mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
INSULIN Act (Executive Session)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2023-4-25

I am really pleased to be able to come to the floor today with my cochair in the Diabetes Caucus and friend and colleague Senator Collins to discuss an issue that is near and dear to both of us and to the entire Diabetes Caucus, and that is what Congress can do to improve the lives of those living with this chronic disease. prgtoken More than 37 million Americans live with diabetes, and millions more are at risk for developing it. I think most people in this Chamber probably know someone who has been affected by this chronic disease, and they get a chance to see very briefly the challenges that those with diabetes face every day. prgtoken I understand those personal struggles all too well because my granddaughter Elle was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2007, shortly after her 8th birthday. As a type 1 diabetic, she needs daily access to insulin. Maintaining healthy glucose levels is a worry that has kept her and her mother--her whole family--up too many nights. Without insulin, Elle would not be here because there is no alternative treatment. prgtoken There is no cure that can free her from those daily injections. Insulin truly is a lifesaving drug, and it has been for over 100 years. The 100th anniversary of insulin was 2 years ago. prgtoken When the Canadian researchers who discovered insulin realized what they had--a drug that would turn a death sentence into a manageable, chronic condition--they decided to sell the patent for $1 each. prgtoken They knew the drug they had was revolutionary, and they chose not to chase profits over the good of humankind. Unfortunately, that is not the reality that we live with today. Over the last several decades, insulin prices have skyrocketed beyond the reach of too many Americans. prgtoken I hear from far too many people about how they have to ration their needed insulin until the next paycheck or until their insurance coverage kicks in. prgtoken Let's be clear about what this means. Americans are literally risking their lives to stretch their insulin as far as possible because the costs are so great. And the cost burden is even heavier for uninsured Americans who have to pay fully out of pocket. prgtoken These costs quickly number into the thousands of dollars. The challenges prgtoken aren't new, but, fortunately, we are making some progress. Congress last year capped Medicare beneficiaries' insulin costs at $35 a month. And, recently, the three largest insulin manufacturers announced they will finally lower their list prices. prgtoken Now, Senator Collins and I have commended those manufacturers for finally taking steps to make their insulins more affordable. But until patients are given true financial security and certainty with insulin pricing, the work remains unfinished. Those manufacturers could, at any time, decide again to raise the price of insulin. prgtoken There have to be mechanisms in place to systemically address the full scope of this issue. We
YOUR SPEAKER OR YOUR SENIORS
Jasmine Crockett (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-4-25

I rise today appalled by the 's debt ceiling bill. Right now, the stands alone, threatening to not pay bills we owe to advance his personal policy preferences. prgtoken If we don't pay our bills, there will be catastrophic consequences for everyone. The interest rate would skyrocket, making it nearly impossible to afford a home or car and closing opportunities for upward mobility for millions of Americans. prgtoken The stock market will crater as investors lose faith in the ability of our government to perform even the most basic function because of the 's bill. The result would be millions of Americans' retirement accounts wiped out. prgtoken For years, the threat of such economic catastrophe historically made even the threat of default off-limits, but the knows that what he has is an extreme minority in his caucus and that what he wants is deeply unpopular, so he is trying to hold our government hostage. prgtoken He stands alone because he knows that no will support this ransom, so he needs each and every to fall in line behind him. prgtoken I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle know that their constituents are watching, watching to see who their Representative came to Congress to fight for, your or your seniors. prgtoken The 's bill will add additional work reporting requirements for seniors in their fifties in order to receive basic food assistance. Across the country, there are no less than 3 million prgtoken seniors who could lose food assistance because of this bill. prgtoken My colleagues must make a choice: your or your seniors. prgtoken Because everything in D.C. is filled with jargon, I want to pause for a moment to make sure we all understand who the 's bill is targeting. prgtoken The people the is targeting are seniors in their fifties who don't even have $6 a day for food. That is all SNAP pays, $6 a day for food, but the 's bill would deny even that paltry aid to hundreds of thousands of our constituents. prgtoken Soon, those on the other side of the aisle must decide who matters more to them, your or your seniors. prgtoken Make no mistake: This isn't about getting people to work. If you worked twice what was required, a full 40-hour week at minimum wage, which, frankly, is most of what is on the table for these seniors, you would still be on SNAP. prgtoken The only way the 's bill saves money, which he does say, is if people have their benefits stripped away, if seniors go hungry. prgtoken Each of my colleagues must ask who matters more, your or your seniors? prgtoken The 's bill will kick seniors off SNAP rolls. Many seniors can't find a job at all because they face age discrimination. There is a reason that current law exempts those over 49. To expect them to have the same odds of finding a job as a young recipient is callous and cruel. prgtoken Ask yourselves, who did you come to Congress to serve, your or your seniors? prgtoken Even though the bil
Debt Ceiling (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-4-25

