mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
FORCED ARBITRATION INJUSTICE REPEAL ACT OF 2022
Scott Fitzgerald (Republican, WI) \u2014 2022-3-17

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , instead of setting one standard and having everyone play by the same rules, the have singled out the unions for favorable treatment. prgtoken This legislation bans predispute arbitration for nonunion employees while preserving these benefits for union employees. This discrepancy makes no sense and, unfortunately, smacks of political favoritism. prgtoken Arbitration offers a faster and cheaper path to resolution of a dispute. Taking this path away from nonunion employees leaves these workers to the mercy of--like we said earlier--the high-priced trial lawyers, while union workers maintain the benefit of arbitration. prgtoken My amendment would remove this carve-out for union employees and restore parity between union and nonunion workers. prgtoken My colleagues on the other side of the aisle already shut down my amendment to limit attorneys' fees to a reasonable amount so that consumers are protected. I am disappointed by that. They also rejected my amendment to reduce the cost of this bill by exempting contracts for critical supplies that have been affected by the administration's supply chain crisis. prgtoken Madam , I urge all my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment to protect workers, and .
WHAT GOOD HAS BEEN DONE IN THE LAST YEAR
David Schweikert (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2022-3-17

so, tucked into--now here is the great irony. So we found this, tucked into their thousands and thousands of pages of build back better, because, remember, on one hand, they are telling you, hey, we are going to make things more efficient. We are going to actually help reduce inflation. Oh, except for the way that if you actually find out it is a bunch of pandering to the unions, and they made it so you can't automate ports. Huh? prgtoken So you are giving us speeches about how the supply chains are the real responsibility for inflation, and build back better is supposed to help inflation, except for you have done the very things that will make it so just the opposite happens. You have made it so I can't automate ports legally anymore. prgtoken So all this money, your largesse, you are going to throw out will go to green stuff at ports, but you can't make it more efficient. prgtoken You lied to the American people. And how many of my brothers and sisters on the left even knew these sorts of little land mines were tucked into. I mean, they had the unionization of all the government employees in my State if they want the largesse money for family and medical leave; yet they had to do it through a collective bargaining agreement. prgtoken The legislation was pandering to those who financed their campaigns, and it would make people's lives more miserable. prgtoken I mean, think of that. Inside their build back better was you can't automate ports. You can't make this stuff up. prgtoken And then you start to realize, why do we have so many unfilled jobs? Something went horribly off the rails here. prgtoken When we functionally--and I need to update this chart because apparently the number is actually even worse. prgtoken But we have--I have a fixation on demographic issues. I have done lots of presentations here on the floor, because demographics are actually the primary driver of our U.S. sovereign debt, and policies continue to make the policy sets around that worse. prgtoken So we have 1.5 million more of other brothers and sisters who have said, I quit, I am out of here, I am taking early retirement, I leave, than we expected. Instead of encouraging our brothers and sisters to stay in the economy because we have got to step up productivity because if we don't step up productivity, we can't start to knock down inflation. prgtoken Remember, what is inflation? It is too many dollars chasing too few goods. prgtoken There is a couple of ways you attack inflation. You can squeeze down the money supply, and you saw that happen with interest rates starting to go up. Or you could also do what Reagan did in 1981. People forget this. Paul Volcker is jacking up interest rates and jacking up interest rates. prgtoken Congress, a Congress at that time, also did a tax cut, a tax reform to try to make business more productive so they would make more stuff. Remember, too many dollars chasing too few goods and service
RECOGNIZING THE WOMEN'S CLUB OF BAKERSFIELD
David G. Valadao (Republican, CA) \u2014 2022-3-17

. Madam , I rise today to honor the Women's Club of Bakersfield on their 126th birthday. prgtoken Founded in 1896, the Women's Club of Bakersfield is the oldest cultural club in Kern County. They erected their first building in 1900 and after outgrowing it, moved into their current home in November 1921. prgtoken The Women's Club not only provides a dedicated space for women to organize, but they also have a rich history of philanthropic work within the community. Some of the Club's achievements include their advocacy for Women's Suffrage, help to create the first public library in Bakersfield, and preservation efforts for the Beale Clock Tower and California Redwoods. They also provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to local students and do important work to support local troops and veterans. prgtoken Their dedication to service and giving back has been felt by thousands of people throughout Kern County. These women of all ages and backgrounds are a true testament to the passion and selflessness that epitomizes our Central Valley community. prgtoken I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the Women's Club of Bakersfield for 126 years of service to the Bakersfield community.
RECOGNIZING THE LEGACY OF DAVID RUDD
David Kustoff (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-3-17

