mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL DIABETES MONTH
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-11-13

I rise today in recognition of National Diabetes Month. This month is important for all of us in the United States. More than 37 million Americans have diabetes and we need to double down on our efforts to find a cure for this disease. prgtoken During this month, we cannot lose sight of the stark disparities when it comes to diabetes in the Black community. Black adults in the U.S. are 60 percent more likely than White adults to be diagnosed with this debilitating disease. prgtoken This is a national health crisis that deserves our immediate attention. Black Americans with diabetes are 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalized and are twice as likely to die from this disease. prgtoken As a healthcare executive, I saw this disparity firsthand and the impact it had on the communities that I serve in Congress. prgtoken A study conducted at Emory University confirmed what many of us have long known to be true. prgtoken Structural racism and geographic inequalities are exacerbating diabetic health disparities. Estimates indicate that rates of diabetes are 1.5 times higher among people of color, including Black Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Hispanics and Asians. prgtoken Statistics emphasize just how serious this epidemic is in my home State. According to the Florida Diabetes Alliance, an estimated 579,000 Floridians have diabetes but don't know it, greatly increasing their health risk and dying. prgtoken Yet despite inequalities, African Americans are 19 percent less likely to access newer diabetes treatment. That means that they are 19 percent less likely to access medication which could mean a healthier and longer life. prgtoken Every American, no matter the color of their skin or their ZIP Code should be able to receive the best treatment options available with no questions asked. prgtoken This month, let us recommit and address the social determinants of healthcare and recognize the impact they have in driving diabetes disparities. This encompasses everything from accessing green space and how long it takes to get to the grocery store. It comes down to whether patients live near a healthcare facility where they can speak to a provider and receive leading-edge diabetes care. It is a matter of whether our kids are eating nutritious lunches in the cafeteria. prgtoken If we want to get serious about tackling the disproportionate rates of diabetes among Black Americans, this is where we need to start. prgtoken By focusing on the social determinants of healthcare, we would lay the groundwork for a better and healthier future.
OPPOSING H. RES. 845 CENSURING REPRESENTATIVE RASHIDA TLAIB
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2023-11-13

I strongly object to this censure resolution that seeks to punish Representative Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), who is the only Palestinian American Member of Congress, for using her Constitutionally protected right to free speech. Representative Tlaib was elected by her constituents to represent them in the U.S. House, and her voice and perspective are unique and valuable to our national debate. prgtoken Members of Congress have the right to express their viewpoints and represent their constituents. Our constituents will hold us accountable for the job we do. What makes democracies like ours unique is that they allow free speech even when it is offensive, false, or shocking. I do not agree with everything that Congresswoman Tlaib has said, just as I do not agree with anything Congressman Brian Mast (FL-21) said in his remarks on the House Floor on November 1, 2023. Their First Amendment rights to free speech are still protected. prgtoken Censure is a serious tool that should be reserved for holding Members of Congress accountable for unethical or criminal behavior, like committing assault or accepting bribes, or for specific categories of speech that are not protected by the First Amendment, including direct threats against individuals, inciting treason or insurrection, or the use of aggressively insulting ``fighting words'' against another Member on the House Floor. prgtoken Protecting speech is the only way to ensure debate among diverse viewpoints that is an essential ingredient in every true democracy. As my colleague and constitutional scholar Representative Jamie Raskin rightly pointed out, we are at a moment when democracy is under attack around the world, and that makes it even more vital that we remain vigilant about protecting free speech rights here at home. prgtoken Mr , I voted against this censure, and will continue to defend our right to free speech to represent our constituents and voice our conscience as Representatives in this great democracy.
NATIONAL DIABETES MONTH
Steven Horsford (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2023-11-13

