mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DR. JOANNE SMITH MEMORIAL REHABILITATION INNOVATION CENTERS ACT OF 2022
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-12-21

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , S. 2834 is named in honor and memory of the departed former president and CEO, Dr. Joanne Smith, of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, who died last year on September 6. prgtoken She was a visionary and transformative figure in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation by shifting the focus from rehabilitation to the outcome of ability. It means the capacity to transcend beyond one's physical setbacks and circumstances in recovering and to live a healthy and meaningful life. prgtoken Dr. Smith was a compassionate doctor, loving wife, and wonderful mother. She was the driving force behind the development, building, and implementation of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab that opened in my district in 2017. prgtoken Dr. Smith stood on the shoulders of the late Dr. Henry Betts and his legacy at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, which was before the name change to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. He was a tireless advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and served as medical director and CEO of the rehabilitation institute for many years. prgtoken People come from all over the world to be seen by our expert staff and researchers to receive cutting-edge technology from the hospital's medical discoveries. This facility was ranked number one in rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report for the 31st year in a row. What a hospital. prgtoken In the United States, there are nearly 1,200 inpatient rehabilitation facilities. As we know, many of these institutions are small and are driving the prgtoken future of rehabilitation medicine and patient recovery. This unique category of comprehensive rehab hospitals treats the most complex conditions, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, childhood disease, burns, and wartime injuries. They treat veterans, the elderly, the disabled, victims of violence, and children with birth defects. prgtoken In addition, they conduct research that drives the entire industry and take on a greater share of training of the next generation of clinicians. These unique facilities are advancing the practice and standards of rehabilitation across the field of medicine and helping to disseminate best practices throughout the country. prgtoken For years, I have worked with colleagues in both parties and in both Chambers to support, study, and share the wonders of these leading rehab hospitals. They provide hope to countless patients and their families. prgtoken S. 2834 is the companion bill to H.R. 9271, which received bipartisan and bicameral support. This legislation, which I am honored to partner on with Representatives Jan Schakowsky and Darin LaHood from Illinois, recently passed the Senate on a bipartisan voice vote, and it was led by my friend Senator Durbin and Senator Cassidy, of Louisiana. prgtoken I am pleased that we are considering it today. S. 2834 would direct CMS to study this class of rehab hospital
HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS AL JORDAN CHAPTER 15
Jerry McNerney (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Disabled American Veterans Al Jordan Chapter 15 on the 100th anniversary of its founding. prgtoken In 1932, Congress granted a federal charter to Disabled American Veterans (DAV), then the Disabled American Veterans of the World War, establishing it as the official voice of disabled veterans. Since its founding on June 12, 1922, in Stockton, California, the DAV Al Jordan Chapter 15 has cared for and represented countless veterans in San Joaquin County who were rendered disabled during their service. prgtoken Today, the DAV Al Jordan Chapter 15 continues its important work by providing assistance to those filing disability claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs and directing veterans to vital resources and services. The DAV Al Jordan Chapter 15 has helped many wounded warriors in our community transition to fulfilling futures upon return to civilian life. prgtoken I commend all the members of Disabled American Veterans Al Jordan Chapter 15, past and present, for a century of dedication to those who served our great nation. I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring them today.
