable adversity, Gabby spent a decade helping to build a gun violence prevention movement more powerful than the gun lobby. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is just the beginning, and we will keep fighting to end the scourge of gun violence in this country together. prgtoken In reflection of Giffords' 10-year anniversary, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing their tireless advocacy to end gun violence and honoring my personal hero, Gabby Giffords.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-4-27

I rise to introduce the Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act. prgtoken This legislation would ensure that immigrants with criminal convictions do not face barriers to naturalization and experience unfair removals after their convictions have been dismissed, expunged, or pardoned by a Federal or State locality. prgtoken The Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act is important in ensuring immigrants are not unjustly treated after receiving a criminal charge that never resulted in a conviction or after a previous conviction no longer stands. prgtoken Specifically, this bill would ensure that immigrants whose convictions have been overturned are not penalized when they are no longer considered valid in the court of conviction or for sentences that have been fully suspended by the sentencing court. prgtoken By redefining the term ``conviction'' in the Immigration and Nationality Act, this legislation also clarifies that any adjudication that is appealable or in which the court has issued a judicial recommendation against removal or probation without judgment will not count as a conviction. prgtoken The bill would apply retroactively to any conviction, adjudication, or judgement entered before, on, or after the enactment of this bill. Finally, it establishes that an immigrant cannot be removed on the basis of a conviction if the sentencing court issues a recommendation against removal to the Secretary of Homeland Security. prgtoken Under current law, rather than having access to many rehabilitative measures that are afforded in the criminal justice system, immigrants with dismissed criminal charges, suspended sentences, or criminal convictions that are no longer considered valid in the court of conviction still face severe consequences in the immigration court system. prgtoken Some of the immigration consequences that immigrants can face include unjust removals, mandatory detention, and barriers to naturalization. prgtoken It is imperative that we resolve this disparity between immigration and criminal law to prevent those immigrants with dismissed criminal charges or with convictions that are no longer considered valid in the court of conviction from continuing to face punitive immigration consequences.
HONORING NICOLE BRADDOCK
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-4-27

I rise today to honor Nicole Braddock, whom I have named the 2023 Climate Crisis Champion for Solano County because of the important work she has done to promote conservation and address the impacts of climate change on California's 4th Congressional District. prgtoken Nicole Braddock was born in Cedarville, California. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Davis in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, and she holds an MBA from Capella University. In addition to these impressive educational achievements, Ms. Braddock has a strong commitment to bringing communities together and building common ground in conversations around climate change. prgtoken Through her role as the Executive Director of Solano Land Trust, Ms. Braddock has championed the protection of more than 8,000 acres of working farms and natural areas as well as the restoration of miles of creeks and streams. Solano Land Trust goes beyond land conservation to ensure the establishment of strong relationships between community members and the land. prgtoken Ms. Braddock has also advocated for the development of accessible trails and picnic areas to promote public resources available to all members of our community. Ms. Braddock's strong desire to give back to the community is exemplified through her development of partnerships, which allow for every individual in Solano County to benefit from protected natural areas. Additionally, Ms. Braddock supports land conservation efforts through her work on the National Land Trust Alliance Leadership Council. The Land Trust Alliance works with local land trusts to expand land conservation locally and nationally. prgtoken Outside of her participation with the Land Trust, Ms. Braddock volunteers with numerous nonprofit organizations and provides pro bono coaching to local leaders working in land conservation. Ms. Braddock also serves on the board of the Solano Economic Development Corporation, an organization dedicated to growing Solano County's economy through the creation of new jobs and competition among businesses. prgtoken , it is evident that Nicole Braddock is a leader dedicated to land conservation and environmental advocacy. Therefore, it is fitting that we honor her here today as Solano County's 2023 Climate Crisis Champion.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2023-4-27

it is time for a national investment in building a strong and resilient educator pipeline to ensure that all schools have the diverse, profession-ready teachers, principals, librarians, counselors, and other specialized instructional support personnel they need to support student development and academic achievement. Today, along with Senators Casey, Lujan, Van Hollen, Wyden, Stabenow, Merkley, and Heinrich, I am reintroducing the EDUCATORS for America Act to provide the blueprint for building this pipeline. I am pleased that Representative Alma Adams is introducing a companion bill in the other body. prgtoken For years, we have seen declines in enrollment in educator preparation programs. Now in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools are facing pervasive staffing shortages. An Education Week survey found that 40 percent of school district leaders and principals describe the shortages as ``severe'' or ``very severe.'' The National Association of Secondary School Principals reported that nearly 4 out of 10 principals expect to leave the profession in the next 3 years. We cannot afford to neglect the educator pipeline any longer. prgtoken As we work to replenish the ranks of our educators, we also have the opportunity to advance diversity in the profession. Multiple studies have shown that racial diversity can provide significant benefits to students. However, the gap between the demographic makeup of the student body and the education profession has been widening. Even though over 50 percent of students are people of color, a 2022 Department of Education report showed that 80 percent of public-school teachers identified as White, a figure that has barely changed since 2000. prgtoken The EDUCATORS for America Act calls for a $1 billion annual investment in the educator pipeline, divided evenly between State capacity building and direct support for educator preparation programs and partnerships with high-need school districts. It addresses the full scope of educator workforce development, including early outreach and career exploration, financial assistance, and wraparound supports for those pursuing education careers. It supports clinical preparation for teachers, principals, and other educators, as well as fostering faculty development, all with a focus on ensuring equity and diversity. prgtoken The EDUCATORS for America Act will also reduce financiq] barriers to pursuing careers in education. The legislation will double the value of the TEACH-- Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education-- grant to $8,000 per year and provide greater flexibility for meeting service requirements. It forgives loans for teachers, principals, and early childhood educators in high need schools after 5 years of service, and it establishes a new monthly credit for all other educators that will allow them to earn loan forgiveness as they serve instead of being forced to wait a decade before r