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken , I thank both Congressman Jackson and Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick for their leadership and for co-chairing and co- anchoring tonight's Special Order hour for the Congressional Black Caucus. prgtoken To the previous speaker and my classmate, Representative Donald Payne, I am grateful for his tremendous leadership and personal lived experience on this very important topic. prgtoken I am grateful for so many of the other members of the CBC who have spoken on the importance of recognizing November as National Diabetes Awareness Month and have highlighted the disparate impact that diabetes has on the Black community. prgtoken According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Black Americans are 60 percent more likely than White Americans to be diagnosed with diabetes by a physician. Additionally, the health outcomes of Black Americans diagnosed with diabetes are worse than the outcomes experienced by White Americans. Black Americans are 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalized from long-term complications, 3.2 times more likely to be diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, and twice as likely to die from this disease. prgtoken We know that the rate of diagnoses among Black Americans is on the rise. Over the past two decades, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes for Black and Hispanic youth has increased by 95 percent. prgtoken At the start of the 117th Congress, the - administration and in the majority of the House and Senate made it our priority to lower everyday costs for the American people and to improve the affordability of lifesaving prescription drugs like insulin. We delivered on that promise. prgtoken With unanimous support from the Congressional Black Caucus and House and Senate , President signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped the cost of insulin at $35 per month under Medicare prescription drug coverage, traditional Medicare, and Medicare Advantage. Because of this action, some private companies have extended that reduced cost to others, including children. prgtoken The IRA has significantly improved the affordability and accessibility of lifesaving insulin for the 1 in 10 Americans with diabetes, including millions of seniors who in some cases were paying as much as $400 for a month's supply of insulin. prgtoken After the insulin cap for seniors went into effect, the top three insulin manufacturers reduced their prices for all Americans, as I indicated. This is what we can do when the government works for the people. This is what the ic Party does when we are in the majority. We put people over politics, and we will continue to do that on behalf of the American people, who deserve nothing less. prgtoken , s of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Congresswoman Shontel Brown, who led the CBC in a press conference today by marking National Diabetes Month
U.S. Supreme Court (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-11-13

history was made today with the release of a document by the U.S. Supreme Court. Today, for the first time in the history of the United States, the Supreme Court has issued a code of conduct for Supreme Court Justices. Most Americans will be surprised to learn that this was the first time this code of conduct has been issued, but that is a fact. prgtoken I know this issue better than most because 11 years ago, I wrote to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts--along with several of my colleagues--and told him that the establishment of a code of conduct for the Supreme Court Justices was long overdue. prgtoken After years of refusing to act, a series of scandalous disclosures involving several Justices on the Court, and the Senate Judiciary Committee passing legislation sponsored by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on ethical reform, the Supreme Court has finally responded. Today, for the first time in history, the Supreme Court of the United States is at least saying to the American people: We hear you and understand that the nine Justices on the Supreme Court are members of a democratic form of government, not royalty, and that they should be held accountable as all public servants in the Federal Government are held accountable. prgtoken At a glance, this Code of Conduct for Justices of the Supreme Court is similar to the standards that apply to all other lower court Federal judges. The Court's code of conduct sets forth several important canons of conduct, including canons on upholding the integrity and independence of the judiciary and avoiding impropriety and the appearance of impropriety. prgtoken All of these are important steps, but they fall short of what we could and should expect when the Supreme Court issues a code of conduct. The Court's statement on the code specifically notes: For the most part these rules and principles are not new. prgtoken That is a problem because the Court's previous practices were plainly inadequate. The Court's new code of conduct does not appear to contain any meaningful enforcement mechanism to hold Justices accountable for any violations of the code. It also leaves a wide range of decisions up to the discretion of individual Justices, including decisions on recusal from sitting on cases. prgtoken I am still reviewing the Court's new code of conduct. For now, I would note that the Court's adoption of this code marks a step in the right direction. It may fall short of the ethical standards which other Federal judges are held to, and that is unacceptable. And if it falls prgtoken short, the American people will ultimately have the last word, and the integrity of the Court is at issue. prgtoken We are going to carefully review this proposed code of conduct to evaluate whether it complies with our goal that the highest court in the land not languish with the lowest standard of ethics in our Federal Government. But this release today, long overdue
DEBBIE SMITH ACT OF 2023
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-11-13