DR. JOANNE SMITH MEMORIAL REHABILITATION INNOVATION CENTERS ACT OF 2022
Janice D. Schakowsky (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-12-21

I thank my dear friend and colleague from Illinois, Danny Davis, for giving me the opportunity to speak in support of the Joanne Smith Rehabilitation Innovation Center. prgtoken I also offer a big thank you to Senator Durbin, who was the chief sponsor of the legislation in the United States Senate and to finally bring this to fruition. prgtoken This bill will recognize rehabilitation research facilities in conducting not only research but treating patients based on the research that is found. It includes the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, which is also in Congressman Davis' district. This lab goes above and beyond to treat complex medical cases across the country. From traumatic brain injuries to third-degree burns, patients benefit from this work. prgtoken This bill ensures that cutting-edge research and best practices are shared across the country. prgtoken This bill honors Dr. Joanne Smith, who is the former president and CEO of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. As Congressman Davis pointed out, she sadly died of cancer last year, but Dr. Smith devoted her entire career to helping patients. It is fitting that we honor her legacy with this legislation, and I certainly appreciate the bipartisan support, and I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
ENERGY SECURITY AND LIGHTERING INDEPENDENCE ACT OF 2022
Sylvia R. Garcia (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-12-21

I am here today to express my strong support for S. 5168, the Energy Security and Lightering Independence Act of 2022 by Senators Padilla and Cornyn. prgtoken , I thank my Senate counterparts for their work on this important bipartisan legislation, as well as Chairman Nadler and his staff for their efforts in getting this bill to the floor today. prgtoken I am proud to champion and sponsor this bill in the House, and I encourage all my colleagues to support the swift passage of this bipartisan bill. prgtoken Lightering is the ship-to-ship transfer of crude oil and liquid natural gas from a smaller vessel onto a larger vessel, or vice versa, for import and export. These ships are just plain too big to come in, so smaller ship comes in. prgtoken Approximately, 74 percent of U.S. exports and 44 percent of U.S. imports are conducted by lightering. Lightering vessels are foreign- flagged and therefore staffed with foreign crew. These workers are highly trained, skilled, long-term employees whose sole function is to work on the lightering and get the transfer done. They are not authorized to do any other work offshore or on dock. prgtoken Currently, lightering crews transit through a U.S. port under a C-1/D visa, which allows workers a 29-day work period--only 29 days. However, under the current structure, lightering crewmembers do not fit well into this visa category because they rarely, if ever, transit for less than 29 days. prgtoken Because those visas are only valid for up to 29 days and the crewmembers' shift is often for 180 days, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as has already been mentioned, must parole these crews to extend their visa time consistent with their work schedule. Let's be clear--paroles are burdensome for the workers and CBP, and there are additional costs to taxpayers. prgtoken These crewmembers are critical to the U.S. supply chain. If lightering crewmembers cannot enter the U.S. under a proper visa, lightering vessels cannot be appropriately staffed. This could result in delays and bottlenecks for U.S. energy exports or imports, impacting all of us. We cannot let this happen. prgtoken Therefore, my bill will bolster our energy security to ensure our lightering vessels are properly staffed. It makes a necessary technical correction to codify an existing State Department practice of issuing C-1/D visas for lightering. Again, this simply codifies a practice saving taxpayer dollars. prgtoken It would also allow crewmembers of lightering ships to work in the United States for up to 180 days in order for them to do their jobs thoroughly and completely. prgtoken This bill will bring more clarity to the lightering industry visa process for both the workers and all the U.S. Federal agencies involved, saving us tax dollars, and making things more efficient. prgtoken It will protect and secure the U.S. energy supply chain, which is a very important part of the economy in my district. It has already pa
POSTAL SERVICE ELECTRIC VEHICLE ACQUISITION
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate the Postal Service on its recent announcement to purchase a new vehicle fleet, 75 percent of which will be electric vehicles. I also rise to thank President for his vision that led this country to that decision. prgtoken Yesterday's announcement by the Postal Service would not have been possible without the steadfast efforts of the - administration, including the landmark legislation President signed into law earlier this year, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the postal reform legislation, which I authored. prgtoken I personally thank President for his important leadership on this issue. His efforts to ensure that our Federal fleets, particularly the Postal Service fleet, transition to electric vehicles as soon as possible are a critical step to a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future for all Americans. prgtoken As chair of the Oversight and Reform Committee, electrifying the Postal Service fleet has been one of my top priorities for the last several years. I have spoken and written to the Postmaster General numerous times about the importance of adopting an all-electric fleet, and the committee has held briefings and hearings several times on this issue. prgtoken The Postal Service operates a fleet of nearly 230,000 cars and trucks. That is roughly one-third of the entire Federal fleet. It is the second largest fleet in our Nation and should set the standard for this Nation. prgtoken Unfortunately, this fleet is rapidly aging, with many vehicles already more than three decades old. The old postal trucks are often