mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-9-26

I have been working nonstop, reaching out to my colleagues, who have heard from me all hours of the day and night this past weekend, to put together a straightforward, bipartisan CR package that we can pass quickly to prevent a completely unnecessary government shutdown. prgtoken I am pleased to say the senior Senator from Maine and I have put together a bill that keeps our government funded while we continue to work on full-year appropriations. It provides critical dollars for communities that are struck by disasters and Ukraine, which is at a pivotal moment in its defensive efforts against Putin's brutal, unprovoked war of aggression. These are important downpayments as we continue to work now on a full-year bill, but we have more to do. prgtoken Importantly, this CR also ensures that wildland firefighters will not see a pay cut. It prevents critical laws from lapsing to make sure the FAA and community health centers can continue operating and more. prgtoken I hope that all of our colleagues in the Senate and the House will work with us to get this signed into law as soon as possible so we can avoid a shutdown that would be nothing short of devastating for our economy and for families everywhere. prgtoken This should not be hard. We have a simple, bipartisan CR, a truly reasonable bill. We have the support to get it signed into law if it is put up for a vote in both Chambers. We do not have a moment to waste. Let's get this done and get right back to work on passing the 12 bipartisan appropriations bills that are ready to come to the Senate floor. prgtoken , I am here tonight to urge a ``yes'' vote on the motion to invoke cloture.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-9-26

as I have said for months, the only solution for avoiding a harmful government shutdown is bipartisanship. We now have 4 days to go until funding expires on Saturday at midnight. We are now right at the precipice. Yet, all last week, McCarthy, instead of focusing on bipartisanship, catered to the hard right and has nothing--nothing--to show for it. And now the will put on the floor hard-right appropriation bills that have nothing to do with avoiding a shutdown. prgtoken So, this week, the Senate will move forward first. Over the weekend, Senate and s together worked in good faith to reach an agreement on a continuing resolution that will keep the government open beyond September 30. We are very close to finishing our work and hope to release text very soon. prgtoken This bipartisan CR is a temporary solution, a bridge toward cooperation and away from extremism, and it will allow us to keep working to fully fund the Federal Government and spare American families the pain of a shutdown. While, for sure, this bill does not have everything either side wants, we will continue to fund the government at present levels while maintaining our commitment to Ukraine's security and humanitarian needs and while also ensuring those impacted by natural disasters across the country begin to get the resources they need. prgtoken In a few hours, we will hold the first procedural vote to move forward on the vehicle for the CR, and s and staff from both sides of the aisle who spent all weekend negotiating in good faith to get us to this point. The Senate CR is a good, sensible, and bipartisan--let me emphasize, bipartisan--bill. It will achieve the most important immediate goal, prgtoken avoiding a shutdown. It will protect American families from needless pain, pay our troops, and make good on our promise to American seniors. It will promote access to affordable healthcare, sustain investment in lifesaving research, and avoid costly disruptions to our supply chains. prgtoken Now, of course, today's agreement won't have everything that both sides want. But let me repeat: This CR is a bridge, not a final destination. It will help us achieve our immediate and necessary goal of avoiding a government shutdown and move us away from the senseless and aimless extremism that has dominated the House so we can get to work on appropriations. prgtoken We can and must do more to respond to disasters that have ravaged the country. We can and must do more to lower costs and grow the middle class. We can and must do more to stand with our friends in Ukraine and resist Putin's dangerous attacks on democracy and freedom. And we can and must do more to finish the bipartisan appropriations process in a way that makes strong investments in our country, in our families, and in our future. prgtoken We will continue to work on these and many more, but, right now, this CR is a must-needed bridge aw
CELEBRATING RAYMOND LOPEZ OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL NO. 444
Patrick Ryan (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-9-26

