mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REMEMBERING ALLISON KENNEDY
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2023-9-21

earlier this year, we lost a treasured consumer, public health and safety advocate. Allison Kennedy passed away on May 10, 2023, after suffering a brain aneurysm. She was 36 years old. A devoted mother, beloved wife, and cherished daughter, Allison was full of life and love. prgtoken Allison was born in Visalia, CA in February 1987. Although Allison was an only child, she grew up surrounded and supported by her large and loving extended family in Washington, anchored by her Nana and major role model Nita King. Life for Allison revolved around her family. She loved her grandfather Jim beyond words. She especially loved the precious time she spent with her father outdoors or working on household projects together, even FaceTiming her dad 3,000 miles away to help her put a table together. She loved traveling with her family, including to the off-road races in Baja, especially with her Uncle David. prgtoken She attended Washington State University, graduating in 2010, and received her master's degree from American University in Washington, DC, in 2014. prgtoken After starting her graduate studies at Washington State University, she began a 3-month internship in Washington, DC. Within weeks of moving to DC, she fell in love with the city, the politics, and a man named Brian. Their love started on their first date as they sat talking in her apartment until 3 in the morning. Allison and Brian were engaged in December 2014 and married in November 2015. They first lived in Northeast Washington, D.C then moved to Maryland in 2019, and finally found their dream home in Burke, VA, in 2022. prgtoken Allison longed to be a mother. Allison and Brian tried for nearly 5 years. In 2021, they received the gift of Christopher ``Kit'' Colm, through adoption, who blessed their home with the fullness of love and joy. Allison thrived as a mother. In every way, she knew how to care for Kit and help him blossom. In 2022, Brian and Allison found out they were pregnant. Callahan ``Cal'' was welcomed into the world in January 2023. The final months of Allison's life were filled with happiness and contentment as she thrived as a mother of two. prgtoken Allison also served as the director of government relations for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. She was well known and well respected on Capitol Hill as an ardent champion for safe roads, safe vehicles and safe road users. During her more than 10 years with Advocates, she cultivated a safety legacy that will continue to prevent crashes and save lives for years to come. prgtoken Under the leadership of her professional mentors, Cathy Chase and Jackie Gillian, Allison grew into a fierce and successful advocate whose work led to the adoption of critical safety-minded policies, including many of the key safety provisions of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. For generations to come, Allison's legacy will be measured in the countless lives of children, teen d
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-9-21

on the CR, an ominous case of deja vu is playing out this week in the House of Representatives. A national crisis is around the corner. The solution demands bipartisanship, but McCarthy is wasting precious time catering to the hard, hard MAGA right. Catering to the hard right didn't work during the default crisis, and it will not work here in the shutdown crisis. prgtoken It has been a troublesome, vexing week for the House of Representatives. A few days ago, House s released what they called the deal on a CR but which, in reality, read like a House Freedom Caucus screed. It called for a devastating 8-percent cut on virtually all nondefense spending. It would have gutted law enforcement funding, border protection, nutrition benefits, and so much more. But that still wasn't extreme enough for MAGA s. prgtoken The House GOP's latest proposals are even more extreme, call for even greater cuts, and stand even less of a chance of passing the U.S. Senate. House s are still trying to appease the most hard- right elements of their conference. It is almost as if a small handful are deciding what the whole body of 435 Members should do. It makes no sense. And the hard right, many of them, publicly say they want the government to shut down, despite the fact that it would hurt so many. prgtoken So that is what seems the leadership is doing, instead of pursuing the one path we all know will work: bipartisanship. Instead of decreasing the chances of a shutdown, McCarthy is actually increasing it by wasting time on extremist proposals that everyone knows--he knows--cannot become law. prgtoken Let me say that again. Instead of decreasing the chance of a shutdown, McCarthy is actually increasing it by wasting time on extremist proposals that cannot become law. prgtoken In the Senate, many of us are united in the need for more Ukraine aid, but the hard-right proposals in the House fail to provide any. In the Senate, only an agreement that can get votes from both parties will be able to pass, but the hard-right proposals have all been drafted with zero ic input and zero effort to even appear bipartisan. prgtoken So for all the efforts McCarthy has spent on trying to find something that makes MAGA s happy, there is no scenario where we avoid a shutdown without a bipartisan agreement. If the continues down on the path he is on, the odds of a shutdown, sadly, go up, and Americans will know that the responsibility of a shutdown will be on the s' hands.
Government Funding (Executive Calendar)
Brian Schatz (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2023-9-21