I rise in strong support of H.R. 1105, the ``Debbie Smith Act of 2023,'' a bill that would reauthorize critical grant funding aimed at ending the rape kit backlog. prgtoken As the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, I am proud to be one of four original cosponsors of this bipartisan legislation, and I am proud to stand with Representative Steve Cohen and Representative Wesley Hunt. prgtoken And I am encouraged by the number of cosponsors--s and --who have joined us, including Judiciary Ranking Member Nadler, Crime Subcommittee Chairman Biggs, and many other members of the Judiciary Committee. prgtoken This bill was introduced by Representative Ann Wagner, who I have worked with on many occasions to ensure that victims of crime receive justice. And this is one such measure. prgtoken H.R. 1105 reauthorizes legislation that provides resources to state and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to reduce the national backlog of DNA evidence, most notably, rape kits. prgtoken Although DNA evidence has proven critical to solving crimes and delivering justice, particularly in crimes of sexual violence, there are still challenges to holding offenders accountable using such evidence. prgtoken Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors increasingly collect and rely on DNA evidence, such as rape kits, to investigate and solve crimes. prgtoken But delays in processing rape kits and other DNA evidence can result in delays in apprehending or prosecuting violent or serial offenders. It can also result in the wrongfully convicted serving time in prison for crimes they did not commit. prgtoken For every rape kit or DNA sample that languishes on a shelf, untested, in a crime lab or police department somewhere in America, there is at least one victim--possibly living in fear and most certainly searching for an end to their nightmare. prgtoken That is why, as Ranking Member Nadler said, it is imperative that we end the rape kit backlog. prgtoken Since passage of the Debbie Smith Act in 2004, as the firs piece of legislation aimed at ending the backlog of untested and unanalyzed DNA evidence--more than 860,000 DNA cases have been processed with over 376,000 DNA profiles uploaded to the Combined DNA Index System, commonly referred to as CODIS, and nearly 200,000 DNA samples have been matched. prgtoken Research has shown that testing backlogged kits can lead to CODIS hits as well as arrests and convictions. prgtoken One study of 491 untested kits in the possession of the Houston Police Department yielded l04 CODIS hits after testing, and 16 of those hits led to an arrest. Debbie Smith grants have helped reduce the backlog in jurisdictions in every corner of the country. prgtoken For instance, the New York Times reported that my home state of Texas had a backlog of approximately 20,000 untested kits in 2013. prgtoken According to a report by the Dallas Mo
HONORING DONA ANA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR 50 YEARS OF SERVICE
Gabe Vasquez (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2023-11-13

I rise today to honor Dona Ana Community College for its 50 years of exemplary service to the New Mexico community. DACC's commitment to education, community development and workforce training have opened doors to new opportunities for thousands of students. prgtoken DACC opened in 1973 as the Dona Ana County Occupational Education Branch. Since that time, the college has expanded to six campuses, training students in a wide variety of occupations that keep our communities moving. From public health workers to teachers, electrical lineworkers to firefighters, and chefs to welders, DACC graduates can be found performing essential jobs throughout southern New Mexico. Additionally, their adult education programs and high school partnerships ensure that age is not a barrier to higher learning. prgtoken DACC has been enriched by the service of its past presidents, including Dr. Alex Sanchez, Dr. Patricio Quintana, Dr. Donaciano Gonzalez, Dr. Andrew Burke, Dr. Margie Huerta, Dr. Renay Scott, and current president Dr. Monica Torres. On behalf of all who have benefitted from DACC's work, I thank these leaders for their vision and their commitment to educating our community. prgtoken DACC continues to look forward, with programs such as a new scholarship to support education towards renewable energy jobs. I believe that New Mexico should be a leader in building a clean energy economy, and I am grateful for the work of DACC and all of our educational institutions to build our future workforce. prgtoken As DACC commemorates its 50 year anniversary, I thank all who have worked for DACC for their service. They have ensured that education is available to all who seek it out for 50 years, and I wish them and their students the best going forward.
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-11-13

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.
CONGRATULATING JIM DeROSE
Darin LaHood (Republican, IL) \u2014 2023-11-13

I rise today to honor and congratulate Jim DeRose on his retirement as Bradley University's men's soccer coach after 28 successful seasons. prgtoken Beginning his career in 1996 at the age of 28, and as the youngest coach in NCAA Division 1 men's soccer, Jim quickly emerged as a dominant figure in college soccer. prgtoken Under Jim's leadership, Bradley's soccer program reached new heights and resulted in a 2007 run to the NCAA Elite Eight, where Jim was chosen as the National Coach of the Year. prgtoken During his tenure as head coach, Jim held the record of 267 wins, 227 losses, and 66 ties, with seven NCAA tournament appearances, the highest of any coach in Bradley University athletics history. prgtoken In addition to his accomplishments on the pitch, the success of his players in the classroom and postgraduation are a testament to his ability to grow his players into successful young men. prgtoken Jim has been an integral part of the growing game of soccer throughout central Illinois and in college soccer, and his legacy will last for years to come. prgtoken It is my privilege to congratulate Coach Jim DeRose on his retirement after 28 years with Bradley University. We wish him, his wife, Robin, and his two children, Raleigh and J.R all the best.
Recognition of the Minority Leader (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-11-13