I rise today to congratulate Mr. Raymond Lopez on being named ``Knight of the Year'' by the Knights of Columbus Council No. 444. prgtoken Raymond was born in New York City on September 18, 1941. After graduating from Harren High School, he worked in the city's Garment District. In 1960, Ray enlisted in the Army and served his country honorably for four years, one of which he served in Vietnam. prgtoken Upon returning home, Ray married the love of his life, Gloria, on June 27, 1964. He went on to work as a parking lot supervisor for the Museum of Natural History and LaGuardia Airport. Ray then began the position of railroad clerk for the New York City Transit Authority, before receiving a promotion to collecting agent on the money train. prgtoken Ray retired from the Transit Authority after 22 years of service in 1990. Ray then began working in the Hudson Valley at New York Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, New York. prgtoken Ray joined the Monsignor Henry O'Carroll Council No. 444 of the Knights of Columbus in Newburgh, N.Y. Council No. 444 was established on September 5, 1899, and currently has over 150 members. prgtoken Ray quickly moved up the ranks and became a third-degree knight and served Council No. 444 as Grand Knight from 2020 to 2022. This year, Council No. 444 is honoring Ray for his service to the Knights of Columbus by recognizing him as ``Knight of the Year.'' prgtoken The Knights of Columbus Council No. 444 have worked tirelessly to support food pantries, disaster relief, assistance to the homeless in the community, vocations development, the Special Olympics, and many more worthy nonprofits. I am honored to recognize Raymond Lopez's many contributions he has made to the Council and our community. prgtoken In addition to his work at the Knight of Columbus, Ray is a dedicated husband to his wife, Gloria, and loving father to his 2 children, Annette and Raymond Jr. He is also the proud grandfather of 6 grandchildren. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the accomplishments of Raymond Lopez. It is my privilege to rise in recognition of his service to our country and our community.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2023-9-26

. Mr. Chair, this amendment, as the gentleman from Wisconsin has said, prohibits funds from being used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the milk section of USDA's proposed rule that aligns nutrition standards to the 2020 dietary guidelines for Americans. This appropriations rider is preemptive as the final rule hadn't even been released by the Department, and it is out of place because this issue should be taken up within the context of a child nutrition reauthorization, not an appropriations rider. prgtoken This amendment disregards the normal scientific process currently being undertaken to establish the nutrition guidelines. prgtoken School meals and beverages are required to be consistent with the dietary guidelines for Americans, which are evidence-based recommendations set to provide nutritional guidance. prgtoken This amendment would effectively undermine the unbiased, evidence- based process that ensures that children receive the most nutritious meals and replace that scientifically based process with a political process. prgtoken It is critical that science continue to guide the process in determining options in schools and that the regulations are updated to align with the newest dietary guidelines using a process that intentionally allows for adaptations in line with the latest scientific and expert recommendations. prgtoken Importantly, the Department of Agriculture has specifically requested public feedback on the proposed milk options for consideration when crafting the final rule. prgtoken The bottom line is that scientific experts, not politicians, should be the ones to determine the nutrition standards and ensure that our children get the healthiest meals possible. prgtoken A dozen organizations, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Heart Association, have all urged Congress to continue to respect the scientific-based process and not interfere with the normal procedure. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on the amendment, and .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Peter Welch (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2023-9-26

. First, I want to thank Senator Collins and assure her that I appreciate the excellent work that she and Senator Murray have been doing, and I will be a vote for cloture so that we can proceed. prgtoken , Vermont is one of the States that suffered devastating damages as a result of recent floods and very much is in need of the replenishing of the FEMA disaster aid fund. prgtoken As a Congress, as a Senate, our leaders, Senator McConnell and Senator Schumer, and our Appropriations chair and vice chair, Senator Murray and Senator Collins, have been working prgtoken very hard to get a continuing resolution passed so that we will keep the lights on in government. prgtoken And we can't shut down. Just think about it. Military people won't get paid. That is just absolutely unacceptable. Start there, and the cascade of terrible things that are all avoidable will happen. prgtoken I am very appreciative of the efforts of our leadership, especially our committee chair and vice chair, for their work to avoid a shutdown. I am totally committed to avoiding a shutdown. It is unacceptable to inflict so much unnecessary harm on so many innocent people because of a crackpot theory that if you shut things down and burn the place down, it is going to result in a good outcome. prgtoken There are no good outcomes, as Senator McConnell said earlier, when you use as a tactic to try to get your way to shut the government down. prgtoken So I will be supportive of the efforts on a bipartisan basis here to work toward a resolution. It is still very much in play as to what is going to happen to the FEMA money that is so essential to people who have suffered as a result of natural disasters. prgtoken I talk about Vermont, of course--and I will do that right now--but I am very mindful that my colleagues in Hawaii suffered that devastating fire in Maui, and, of course, we have had hurricanes and storms in Texas, in North Carolina, in Georgia, in Florida. So one thing all of us should be doing is helping each other when our citizens are the victims of a natural disaster. prgtoken So the No. 1 priority is to keep the lights on because we are going to fight another day. No. 2, my hope, is that there is still time to include aid for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help us in Vermont, to help folks in Hawaii, to help folks in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and elsewhere. prgtoken But I want to talk a little bit about what the situation is in Vermont. We remember the iconic photo that was broadcast nationwide of the downtown of the capital city of Vermont, Montpelier, underwater. The water is gone now. It has dried up. prgtoken This is a local business in Montpelier, and that is the Minikin toy shop in Montpelier. The water was up to here. This is now gone, but the question is--this shop, the Minikin toy shop, where I bought things for my grandkids--Kelly Tackett, the owner, she spoke with the Burlington Free Press about the floo
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Richard McCormick (Republican, GA) \u2014 2023-9-26

. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer my amendment No. 68 to H.R. 4368, the Agricultural, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. prgtoken Amendment No. 68 prohibits funding for the implementation of the Unapproved Drug Initiative. This initiative causes generic drugs that have historically low prices to have their prices skyrocket, which ultimately hurts families across the Nation. prgtoken Because of the Unapproved Drug Initiative, many generic drugs that have been used for centuries were removed from the market and awarded to large pharmaceutical companies to seek new drug applications, which has led to monopolistic practices. prgtoken On top of this, the new drug manufacturer was granted a period of market exclusivity and aggressively used the courts to block other drug companies from marketing cheaper generic alternatives for years. prgtoken The best example of this issue is in the pricing of the therapeutic drug colchicine. When I was a resident at Grady Hospital through the Emory ER residency program, I treated patients with colchicine for gout. prgtoken The drug had been around for centuries. It was a cheap drug. The average American could afford it. It cost about $11. prgtoken After this initiative, colchicine increased nearly 16-fold from about $11 in 2009 to $190 in 2011. The average family cannot afford that. prgtoken As of 2020, price increases of drugs through the Unapproved Drug Initiative have increased U.S. health spending by $3.2 billion. prgtoken High drug costs do not only interfere with appropriate use of medications, but they force families to make impossible choices between their healthcare and other basic needs. prgtoken If reinstated, the Unapproved Drug Initiative would target an estimated 1,500 drugs. Even one increase would punish all of us, whether destitute or well-insured. prgtoken The only one who wins is Big Pharma. We all lose. That is why I urge my colleagues to support amendment No. 68, which serves as a safeguard to ensure that the FDA does not continue to implement the Unapproved Drug Initiative, which is hurting Americans and placing an undue burden on the healthcare system. prgtoken To be clear, there will never be a good use for this. It can only be used to profit and cannot benefit people we serve, especially the most vulnerable. prgtoken I appeal to my fellow Georgian, my fellow servant, my fellow Christian, join me in a nonpartisan effort to protect the American people. prgtoken Mr. Chair, .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2023-9-26

I rise tonight to urge my colleagues to support cloture on the motion to proceed to the FAA authorization bill. prgtoken Now, let me explain what this is about. The vote to get on the shell legislation is simply a vote to move the process forward to prevent a disastrous government shutdown. It does not indicate support or opposition to any particular component of a continuing resolution. It does not bind Members to vote one way or the other on a continuing resolution. prgtoken What this really is, is a vote on whether or not Members want government to shut down at the end of this week. It does indicate, in the strongest possible terms, that the Senate is committed to working to prevent a government shutdown. We still have time to consider legislation to keep the government open and funded, but in order to do so, the process must move forward. prgtoken I would ask all Senators who wish to avoid a shutdown of government and all that that entails to vote yes on cloture. Again, let me stress that voting yes on cloture tonight is a vote against a government shutdown and for letting the process move forward. It is just the first step. It does not bind Members to support the continuing resolution and to support every provision in the continuing resolution. prgtoken Now, what happens if we don't move forward tonight? We are increasing the chances that government will shut down. I have been through two government shutdowns, and I can tell you, they are never good policy. They do not accomplish the goals that people who advocate government shutdowns think will be accomplished, and they impose real hardship. prgtoken Don't we want our military to be paid on time? Don't we need paychecks going to those brave Border Patrol agents who are overwhelmed in trying to defend our southern border? Don't we want the Coast Guard, an entity very important to the Presiding Officer as well as to my State of Maine, to be able to continue to rescue our fishermen and patrol our seas, intercepting drug smugglers? Don't we want the DEA to be able to continue to work to keep fentanyl out of our communities? prgtoken The stakes are very high. I hope that all of my colleagues will vote to proceed to this shell bill tonight so that, then, we can debate the continuing resolution to fund government until the middle of November. That will allow us to continue our work on the appropriations bills. That is so important. prgtoken The Appropriations Committee, for the first time in 5 years, reported all 12 of the appropriations bills independently and with overwhelming bipartisan support. Three of them are in a package that is before us, that were on the floor all last week and have been just put aside temporarily so that we can work on the continuing resolution. prgtoken And my hope is, during that 45-day period when the continuing resolution is keeping government functioning at the levels that are needed, that we can continue our progress
PROTECTING HUNTING HERITAGE AND EDUCATION ACT
Mark E. Green (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-9-26