. Madam , I rise today to talk about the legacy of David Rudd, who is retiring as the president of the University of Memphis. prgtoken Dr. David Rudd came to the University of Memphis in 2013 as the provost for the university. He had previously served as the dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Science and scientific director of the National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah. prgtoken President Rudd succeeded Dr. Shirley Raines as president and Brad Martin as interim president of the University of Memphis, becoming the University of Memphis president in 2014. prgtoken The University of Memphis has a student population of around 22,000 students, with 17 bachelor's degrees in more than 250 areas of studies, master's degrees in 54 subjects, doctoral degrees in 26 disciplines, and graduate certificate programs in 44 areas of study. The University of Memphis also has one of the finest law schools in the southeast United States. prgtoken No matter your alma mater, one thing most can agree on is that it is extremely challenging leading a school of higher education today, especially in the era of COVID. prgtoken With that said, the University of Memphis has flourished under David Rudd's tenure as president. There have been a number of major accomplishments during this time. Maybe the most significant achievement during the David Rudd era is the University of Memphis obtaining the research classification known as R1 by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. For the first time in its history, this puts the University of Memphis in the top tier of research universities across the Nation. prgtoken I asked my friend, Doug Edwards, the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Memphis, about David Rudd. Doug told me: ``David Rudd is a transformative leader who has had a profound impact on the University of Memphis. He has elevated the stature of the university to that of the second flagship university in Tennessee and a top-tier research institution.'' prgtoken Soon Dr. Rudd will take a well-deserved sabbatical from his leadership and administrative duties. When he comes back to the University of Memphis in the next year, he will return to teaching and research as a distinguished professor of psychology and will run the new Rudd Institute for Veteran and Military Suicide Prevention at the University of Memphis. prgtoken The institute is appropriately named. As a veteran of the Gulf war and a former Army psychologist, David Rudd is one of the Nation's leading experts on suicide prevention among our Nation's veterans. prgtoken We wish the utmost best to him and his wife, Dr. Loretta Rudd, herself a distinguished educator and researcher in higher education. prgtoken On behalf of the many alumni and residents of the Eighth Congressional District of Tennessee, Roberta and I congratulate, salute, and honor David Rudd for his remarkable and outstanding tenure as the pre
FORCED ARBITRATION INJUSTICE REPEAL ACT OF 2022
Dan Bishop (Republican, NC) \u2014 2022-3-17

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken The distinguished gentleman from Georgia suggests that this bill is about whether or not we are preserving the right to jury trial in the Constitution. But I submit, that is not really what is at stake. prgtoken The question is whether you resolve a dispute through arbitration or you go to the court system. If you go to the court system, there are innumerable paths within the court system that lead to not having your case decided by a jury. prgtoken In fact, only about 1 to 2 percent of cases end up proceeding to a determination by a jury. That means 99 or 98 prgtoken out of 100 cases do not. They might be dismissed on a motion for summary judgment. They might be dismissed for failure to state a claim. There may be settlement processes that come to fruition during the course of the case. prgtoken But it is almost never true--think about that--that a case in court goes to a jury. So this notion that this bill, by eliminating the choice of arbitration, somehow preserves everybody's jury trial magically is a false choice. prgtoken And more to that point, the gentleman from Georgia, and also the chairman, in the inception, noted that we have just had a bill signing of a bill that excepts from enforceable arbitration agreements the category of sexual assault, sexual harassment. The majority of s supported that. prgtoken The majority of s will not support this bill because it represents the throwing out of the entire mechanism of arbitration, which has been, as I indicated, a feature of the legal landscape used with great utility and utilized throughout the last hundred years almost, since 1925. prgtoken Madam , I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Bentz).
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL AGRICULTURE WEEK
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2022-3-17

