mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
JOSEPH WOODROW HATCHETT UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE AND FEDERAL BUILDING
Kathy Castor (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2022-5-17

. Madam , I thank the gentlemen for yielding time, and and friend from Florida as well. prgtoken Madam , I rise in strong support of S. 2938 to name the Federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, for Judge Joseph Woodrow Hatchett. It is so appropriate for us to honor his life and legacy by naming the Federal courthouse in Florida's capital city for Judge Hatchett as he was a champion for fairness and justice. prgtoken He did have a hardscrabble background, being born to a maid and a fruit picker in the Tampa Bay area. He grew up in Pinellas County, but he was the pride of his family and his community through his graduation from Florida A&M University and with a law degree from Howard University. He served in the Army. prgtoken He was one of the first African-American Federal prosecutors--I believe the first in the Middle District of Florida. He was a Federal magistrate and served with distinction. Then he was tapped as the first African-American supreme court justice in the history of the State of Florida, and then on the circuit court of appeals, where he then served as chief judge. prgtoken Here is how various commentators, former clerks, and colleagues describe Judge Hatchett: he was unbelievably smart, he was a pioneer, a man of utmost integrity, a fine and decent judge who stood for racial justice and fairness, and a lifetime of work for ethics in government and justice in the courts. prgtoken One of his colleagues who served with him said that his external gentleness and calmness was wrapped around a steel core of dedication to equality and justice. His contribution to both of those ideals in Florida and this country throughout his life are immeasurable. prgtoken Madam , my colleagues here who oppose the naming of the courthouse for Judge Hatchett now have an opportunity to do right by him. prgtoken One commentator described the changing of votes on the floor of the House that day and the votes against this honorable man as a new perigee of political pettiness, folks who wanted to reinforce their image as political heirs to this sort of mean-spirited and backward thinking that the South sent to Washington in a long-gone era. prgtoken So let's rise up against this thinking of us versus them, this capitulation to a MAGA mom. We are better than this in this House of Representatives, and it is time to honor this outstanding gentleman, Judge Joseph Woodrow Hatchett, for his life of integrity, fairness, and honor. He deserves so much more. But I hope we can all come together in a unanimous vote for this outstanding American.
Introductory Statement on S. 4231
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-5-17

I rise today to speak about the STREAM Act (Support to Rehydrate the Environment, Agriculture and Municipalities Act), which I am introducing today alongside my cosponsors Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema. This is a bill intended to address the massive drought affecting much of the Western United States. prgtoken As the past 2 years demonstrate all too painfully, drought exacerbated by climate change--increasingly severe and prolonged drought--is a stark reality for California and the West. prgtoken This has resulted in shortages of water for agriculture, for irrigation, and increasingly threatens residential and business uses. The drought has threatened endangered species and results in a drying of the ground and plantlife that makes wildfire an even greater threat. prgtoken If we don't take action now, it is only going to get worse. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory scientists project that climate change will cause a 54-percent drop in the Sierras' snowpack within the next 20 to 40 years and a 79-percent drop by the end of the century. This change alone could be devastating for California, because we absolutely depend on this snowpack. The Sierra snowpack provides 30 percent of our water supply and is our biggest reservoir. prgtoken For these reasons and others we need an ``all of the above'' water strategy, including No. 1, increased water supply; No. 2, incentivizing projects that build in environmental benefits and drinking water for disadvantaged communities, and No. 3, investing in separate environmental restoration efforts. prgtoken The bill I am introducing today helps meet this challenge in four fundamental ways: prgtoken No. 1, it authorizes significant water supply funding that, in combination with the bipartisan infrastructure law, would provide California with 1.04 million additional acre-feet of water per year on average, enough water for over 6 million people; prgtoken No. 2, it provides additional financial incentives for water supply projects that include environmental benefits and drinking water for disadvantaged communities; prgtoken No. 3, it reforms the Congressional review process to more quickly approve water supply projects, and a new loan program combined with grants to more cost-effectively fund new non-Federal water supply projects; and prgtoken No. 4, it significantly invests not only in water supply projects but also in environmental restoration to help imperiled species adapt to climate change as well. prgtoken To demonstrate why this bill is so desperately needed, let me illustrate the extent and damage caused by the current drought in the West. prgtoken A precursor of the even more prolonged dry spells coming with climate change, California's 2020 to 2022 drought has had severe impacts on farms, cities, and the environment. prgtoken In 2021, the drought caused the California agriculture industry to shrink by an estimated 8,745 jobs and incur $1.2 billion in dir
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-5-17