I thank Chairwoman Foxx for the opportunity to speak about my vital piece of legislation. prgtoken I rise today as an avid hunter and fisherman and as someone who wants to see these timeless traditions and skills passed down to the next generation. prgtoken My bill, the Hunting Heritage and Education Act, will prohibit the Department of Education from withholding Federal funds from school archery programs, hunting safety courses, and culinary classes. prgtoken The administration's misinterpretation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act unfairly targeted archery and shooting sports programs in K-12 schools. It didn't address fencing programs. prgtoken and s agree, the administration missed the target here in Congress by a long shot. In fact, the bill came out of committee unanimously. Under the Department of Education's current interpretation of the law, other school activities like fencing and the culinary arts would also be at risk eventually. This would be unacceptable. prgtoken For my family and those in my district, hunting and fishing are more than just hobbies. They are a way of life. The early mornings and long hours that I have spent hunting and fishing, first with my father and now with my son and son-in-law, are extremely important to me. I cherish these memories, and I know many families across the country feel the same way. I will tell you this: You can really get to know someone after spending a few hours in a duck blind with them. prgtoken Hunters and fishers are also the best conservationists. As Psalms 24:1 says: The Earth is the Lord's and all it contains, the world and those who live in it. prgtoken I believe we are all called to steward God's creation, and this is a part of what we teach our children when we take them hunting. prgtoken The truth is, being out in nature is good for kids. Education policies oriented toward K-12 schools should place a larger focus on getting kids out from behind screens and into the great outdoors. Our Nation is blessed with beautiful lands and waters, and we need more kids to put down the controller and take up the rod or a bow. prgtoken Despite the administration's flawed ruling, many are. Across the country, thousands of students participate in shooting sports and archery. In fact, 9,000 schools belong to the National Archery in the Schools Program, and many of these students go on to receive college scholarships. It would be cruel to take these opportunities away from these students. prgtoken I am glad to lead this charge, and I thank all those who are behind me, such as 24 State attorneys general, including my own attorney general from Tennessee, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, the Boone and Crockett Club, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, the National Wildlife Federation, and the bipartisan members of the Committee
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2023-9-26

at midnight on Saturday, current appropriations will run out, and the Federal Government will shut down. Over the years, I have been pretty clear in my view that government shutdowns are bad news, whichever way you look at them. They don't work as political bargaining chips. They create unnecessary hardships for millions of Americans--for example, the nearly 46,000 servicemembers and 22,000 civilian workers in my home State of Kentucky who earn Federal Government paychecks--and they hardly ever produce meaningful policy outcomes at the end of the day. prgtoken A government shutdown would be an unnecessary disruption of the important work on the Senate's agenda. So I would urge each of my colleagues to work this week to avoid one. prgtoken For the past several months, Senator Collins, Senator Murray, and our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee have worked diligently to help the Senate fulfill our commitment to funding the government through regular order. As that important work prgtoken continues, colleagues in both Chambers are rightly concerned about a number of distinct priorities. prgtoken They are focused on taking further action to rein in reckless spending as we continue to rebuild our national defense. They are concerned about addressing the consequences of the administration's failure to secure our southern border. They are eager to provide relief to communities recovering from natural disasters, from Hawaii to Florida. And bipartisan majorities recognize the ongoing need to counter Russia and China and continue to provide lethal aid to Ukraine. In the coming weeks, I hope the administration will work with Congress to address these pressing needs. prgtoken But in order for work on appropriations to continue uninterrupted, Congress needs to extend government funding by the end of this week. The sooner Congress keeps the lights on, the sooner these important conversations can resume. prgtoken The clearest path forward is a standard, short-term continuing resolution. Our work this week needs to produce the resources and flexibility to maintain essential government functions at their current rates of operation while progress on full-year appropriations continues. prgtoken Just to reiterate, delaying action on short-term government funding doesn't advance the ball on any meaningful policy priorities. Shutting the government down over a domestic budget dispute doesn't strengthen anyone's political position; it just puts important progress on ice, and it leaves millions of Americans on edge. prgtoken So I expect that the Appropriations Committee will finalize a short- term funding extension in the very near future for the Senate to review. I would encourage each of our colleagues to join me in supporting the standard, responsible step forward.