. Now, , for months, the American people have demanded House s stop their hostage-taking and show us a plan to avoid default. prgtoken Last week, House s failed in their assignment yet again. McCarthy rolled out a wish list straight out of the Freedom Caucus playbook. It might as well be called the ``Default on America Act'' because that is exactly what it is: DOA. prgtoken Instead of doing what both sides have done many times before-- avoiding default without preconditions-- McCarthy and House s want to force working Americans to accept either a punch to the gut or a blow to the head. Either the United States defaults on national debt for the first time in American history or MAGA s get their way and America defaults on everything else--on our future and our security, on our promise to care for veterans and law enforcement and the American middle class. Either way, s are promising real pain for American families when they bring their Default on America Act to the House floor this week. According to one study by Moody's Analytics, the DOA could send us into a damaging recession. prgtoken So let me say it one more time. What s released last week was not so much a plan as it was a threat to default on America. Either we default on the national debt or we default on everything else through extreme cuts that will harm millions of people. That is so unpopular with the American people that the House has had to hide it. prgtoken For all of the GOP's lipservice about public safety, the House DOA Act defaults on America's law enforcement and first responders. Nearly 30,000 law enforcement jobs across the country would be cut under the s' DOA Act. Over $8 billion in funding for the DOJ would be eliminated. called for s to defund law enforcement, and now it looks like House s are following through. prgtoken But that is just the start. The House Default on America Act would also spell disaster for American families and American healthcare. Parents who struggle affording childcare would see over 100,000 childcare slots eliminated under the GOP proposal, preventing moms and dads from getting a job or finishing their education since they can't afford to pick up their kids in daycare. Over 21 million Americans would be at risk of losing their health coverage--21 million Americans losing health coverage--while hospitals would see billions in funding disappear. Hospitals, patient groups, doctors--you name it, they are all coming out in droves to oppose this measure. prgtoken We just endured a global pandemic that claimed the lives of over 1 million Americans, and House s want to cut funding for healthcare and hospitals? Utterly revolting. prgtoken But the damage isn't just limited to American families. The DOA Act would cripple America's ability to stay ahead of the Chinese Comm
Unanimous Consent Requests--Executive Calendar (Executive Session)
Elizabeth Warren (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2023-4-25

I want to thank the leader for his strong words about the importance of making sure we advance our military leaders when they have been approved for promotion and pay increases. prgtoken You know, most people are aware that the Senate votes on nominees who have been appointed by the President to occupy top roles in almost all parts of the Federal Government--Cabinet Secretaries, judges, Ambassadors. Less well known is the fact that the Senate must also vote to approve thousands of military promotions every year. So if a colonel has done well on the job and their service's promotion board decides they are ready to be a brigadier general, the Senate must vote to approve prgtoken this promotion before it can go through. prgtoken Now, typically, this vote is a formality. These promotions are processed in big batches rather than one at a time, and they usually happen without even taking a recorded vote. But right now, the Senator from Alabama has imposed a hold on all, every single senior military nomination and promotion. That means that one Senator is personally standing in the way of promotions for 184 of our top-level military leaders. One Senator is holding up pay raises for men and women in uniform. One Senator is blocking key senior military leaders from taking their posts. One Senator is jeopardizing America's national security. prgtoken Think for a minute about what this looks like. These holds deprive military families of the pay increases they have earned, because the nominee's new pay cannot take effect until the promotion goes through. Without formally being assigned to a change of duty, families can't make decisions right now about moving or enrolling kids in a new school for the next school year. prgtoken The Chief of Staff of the Army has said: What it really does, it affects the families and some of the kids. And they are trying to figure out where they are going to school, where they are going to move. And all those things kind of come into the readiness of the force. For families with special needs, there may be even more significant delays to access important services. prgtoken Secretary Austin has stated that this delay ``creates a ripple effect through the Force that makes us far less ready than we need to be.'' prgtoken So why is one Senator--one Senator--punishing 184 dedicated men and women who actively serve in our military, all because he personally disagrees with a single policy decision from the Pentagon? prgtoken Now, look, it is no secret that I disagree with a lot of policy decisions from the Pentagon. As Senators, we have a lot of tools to shape and influence government policies--tools that we can use without putting our national defense at risk. We can pass laws. We can conduct oversight. We can meet with administration officials. We can hold hearings. Occasionally, a Senator may object to an individual nomination, usually to indicate opposition to that appointment or t
RECOGNIZING MAYOR LEONARD JONES' 25 YEARS OF ELECTED SERVICE TO GRANDVIEW, MISSOURI
Emanuel Cleaver (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2023-4-25