unsafe, have high maintenance costs, and get terrible gas mileage. prgtoken We cannot afford to continue polluting our environment with unnecessary carbon. This is simply unacceptable. We are in the middle of a climate crisis. The Federal Government should be leading the charge to reduce carbon emissions and green its fleets. prgtoken That is why I am elated the Postal Service has made the decision to acquire 45,000 electric next-generation delivery vehicles and an additional 21,000 other electric delivery cars and trucks between now and 2028. prgtoken I applaud the Postal Service for its commitment to purchasing only electric next-generation delivery vehicles after 2026, which is part of President 's vision for the future. This is a win for the Postal Service, the climate, and, most importantly, the American people. prgtoken This critical investment would not have been possible without the $3 billion President championed and Congress provided in the Inflation Reduction Act. These funds will help purchase these vehicles and build the infrastructure necessary to support them. prgtoken These purchases will make the Postal Service a global leader in the adoption of electric vehicles and sets an example for other Federal agencies and the private sector as they develop their future fleets. They are also a testament to Pr
RESPECT FOR CHILD SURVIVORS ACT
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-12-21

I rise today in support of my bill, the Respect for Child Survivors Act. As Co-Founder and Chairman of the Congressional Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, I am proud to put forward legislation that helps protect the most vulnerable in our communities. This important legislation was brought about, in part, by the failings of the FBI during its handling of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse cases. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General found that the FBI did not properly handle or document evidence gathering with USA Gymnastics or the victims and did not notify state or local authorities of the sexual assault allegations. This bill is intended to prevent similar situations from happening with future investigations. The legislation will require the FBI to utilize multidisciplinary teams, made up of trauma-informed experts, when interviewing a victim who reports child abuse or trafficking. The use of these teams would prevent further traumatizing victims. In addition, the bill's information sharing and case review provisions would ensure accountability so cases are not mishandled in the future. prgtoken This legislation also includes another bill I am proud to lead, the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA) Reauthorization Act of 2021. This legislation will reauthorize funding for Children's Advocacy Centers through the Victims of Child Abuse Act through 2028. Victims and survivors of child abuse must have access to the resources and care provided by Children's Advocacy Centers to heal from their trauma. This legislation will put the authorized level in line with the increased Fiscal Year 2023 funding level set by appropriators. I worked to reauthorize VOCAA in both 2013 and 2018 and will continue to ensure that VOCAA is reauthorized and fully funded. prgtoken I want to thank the bipartisan group of legislators that have helped champion this legislation. In the House, Representatives Tony Gonzales and Brian Fitzpatrick are the Leads on the Respect for Child Survivors Act and Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act, respectively. I also would like to thank Senators Coons, Cornyn, Klobuchar, and Graham, who have championed this through the Senate. Finally, thank you to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the respective committees of jurisdiction in the House and Senate for helping to get these important pieces of legislation to the floor. prgtoken The Respect for Child Survivors Act is endorsed by Rape Abuse & Incest National Network, the National District Attorneys Association, Army of Survivors, the National Children's Alliance, Keep Kids Safe, Together for Girls, Darkness to Light, the Monique Bun Foundation for Children, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), and the Brave Movement. The VOCAA Reauthorization Act is endorsed by National Children's Alliance, National Children's Advocacy Center, Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center, Midwest Regional C
COLONEL MARY LOUISE RASMUSON CAMPUS OF THE ALASKA VA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM ACT OF 2022
Mark Takano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I rise to honor the memory of Colonel Mary Louise Rasmuson, an Army veteran, a tireless advocate for women servicemembers, and a decades-long champion of women's and civil rights. prgtoken The bill before us, S. 5016, would appropriately name VA's medical center in Anchorage, Alaska, the Colonel Mary Louise Rasmuson Campus of the Alaska VA Healthcare System. prgtoken I thank Senator Murkowski for her work on this bill in the Senate, and my colleague, Representative Peltola, for leading this effort in the House. Colonel Rasmuson was born in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1911. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in education from the Women's College at Carnegie Mellon University, and later earned a master's degree in school administration from the University of Pittsburgh. prgtoken Soon after, Colonel Rasmuson became one of the first two women ever to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from the Carnegie Institute of Technology, anticipating a long career ahead of breaking barriers for women. prgtoken In 1942, Colonel Rasmuson enlisted in the World War II effort, joining the Women's Army Corps as a private. Thanks to her diligent service, she quickly worked her way up through the ranks and, in 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower appointed Colonel Rasmuson as the fifth director of the Women's Army Corps. prgtoken In her capacity as director, she pushed for the integration of Black women into the Army, while working to change laws which denied women promotion opportunities and service credits. During her tenure, for the