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider the following nominations, en bloc: Calendar Nos. 907, 916, 917, 918, 846; that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc without intervening action or debate; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate resume legislative session.
Mary Gay Scanlon (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-5-17

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , yesterday the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 1119, providing for consideration of three measures. prgtoken The first is H.R. 6531, the Targeting Resources to Communities in Need Act, under a closed rule. The rule self-executes a manager's amendment from Chairwoman Maloney and provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and provides one motion to recommit. prgtoken The second is H.R. 7309, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, under a structured rule. The rule self-executes a manager's amendment from Chairman Scott, provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Education and Labor, makes in order 39 amendments, provides en bloc authority, and provides one motion to recommit. prgtoken The third is S. 2938, to designate the United States Courthouse and Federal Building located at 111 North Adams Street in Tallahassee, Florida, as the ``Joseph Woodrow Hatchett United States Courthouse and Federal Building'' under a closed rule. prgtoken The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided among and controlled by the chairs and ranking minority members of the Committees on Oversight and Reform and Transportation and Infrastructure and provides one motion to commit. prgtoken Finally, the rule deems passage of H. Res. 1118. prgtoken , the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, known around here as WIOA, is our Nation's flagship workforce development law. WIOA is the culmination of decades of policymaking by Congress to create a federally supported, State-managed system of programming for job training, adult education, and career services, as well as programs to connect employers with jobseekers, and help with placement, recruitment, and retention. prgtoken WIOA helps achieve our country's key goals of reducing poverty and driving economic growth by helping working Americans get the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to successfully participate in today's job market. With a new skill, certification, or degree, workers can apply for better-paying jobs, earning more for themselves and their families. prgtoken WIOA and its predecessors have been a successful formula for workforce development for over 60 years, and today's bill will ensure that WIOA can continue serving workers and their families in our changing and dynamic economy. prgtoken Today's bill is an overdue reauthorization for WIOA. While the bill makes a variety of important technical adjustments to keep the law relevant as our economy changes and evolves, the bill also upholds the core programs and services that have a demonstrated record of success. prgtoken The bill's main achievement is raising WIOA's funding levels to meet the needs of our workforce. Since the 1980s, the number of working America
INTRODUCTION OF THE ENSURING FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE CENSUS ACT OF 2022
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2022-5-17

. Madam , today, I introduce the Ensuring Full Participation in the Census Act of 2022, which would prohibit the U.S. Census Bureau (Bureau) from including questions on the decennial census about citizenship, nationality or immigration status. prgtoken This bill is essential because, prior to the 2020 census, the Department of Justice wrote to the Bureau requesting that it ``reinstate on the 2020 [c]ensus questionnaire a question regarding citizenship.'' From 1970-2000, this question was sent to only approximately 16 percent of the population during any decennial census through the so-called ``long-form.'' However, the long-form system was dropped from the census and replaced with the current American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is sent to approximately 3 million people annually on a rotational basis, and allows the Bureau to get the necessary information on citizenship. Asking questions about citizenship status to every person through the decennial census has not been done in almost 70 years because it would discourage people, largely minorities, who are already undercounted in the census, from participating in the census. The ACS was created to make the decennial census simpler for people to complete, which facilitates higher and more accurate participation rates and preserving privacy. prgtoken Fortunately, after a protracted legal and political process, the citizenship question was not included on the 2020 census. However, this legislation is necessary to ensure it cannot be asked on a future census. The representative sampling provided by the ACS is more than sufficient to determine citizenship statistics in the U.S. We must ensure that all individuals are counted in the decennial census, thereby providing accurate allocation of federal funds and representation in Congress, and not reduce participation by asking a question that is already asked elsewhere. prgtoken I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.
CELEBRATING THE 90TH BIRTHDAY OF MS. VIRGINIA KEE
Nydia M. Velázquez (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-5-17