I rise today to honor the distinguished career of Mayor Leonard D. Jones, Jr who has served as an elected representative of the people of Grandview, Missouri for 25 years. On this historic occasion, let us take a moment to reflect on Mayor Jones' illustrious career, which has come to be defined by dedication and distinction. prgtoken Having lived in Grandview, Missouri since 1970, Mayor Jones graduated from Grandview High School before earning his bachelor's degree in computer science at Grambling State University and his Master of Business Administration at Webster University. On top of these academic accomplishments, Mayor Jones has achieved the lifetime Certified Purchasing Manager designation. Mayor Jones and his wife, Michelle, have three daughters, three grandsons, and one great granddaughter. prgtoken First elected to the Grandview Board of Alderman in 1998, Mayor Jones served as Alderman Ward 1 for the next sixteen consecutive years, until becoming the city's mayor in 2014--a position he has maintained for nearly a decade. From the moment he took the oath of office, Mayor Jones began restoring trust in local government and public institutions, thereby earning the respect and admiration from residents on both sides of the aisle. Always putting the needs of the community first, Mayor Jones has been a tireless advocate for his constituents for a quarter century, forever focused on improving the lives of all those he serves. prgtoken Currently, Mayor Jones serves as a Board Member of the Mid-America Regional Council's Total Transportation Policy Committee, in addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Little Blue Valley Sewer District. Moreover, Mayor Jones has served on the Grandview Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the ReDiscover Board of Directors, the Missouri Municipal League Finance Committee, the HENA Executive Committee, the Grandview Assistance Program Board of Directors, and the National League of Cities Service Line Warranty Committee. It goes without saying that Mayor Jones' commitment to public service is sincere and profound, and Grandview is prgtoken a better place to call home thanks to his championing of its people. prgtoken During his time in executive office, Mayor Jones has overseen significant population growth, the development of countless new housing units, a sharp increase in commercial activity, abundant construction, an uptick in revenue, and a decrease in crime rates throughout the City of Grandview. With a population of over 25,000 people, Grandview is well served by its insightful Mayor and the determination with which he approaches the challenges facing everyday people. From repairing streets and sidewalks, to revitalizing public parks, Mayor Jones has consistently delivered tangible results for the people of Grandview while acting as a faithful steward of the tax dollars to which the City is entrusted. prgtoken Beyond his responsibilities as Mayor and a
CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
Paul Tonko (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-4-25

I rise today to recognize the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Green Building Council, which was founded in April of 1993. prgtoken This member-led, nonprofit organization has helped countless schools, businesses, cities, and even countries build and operate better buildings that truly transform lives. prgtoken Their LEED certification program has grown to become the world's most acclaimed and widely used green building system with 105,000 projects in 187 countries. prgtoken In my home State of New York, over 2,600 projects and over 15,000 homes have achieved LEED certification. prgtoken At a time when homeowners and businesses are dealing with rising costs, research has repeatedly found that energy-efficient, lower-waste buildings result in major savings. Plus, they boost staff recruitment, retention, and productivity. prgtoken , 30 years ago there was no agreement on what constituted green buildings, let alone any kind of accepted mechanism to certify them. prgtoken Because of the efforts of the U.S. Green Building Council, our country is moving toward better performing buildings that lower costs and waste, mitigate climate impacts and improve health. prgtoken , I thank the council's staff for all their great efforts and offer my congratulations to this incredible organization. Here is to another impactful 30 years.
DEMANDING THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA IMMEDIATELY RELEASE MARK SWIDAN
Kathy E. Manning (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2023-4-25

the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. prgtoken , the American people send us to Washington to represent them, to advance the national interest, and most importantly, to keep them safe. When the life and dignity of any American is challenged or undermined, it is our duty as lawmakers to speak out and take action. prgtoken That is why it is vital that this body condemn the People's Republic of China for its unjust and arbitrary detention and inhumane treatment of American citizen Mark Swidan. That is why it is vital that this body demand that Mr. Swidan be swiftly released and returned to the United States. prgtoken , I hope my colleagues will join me and support this important resolution, and .
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2023-4-25