. Madam , I rise today to recognize National Agriculture Week, which begins on March 20, a week dedicated to honoring and acknowledging the efforts and hard work of American farmers and farm families. prgtoken While farmers, ranchers, producers, foresters, and farmworkers should be celebrated year-round, National Agriculture Week shines a bright light on where our Nation's food, fiber, and fuel come from. I have always said every American interacts with agriculture at least three times a day, whether they realize it or not: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is a fundamental part of our lives, and it is the backbone of the American economy. prgtoken Celebrated during National Agriculture Week, National Agriculture Day began in 1973 as a way to recognize the unique value that farmers, ranchers, and foresters contribute to our society, contributions that have only grown in importance over the past 2 years as the world faced a pandemic, global supply chain disruptions, economic instability, and, now, war in Europe. prgtoken Being a farmer has never been an easy job by any means. Feeding and clothing our Nation and the entire world is a monumental task. Every day, America's farm families dedicate their minds and bodies to achieving that feat. prgtoken Unfortunately, many farmers today are facing rising input costs, shrinking profit margins, and unrelenting supply chain issues, much of which has been self-inflicted by leadership in Washington, yet they continue to persevere. prgtoken As leader of the House Agriculture Committee, I am honored to represent farm families in rural America and serve as their reliable voice in the Halls of Congress. prgtoken National Agriculture Week encourages every American to: understand how food and fiber products are produced; appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing a safe, abundant, and affordable food supply; value the essential role of agriculture in our economy; and acknowledge and consider successful career opportunities in the agriculture industry. prgtoken As the Representative of Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District, I have the great privilege of working firsthand with many farmers and foresters. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we are fortunate to have more than 59,000 farms. These men and women work hard to feed and clothe not just Pennsylvanians but our Nation and overseas. Their hard work results in agriculture being Pennsylvania's number one industry. prgtoken Agriculture and its associated industries contribute more than $135 billion, or about 18 percent of Pennsylvania's economy. The industry employs half a million workers, including 280,500 direct jobs. prgtoken I will end with one of my favorite quotes about agriculture from President Jefferson: ``Agriculture . . . is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.'' prgtoken This sentiment rings just as true today as it did in Presid
IN RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST BAT MITZVAH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-3-17

. Madam , I rise to pay tribute to the centennial anniversary of the first Bat Mitzvah of an American girl, which took place on March 18, 1922, at the Society for the Advancement of Judaism (SAJ) in New York City. prgtoken At 12 years of age, Judith Kaplan became the first girl on American soil to formally step into the Jewish community by becoming a Bat Mitzvah (daughter of the commandments). Her father, Rabbi Mordecai M. Kaplan, founded SAJ just three months prior, in January of 1922. He believed strongly that girls should have equal religious opportunities, so he arranged for his daughter to read from the Torah soon after the synagogue was created. prgtoken This momentous occasion helped begin the meaningful inclusion of women and girls in Jewish religious life. Bat Mitzvahs became common place, Jewish women started to serve in leadership roles in synagogues and organizations, and exactly 50 years later, the first female rabbi in American history was ordained by a rabbinical seminary. prgtoken Judith Kaplan's Bat Mitzvah was also the first in a long line of countless innovative and groundbreaking advancements in Jewish thought and practice by SAJ and their leadership. prgtoken Rabbi Kaplan established SAJ as the first synagogue based on the principles of Reconstruction, which views Judaism as a constantly evolving civilization. He believed that Jewish life was rooted in tradition but also able to adapt alongside the ever-changing circumstances of wider society under that guiding principle. prgtoken Since Rabbi Kaplan's pioneering tenure, SAJ has continued to live up to his powerful legacy of American Jewish innovation. The synagogue is considered a cornerstone of Jewish life in New York's Upper West Side. SAJ, led by an all-female clergy and staff, is an intellectual stalwart in the community that is dedicated to practicing a modern, American, egalitarian form of Judaism. They advance Jewish education, arts, music, and cultural self-expression as vital to the religious practice. prgtoken SAJ upholds the Jewish tenet of tikkun olam, a Hebrew phrase that means to repair the world. The synagogue embodies this teaching by working for economic, immigrant, and reproductive justice; affirming LGBTQ+ members and interfaith families; and actively supporting and partnering with New York City's Westside Campaign Against Hunger to fight against food insecurity. prgtoken I honor Judith Kaplan's courage and celebrate the 100th anniversary of her groundbreaking Bat Mitzvah. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Society for the Advancement of Judaism's remarkable contributions to the Jewish community in New York City and all over the world.
VOTE EXPLANATION
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2022-3-17

on March 14, 2022, I was unable to cast a vote on rollcall vote No. 79, the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 726, the nomination of Shalanda D. Young of Louisiana, to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget. I was on a bipartisan congressional delegation visit to Poland, meeting with refugees displaced by the violence caused by the current, illegal invasion of Ukraine. prgtoken Had I been present, I would have voted yes to proceed with her nomination as Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
SUSPENDING NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA AND BELARUS ACT
Richard E. Neal (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-3-17