. Madam , today I rise to celebrate the 90th birthday of Ms. Virginia Kee, a dedicated public servant, longtime constituent, and a dear friend. She is widely recognized, respected and a pillar of strength in New York City's Chinatown community. I met Ms. Kee three decades ago when I first ran for office. She welcomed me and helped me better understand the social, immigration and small businesses needs of the community. I realized that Ms. Kee and I were more alike than different and for that reason I am always grateful for her friendship. prgtoken As an Asian American woman, Virginia's experience with the systemic racism in her community helped forge her passion for social justice and strengthened her determination to break barriers. As a dedicated New York City public school teacher in the 1960's, Ms. Kee witnessed first- hand the poverty and disadvantages faced by Asian immigrant students and their families. She realized that the best weapon against poverty was education and she diligently worked to motivate students to learn and achieve. Virginia became actively engaged in the community after the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. An act that overhauled the immigration system and lifted the longstanding policy of limiting immigration based on national origin. This new policy opened the door for Asian immigrants with families living in the United States. prgtoken Ms. Kee was devoted to advancing the social and economic conditions of her community. As an advocate for children, she was instrumental in bringing the first Youth and Head prgtoken Start Program to Chinatown in 1965. In addition, to address the growing needs of Chinatown's Asian American low-income and immigrant communities she became the founding member of the Chinese American Planning Council (CPC), one the largest and most comprehensive organizations serving low-income Asian American families in the Northeast. Today, decades later, CPC serves more than 60,000 families annually and continues to deliver cultural and holistic services to New York City's expanding Asian community. Ms. Kee remains an active member of the Board. prgtoken Ms. Kee realized early that civic engagement and political participation were key to securing resources, making local decisions, and improving public services in her community. A pioneer both as a woman and an Asian American, she became one of the first Chinese Americans to be elected to party office in the ic Party. In 1980 she was a member of Governor James Hunt's Commission setting the rules for the ic Presidential Nominating Procedures. She fought for and achieved the inclusion of Asian American representation as delegates to the ic Party Presidential Convention. Her relentless efforts in community action have resulted in the empowerment of her community. In year 2000 she served as a member of the New York State Electoral College. She has been a strong voice for equi
WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2022
Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2022-5-17

. Madam , I thank Chairman Scott for yielding and for his leadership. prgtoken Madam , I rise in strong support of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022. This important legislation improves the existing statute in several critical ways. prgtoken First, this legislation formally authorizes sector partnerships. I have witnessed the significant benefit of sector partnerships. One persuasive example in northwest Oregon is the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center, OMIC, which develops and applies advanced metals manufacturing technologies in their R&D center, while educating an advanced manufacturing workforce in their training center run by Portland Community College. OMIC is an outstanding example of how sector partnerships between industry, higher education, and government can create new R&D outcomes, prepare workers, and fuel local economies. prgtoken Second, this legislation will improve access to supportive services like access to tools, work attire, transportation, childcare, and mentorship, which are crucial to helping workers stay in their training and in the workplace and to thrive. prgtoken Third, this legislation will define and formally authorize funding for pre-apprenticeship programs. In Oregon, we have tremendous programs, successful programs, like Oregon Tradeswomen, that prepare women for careers and trades through pre-apprenticeships. Despite the success of this program and others, funding has been extremely low. This legislation will help expand these life-changing programs and set participants up for success in apprenticeships and beyond. These are life-changing. prgtoken Importantly, this legislation will make Job Corps more inclusive by requiring Job Corps center operators to implement a tiered disciplinary system instead of adhering to a zero-tolerance drug policy. It would expand the definition of ``individuals with barriers to employment'' to include historically disadvantaged communities. These changes will modernize Job Corps in important ways, and it will better meet the needs of all communities. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act reauthorization to help close the skills gap and to address the needs of working Americans, and I thank Chairman Scott for his leadership in bringing this important bill to the floor.
WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2022
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2022-5-17

. Madam , I thank Chairman Scott for his astounding leadership on this critical jobs training bill and for yielding me time. I thank Ranking Member Foxx so very much for her support of this effort. prgtoken Today, I urge my colleagues to support a bipartisan amendment to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act that I have proposed alongside Representatives Kelly, Dingell, and Ryan. prgtoken As we set about this new era of automotive and vehicular innovation, it is crucial that we invest in the workers who are the backbone of this uniquely American industry. prgtoken This amendment will create a pathway for the Federal Department of Labor and other Federal agencies to conduct a study on the automotive service technician and vehicle mechanic workforce and help promote apprenticeships to meet the increasing need of this advanced sector. Already, America is short 1 million trained workers across our Nation, and we haven't gotten started. We are not off the starting line. prgtoken Electric-, hydrogen-, and biofuel-powered vehicle technology brings new opportunities and new challenges. To be ready, we must proactively stand up for training and apprenticeship programs that prepare America's vehicular workforce for the next generation. prgtoken The motor vehicle industry has long served as a gateway to the middle class, and this amendment allows the Federal Government to take deliberate steps to ensure our workers are top of mind, not left behind. prgtoken It is vital that we invest in the workers who make, build, and grow America and, frankly, power her. I ask that my colleagues join me in passing this important amendment.
TRIBUTE TO MICHELE MACKIN
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2022-5-17