I need to begin today with some tragic news. This weekend, as Americans joined together to salute our heroes, five soldiers deployed out of Fort Campbell, KY, were killed while operating in dangerous conditions in the Mediterranean Sea: CW3 Stephen Dwyer, CW2 Shane Barnes, SSG Tanner Grone, SGT Andrew Southard, and SGT Cade Wolfe. prgtoken These fallen warriors were members of Fort Campbell's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known by their brothers- and sisters-in- arms as Night Stalkers. prgtoken The Night Stalkers are elite, highly trained fighters who take on the most sensitive missions. They are ready to respond at any time there are serious threats anywhere in the world, and they ground their service in two principles: never quit and never surrender. prgtoken Night Stalkers live, breathe, and--tragically--often die by a creed which reads: I serve with the memory and the pride of those who have gone before me, for they loved to fight, fought to win, and would rather die than quit. prgtoken This weekend, five brave men honored their creed. Their memory will live on, carried by Night Stalkers who continue to profess it and by every American who mourns their loss. This tragedy is a stark reminder of the incredible dangers our men and women in uniform face and of the debt we owe them. prgtoken So, today, I join our Nation in grieving these fallen warriors, and I extend my prayers to their families, children, and comrades.
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL DIABETES MONTH
David Schweikert (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2023-11-13

. The reason I am doing this again is that I have just grown exhausted trying to work with some of my brothers and sisters on the side who I have walked through the math with, and say, here are some ideas and things we can do. They say, no, people just want us to tax rich people more. Okay. Fine. Maybe do it. The next day, can we go back to talk about the problem because you didn't fix anything? prgtoken Taxing the rich could raise, at most, 1 to 2 percent of the GDP by maxing out all the different tax rates and then adjusting for the economic losses. prgtoken Let's say you get the full 2 percent. We borrowed 8.4 percent of GDP last year. I know I have come back and done this again, but is anyone paying attention? prgtoken Let's walk through this in a little more detail. I will do this quickly. Maximizing sustainable revenues from taxing the rich. Let's actually maximize income taxes. Raise the top two income tax brackets by another 10 percent. There is a whole model out there--I need to explain this for someone who doesn't live in this economic world. prgtoken There is this concept that you can raise taxes to a point where you maximize receipts--technically, the government doesn't have revenues, they get receipts--but the next incremental tax hike rolls over and you start to get fewer receipts. prgtoken Capital gains is actually in many ways the most sensitive to this. There is sort of this maximizing rate--and we actually have very, very good models on this now. If you took every single tax and did the maximizing of the rates, and that is what we have actually seen here, from removing itemized deductions to paring back retirement prgtoken income abuses, and all the other things, everything you can do, you can go up and down the list, and you start to see the calculations. prgtoken The Manhattan Institute and Brian Riedl, about 2 months ago, has a fairly detailed paper. It is all referenced. It is not only referenced from the Tax Foundation, joint tax, CBO, but even some progressive groups are in the footnotes on how this math works. prgtoken This is if you maximized every single tax. Why this gets important-- why don't I just skip to the punch line. It looks like when you do the economic adjustment you get 1.1 to 2 percent of GDP by taxing the rich. Okay. Maybe we should do that. Maybe it will make us feel better because God knows we now make our public policy here by our feelings. prgtoken The point I keep coming back to is we borrowed 8.4 percent of GDP last year. If you actually do the blend, you get about 1.5 points. That is how childish the discussion is here. You asked for real math and real policy decisions. prgtoken We, on the right, are going to battle each other and try to cut parts of nondefense discretionary. Okay. There is a bunch of that I would love to get rid of. It is a really interesting ethical question. Is it ethical for us to borrow money and give it to entities around the country that h