for the last week, we have seen chaos and dysfunction in the House of Representatives as they try to come up with a single bill to fund the government to avert a shutdown. We are now 9 days away from a lapse in funding, and even though it is their responsibility under the Constitution to originate an appropriations bill, they have got nothing. They have no plan to pass a bill that can be signed into law. prgtoken I want to be really clear about this because when we had this debt ceiling fight earlier in the year, the bar was lowered so much for the House of Representatives that passing anything was considered a legislative victory. All the political pundits and newsletters out there were lauding the House of Representatives for passing a legislative vehicle--not one that could pass, not one that was well thought through, not one that was bipartisan, not one that was on its way to the President's desk, but just like passing something is like a huge victory. I was irritated back then because if Chuck Schumer passed something on a partisan basis that couldn't be enacted by the House and wasn't going to be signed by the President of the United States, nobody would be giving him credit. prgtoken The point here is to make a law. The point here is to make a law. But they haven't even cleared the bar that was so low in the spring that even if you pass something that is largely symbolic, you have united your caucus and you have shown you can legislate. They have not. They have not shown that they can legislate. prgtoken But let's be clear. The consequences in the next 9 days are dire. prgtoken A few of my colleagues on the Senate side stopped us from being the legislative body that we ought to be. So let's back up a second. prgtoken Every year at the end of the year, we usually pass an appropriations bill. It is called an omnibus. It takes all 12 individual appropriations bills and piles them up into one, and everybody gets very irritated because it is so much, right, that it is difficult for a legislator to sort out what they like about a bill and what they don't like about a bill. It is hard to do amendments. prgtoken So lots of Members--mostly on the side--said: You know what. We need to do the regular order. prgtoken What is the regular order? Well, it is a little bit in the eye of the beholder, but the basic idea is, we should have committee markups; we should vote on stuff; we should have amendments; we should behave like the legislative body we grew up learning about. prgtoken The regular order. We demand it. prgtoken So Patty Murray, the chair of Appropriations, and Susan Collins, the vice chair of Appropriations-- and --together said: Let's do the regular order. prgtoken So we do a committee markup on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development. It happens to be my subcommittee. Unanimous, bipartisan vote. Then we do MILCON and VA. Unanimous, bipartisan vote. Then we do
STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH UAW
Jonathan L. Jackson (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-9-21

. Madam , I rise today to stand in solidarity with our United Auto Workers brothers and sisters. prgtoken Only 2 weeks before his assassination, Reverend Martin Luther King was in Memphis and supported the city sanitation workers' strike. To the crowd, he proclaimed that ``now is the time.'' prgtoken I echo Reverend Martin Luther King's words from the people's Chamber and say unto UAW auto workers: Now is the time. prgtoken Number one, now is the time for a cost-of-living adjustment. In real terms, worker wages are more than 10 percent less than they were in 2019, despite rising costs. prgtoken Now is the time for an end to tiered employment in the automotive industry. Workers are making different wages doing equal work. This is simply unacceptable. The only difference between them is which labor contract was in force on the day that they started. prgtoken Now is the time for job security. As we transition away from combustion engines, these jobs need to stay in America and remain good- paying union jobs. prgtoken Now is the time for a cost-of-living adjustment. Now is the time to end tiered employment pay. Now is the time for job security. prgtoken I stand in solidarity with the UAW.
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 2791 (Executive Calendar)
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-9-21

reserving the right to object, I share my colleagues' concern with making sure the men and women of the Coast Guard get the pay they deserve in a timely way. In fact, I don't want any of our Federal workers to miss a paycheck. But this bill, which essentially says the Coast Guard gets paid as long as other members of our armed services are being paid, won't actually stop anyone from missing a paycheck in a few weeks because the looming shutdown would also stop pay for the military. prgtoken I appreciate that my colleagues want to talk about how Coast Guard pay is handled compared to other branches of our armed services, but, respectfully, the pressing issue right now is making sure everyone gets paid, and we prevent a completely unnecessary shutdown that would hurt our families across the country, which is why I am working around the clock to make sure we pass a bipartisan CR and supplemental package. And I would urge all of my colleagues to join me in that effort. prgtoken And I object.
Prescription Drug Costs (Executive Calendar)
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-9-21