today I wish to recognize the dedicated public service of Michele Mackin, who retired on April 30 as managing director for contracting and national security acquisitions with the Government Accountability Office. prgtoken For 34 years, Michele has helped Congress analyze the Federal Government's largest acquisition programs, from the Air Force's C-17 and C-130 aircraft to the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship, Ford-class aircraft carrier, and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, along with scores of other systems and related services that the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security have procured to make our Nation safe. prgtoken She has also been a leading voice on Federal contracting issues and a vigilant watchdog who consistently brought important issues related to the improper use of contracts to light. In so doing, Michele has obtained the respect of the Members of this body and the deep affection of her colleagues, who for decades have been drawn to her fine example of public service. prgtoken Michele has been a trusted voice on this Nation's shipbuilding programs, and Congress has relied greatly on her clear analysis and recommendations to guide us in our oversight role. Since first becoming a member of the Senior Executive Service in 2013, Michele has testified before Congress 11 times for a variety of committees--voicing concern on the Littoral Combat Ship program, raising questions about the Navy's acquisition strategy for the Constellation-class guided-missile frigate, highlighting risks in the Coast Guard's Deepwater program, and advocating for contracting and acquisition reforms at the Departments of Navy, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs. prgtoken Michele epitomizes what Congress and the American public value about the Government Accountability Office: the honest broker. In embracing the idea that oversight of programs and contracts represents a sacred trust, Michele has been a tireless, effective advocate for both the American taxpayer and the men and women serving the government's many and varied missions. She has inspired her teams with the notion of stewardship that the American people should get what they have paid for, that government should operate fairly and transparently, and American warfighters should get the capabilities they need to defend this great Nation. prgtoken We wish Michele a fond farewell and thank her for her distinguished service to Congress and the American public.
MST CLAIMS COORDINATION ACT
Elaine G. Luria (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2022-5-18

I rise today on behalf of the survivors of military sexual trauma, or MST, who struggle to access the medical care, mental health services, and the compensation that they deserve. prgtoken Sexual assault in the military continues to be a pervasive issue. These assaults are often unreported and can culminate in post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and even suicide. prgtoken When a veteran has the courage to report the impact of that trauma to the VA, it is essential that we treat these claims with the utmost empathy, compassion, and concern. prgtoken For many veterans, submitting the claim means opening themselves up. For those who have not filed a report while in the military, this is the first opportunity for their experience to be acknowledged. And far too often, MST survivors encounter bureaucratic processes when filing their claims through the VA, which can be re-traumatizing, and further delays access to critical healthcare and mental healthcare services. prgtoken My bill is one in a series of bills drafted to improve the veteran's experience during the MST claims process. It would require the VA to provide guidance to help veterans understand what mental health resources and other supports are in place and available to support them as they go through the claims process. prgtoken By ensuring veterans who file an MST-related claim are given information on the Veterans Crisis Line, how to make appointments with mental healthcare providers, and connect them with VHA MST coordinators, we empower veterans to access the network of trauma- informed care that the VHA provides. prgtoken For veterans who already have access to the VHA system of care, my bill would, with the veteran's consent, allow for relevant healthcare providers prgtoken to be notified when a veteran in their care has filed an MST claim, has an examination related to the MST claim, or been notified of a decision or a determination. This notification can be especially helpful when a claim has been denied or the decision is lower than the veteran feels is warranted. prgtoken We must ensure that survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military are treated respectfully and receive proper care at all stages of the process, including mental healthcare services. prgtoken It is especially critical in light of the August 2021 VA Office of Inspector General report which showed that claims were still being inappropriately denied. Thus, ``veteran survivors of military sexual trauma remain at risk of not receiving the VA benefits to which they are entitled and experiencing additional distress when claims are improperly handled or denied.'' prgtoken That is why I introduced the MST Claims Coordinator Act, to improve communication and coordination in the claims process between the Veterans Benefits Administration and the Veterans Health Administration. prgtoken As a 20-year Navy veteran, I am proud to have worked with my colleagues in a bi