first time, women were authorized for appointments at the highest enlisted ranks of the Army, E-8 and E-9. prgtoken Colonel Rasmuson would be reappointed as director of the Women's Army Corps in 1961 by President Kennedy before retiring from the Army in 1962. For her valuable service as director, she earned the prestigious Legion of Medal award with two Oak Leaf clusters, in recognition of her brave contribution to female servicemembers. prgtoken In retirement, she moved to Alaska with her husband, Elmer Rasmuson, serving as first lady of Anchorage from 1964 to 1967 during her husband's mayorship. prgtoken Afterward, Colonel Rasmuson served for 45 years on the board of the Rasmuson Foundation, directing more than $200 million in grants to Alaskan nonprofit organizations, veterans' memorials, and educational services. prgtoken On July 30, 2012, Colonel Mary Louise Rasmuson passed away at her home in Anchorage, Alaska, at the age of 101. Thanks to her lifelong leadership, she will always be remembered for the lasting impact she left on the U.S. Army, pushing it ever-closer to gender equality. prgtoken Indeed, it was thanks to her impactful work as director of the Women's Army Corps that, in 1978, this segregated branch of the United States Army was disbanded, integrating all female and male units into one cohesive force. <|
CONGRATULATING LONNIE STEPHENSON FOR 47 YEARS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS (IBEW)
Cheri Bustos (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate Lonnie Stephenson on 47 years of service and dedication to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). prgtoken Mr. Stephenson joined the IBEW Local 145 in the Quad Cities in 1975 as an apprentice. Mr. Stephenson's later took positions as the union's Business Manager, International Representative and International Vice President. He was elected President of the union in 2015 and was re- elected twice. During his tenure as President, union membership steadily increased and currently stands at 775,000 members. He has worked as an advocate for accelerating IBEW's commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity through the IBEW Strong Program, which aims to recruit more people of color and women as union members. Mr. Stephenson advocated for trade unionism and worked tirelessly alongside other unions and associations throughout the pandemic to ensure America's labor workforce was rightly recognized as essential workers. prgtoken Under the leadership of Mr. Stephenson, IBEW has supported the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included pro-union job creation provisions, and the Inflation Reduction Act, which will provide substantial funding for multiemployer pension programs. I am confident that IBEW will continue to grow and thrive for many years to come because of Mr. Stephenson's commitment and service to workers. prgtoken It is because of Illinois' hardworking and dedicated leaders like Lonnie Stephenson that I am especially proud to serve in Congress. Madam , I would like to, again, formally congratulate Lonnie Stephenson for over four decades of service to Illinoisans.
CONGRATULATING LA GACETA NEWSPAPER ON ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY
Kathy Castor (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2022-12-21

. Madam , I rise today to recognize La Gaceta, the nation's only trilingual newspaper, on its 100th anniversary. Since 1922, La Gaceta has connected our community with news and served as a symbol of Tampa's rich history and culture. prgtoken The story of La Gaceta's founding began in 1913, when Victoriano Manteiga migrated from Cuba to Tampa's Ybor City, Victoriano worked as a lector in the Morgan Cigar Factory where he would read novels, local and world news, and political publications to factory workers as they rolled cigars--a staple of Tampa. In 1922, Victoriano founded La Gaceta with the help of Dr. Jose Avellanal, director of the Centro Espanol mutual aid society. A Spanish language newspaper, La Gaceta was created to serve the needs of the growing Latin, immigrant population of Tampa. Creating a space to tell local stories, discuss politics and world events, share recipes, highlight sports and other areas of interest, La Gaceta was very well received by the community. One of its most notable early recognitions beyond Tampa came in 1950, when La Gaceta was awarded the title of best Spanish language newspaper in the U.S. by the Linguaphone Institute. prgtoken In the 1950s, the newspaper grew its readership by publishing in English and later Italian, further serving the community and preserving another language and culture of Tampa's population. To this day, La Gaceta remains the country's only trilingual newspaper. It was also in the 1950s that Victoriano's son, Roland, grew in his role with the paper. Roland founded a column, As We Heard It, where he would predict political races, provide commentary and share his insider knowledge regarding politics. Roland's column gained much attention locally, statewide and even nationally from politicians like former presidents Jimmy Carter and . Both Roland and As We Heard IT would become known as major political influences. prgtoken Today As We Heard It and La Gaceta are run by Roland's son, Patrick Manteiga. Owned and operated by the Manteiga's for three generations now, it is the oldest family-owned newspaper in the United States. As editor and publisher, Patrick leads a hardworking team of individuals who produce weekly editions of La Gaceta for readers to enjoy. prgtoken To commemorate La Gaceta's historic achievement, documentary producer Lynn Marvin Dingfelder, an Emmy award-winning Tampa local, released the film ``La Gaceta The Documentary: 100 Years and 3 Generations Behind America's Only Trilingual Newspaper'' this year. Operating her own production company for over 20 years now, Lynn has shared many stories of our community through her films and has described Tampa as a place with deep love and respect for its history. This film is a symbol of that admiration and a way to both share and preserve La Gaceta's story. prgtoken Madam , on behalf of my neighbors in Tampa Bay and the citizens of Florida, I congratulate La Gaceta on this monumental a