I am pleased to introduce the bipartisan Strengthening Research in Adult Education Act with my colleague, Senator Young. We are in urgent need of identifying and disseminating innovative and effective methods for supporting adult learners. Our legislation will ensure that there is a strong research base to improve educational programs for adults seeking to advance their literacy, numeracy, and digital and information literacy skills. prgtoken The most recent data from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies show an urgent need for action in adult education, with an estimated 18 percent of adults ages 16 to 65 in the United States performing at the lowest levels of literacy; 28 percent at the lowest levels of numeracy; and 23 percent at the lowest levels of digital problem solving. This is a dire situation. These are essential skills for postsecondary education and the workplace. Beyond their value in the labor market, these skills are also correlated with health and civic participation, making adult education critically important to the health and well-being of our people, our economy, and our democracy. prgtoken In Rhode Island, it is estimated that more than 84,000 working-age adults have less than a high school education. Nearly 65,000 have limited English proficiency. Yet we are reaching just over 5,000 through the current adult education program. Clearly, we need more resources and innovative, research-based ways to reach more people. prgtoken The Strengthening Research in Adult Education Act will provide a critical foundation for improving the effectiveness and reach of adult education programs by ensuring that adult education is included in our national education research priorities. Specifically, the Strengthening Research in Adult Education Act will amend the Education Sciences Reform Act to require the Institute for Education Sciences and the National Center for Education Statistics to collect data and carry out research on successful State and local adult education and literacy activities, the characteristics and academic achievement of adult learners, and access to and opportunity for adult education, including digital and information literacy skills development, in communities across the country. It will also ensure that the Institute of Education Sciences draws on the expertise of adult educators when developing policies and priorities. Finally, the legislation will require that at least one research center focus on adult education. prgtoken These straightforward amendments to the Education Sciences Reform Act will go a long way to strengthening the research base that will support the improvement of adult education across the country. I was pleased to work with the adult education community and particularly the Coalition on Adult Basic Education and the National Coalition for Literacy in developing this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support th
Confirmation of Joshua David Jacobs (Executive Calendar)
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2023-4-26

last summer this body delivered on a promise to our toxic-exposed veterans. We passed a bill called the SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act. prgtoken With a historic number of veterans newly eligible for long-overdue benefits, the VA needs a steady, accountable hand to lead VA benefits and its more than 25,000 employees in delivering quality, timely benefits now more than ever. prgtoken About an hour and a half ago, we confirmed a person by the name of Josh Jacobs. He is that person who is going to be heading up VA benefits. He is that person with the steady hand. I am glad that this body came together in a bipartisan way to make him the permanent leader of the VBA. prgtoken The fact is, having a permanent leader in this role ensures that we can hold the VA accountable to their job, and that is critically important. I can't be prouder of this body to tell you that we have a person who not only understands benefits but has worked in this capacity for the past several months. prgtoken With that, .
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2811, LIMIT, SAVE, GROW ACT OF 2023, AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.J. RES. 39, DISAPPROVING THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE RELATING TO...
Christopher R. Deluzio (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2023-4-26

I rise in opposition to the rule to advance this bill. I am opposed to the bill. prgtoken This bill includes massive cuts to veterans' care, 30 million fewer medical visits for my fellow veterans. We are going to see my fellow veterans wait longer to have their claims heard. They are going to see telehealth get worse, mental health services get worse, and homelessness issues get worse. This bill is a betrayal of the obligation this country has to everyone who served. prgtoken I have seen my fellow veterans used as props on folks' websites and in their ads, people wrap themselves in the flag. prgtoken Guess what? You don't get to claim you are here for veterans, standing up for veterans when you cut their care. That is what this bill does. It is a disgrace. Everyone in the country ought to know it. We ought to vote it down.