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , as I close, I thank Mr. Brady for his partnership in this effort to hold Putin accountable and for his support for the Ukrainian people. prgtoken I also was moved by the gentlewoman from Indiana's testimony just a few minutes ago about Ukraine when she said this is not normal behavior. This is not the regularization, we hope, of normal behavior, a return to the old Soviet empire. prgtoken Madam , I applaud the terrific work of the Committee on Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee staff, particularly Alexandra Whittaker, Katie White, and Sofia Ferber. Their expertise and dedication made this legislation possible, and I thank them for their contributions. prgtoken Madam , I think in the many years that I have been in this House, one of the most moving moments occurred yesterday when we heard the President of Ukraine, Zelenskyy--duly elected, incidentally--talk about the pain and anguish but also the courage of the Ukrainian people. To witness the bombardment and the murder and killing of innocent children by this Russian dictator, I hope all the world, like this Congress today, will abhor that. prgtoken Madam , it is not enough just to applaud and to talk about the challenges that Russia has presented to the civilized world. We have to do something about it. prgtoken Coming on the heels of the oil embargo, I believe this will also receive broad bipartisan support today, and it will swiftly move from Congress to President 's desk. There is no time to waste. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7108, and .
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-3-17

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.
EXPRESSING THE HOPE FOR JUSTICE FOR THE VICTIMS OF BLOODY SUNDAY
Brendan F. Boyle (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-3-17

. Madam , I thank my good friend from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as well as my fellow Pennsylvanian, another great Commonwealth. You know which one I am partial toward. prgtoken Madam , I not only thank Chairman Keating for his leadership in pushing this resolution but also thank him for the eloquent words that he just spoke. He laid out the situation quite clearly. I would like to just briefly elaborate. prgtoken Former British Prime Minister David Cameron, to his great credit, said these words about a decade ago: ``There is no doubt, there is nothing equivocal, there are no ambiguities. What happened on Bloody Sunday was both unjustified and unjustifiable. It was wrong.'' He further went on to say: ``I am deeply sorry on behalf of the British Government.'' prgtoken Now, despite those truly admirable words and despite the findings and acknowledgment made by successive British Governments, shamefully, none of the individuals involved in the murder of 14 innocent civilians on Bloody Sunday have ever been held accountable. prgtoken This resolution says: ``The lack of accountability and justice provided to those who perished from the unlawful use of force on Bloody Sunday is both shameful and dangerous.'' prgtoken Madam , we remember those who perished. We also recognize the family members of those who were harmed and killed on Bloody Sunday who fought for decades and decades to finally get justice. prgtoken But we must go further than that. A few weeks ago, I led a bipartisan letter--and, again, this whole effort has been bipartisan, which is always the case when it comes to the issue of peace in Ireland here in the United States. I led a bipartisan letter to object to the British Government's latest plan to institute an amnesty, a blanket amnesty. I quote from this resolution, which is similar to the letter that we sent. ``We oppose any attempt by the British Government to implement amnesty or statute of limitation laws that would end or inhibit investigations and prosecutions of crimes committed during the Troubles, including on Bloody Sunday.'' prgtoken The resolution further goes on to talk about today and: ``Calls upon the involved parties to fully implement the Northern Ireland Protocol as agreed upon in the interest of maintaining peace and stability on the island of Ireland.'' prgtoken Madam , today, in the United States and around the world, as we celebrate St. Patrick's Day, all of us, whether like me of Irish descent or not, let us also make sure that we don't lose sight of this important civil rights issue.
FORCED ARBITRATION INJUSTICE REPEAL ACT OF 2022
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-3-17

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken I want to correct something Mr. Bishop said. This bill does not ban arbitration. It bans forced arbitration. It bans the practice or the enforceability of the practice of having a provision in a contract that you sign to buy anything or an employment contract where you are forced, that is there and that if you try to change it, they won't sell you the car, they won't sell you the cell phone, they won't hire you, so you have no choice, and that forced arbitration removes the constitutional right to a trial by jury. prgtoken Madam , I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen), a member of the Judiciary Committee.