I rise today to highlight a historic moment which will help millions of older Americans and families access affordable prescription drugs. prgtoken For too long, U.S. families have paid the highest prices compared to other countries, often leading millions of Americans to leave their pharmacy counter emptyhanded. With the passage and implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act under President 's leadership, are answering the call of the American people for affordable, accessible prescription drugs. prgtoken No one should have to go into debt to buy the prescription drugs they need to live a healthy, productive life. Yet this is a dilemma many families in the United States face. Twenty-nine percent of Americans either cannot afford their prescription drugs or are rationing them, and the United States stands alone in this among our developed-nation peers. prgtoken The United States spends about $600 billion annually on prescription drugs. In 2019, the latest year in which internationally comparable data from OECD is available, the United States spent over $1,100 per capita on prescription medicines. When you compare that to the other OECD countries, it is twice as much. prgtoken Getting worse, by 2021 the United States spent over $1,400 per capita on prescription drugs. Americans and Marylanders are struggling to pay for their prescription medications, and it is long past time for Congress to take decisive action to deal with this issue. prgtoken Prescription drugs have been lifesaving for millions, but if they are unaffordable, then their benefit is lost. High prescription drug prices drive health inequities that we are fighting to eradicate since groups in fair or poor health struggle to afford their medications. prgtoken U.S. prescription drug prices are set through a complicated process by manufacturers, pharmaceutical benefit prgtoken managers, and payers. Prices are often disconnected from the health impacts of the products being purchased. Opponents of addressing the high prescription drug prices claim that more affordable prices will come at the expense of innovation. prgtoken I must tell you, I disagree with that, and research also tells us that is just not true. To ensure access to innovative treatments and prescriptions, the U.S. Government, thanks to the U.S. taxpayer, makes significant investments in biomedical research. No greater example of this investment is the National Institutes of Health, located in my home State of Maryland, which is the world's largest government funder of biomedical research. Almost all drugs rely on NIH-supported basic science in their development, and the returns on these investments are very high. We have doubled down on this in the CHIPS and Science bill, putting more money into basic biomedical research. prgtoken Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found that each $125 million NIH grant leads to $375 million--that
NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH
Raphael G. Warnock (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2023-9-21

today I would like to recognize September as National Recovery Month, a time for us to honor our Nation's recovery community. This community includes prgtoken those who are battling addiction and the service providers who are dedicated to supporting them. prgtoken On this occasion, I want to extend my appreciation to Georgia's Cobb County DUI Court, which celebrated its 15th anniversary and 48th commencement ceremony on September 19, 2023. Founded in 2008 by the Honorable Melodie H. Clayton and now presided over by the Honorable Eric A. Brewton, this court plays an important role in supporting individuals as they work towards sobriety. prgtoken Since its implementation, the program has admitted over 700 participants and graduated over 519 individuals. The program's achievements have been recognized by Georgia's Council of Accountability Court Judges. The dedication of the Cobb County DUI Court team has been instrumental in establishing alternatives to incarceration and providing support to individuals, their families, and the entire community. prgtoken There is no greater way to celebrate National Recovery Month than by acknowledging the hard work of recovery professionals and participants as they celebrate 15 years of success.
CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Sylvia R. Garcia (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-9-21

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month is about recognizing the countless contributions of Latinos across the Nation. prgtoken We celebrate the Latino entrepreneurs who have built thriving businesses, the doctors and nurses who provide essential healthcare, the teachers who inspire future generations, and the activists who tirelessly advocate for justice and equality. prgtoken As we honor Hispanic Heritage Month, let us all commit to fostering an inclusive society where everyone, regardless of their background, can thrive and contribute to the American Dream. prgtoken Let's embrace the diversity that makes our Nation stronger and more vibrant and continue celebrating our heritage that enriches us all. Let's put diversity over hate, people over politics. ``Yes, we can. Long live the people''; ``Si se puede y que viva la gente.''
EXPANDING MEDICAID IN NORTH CAROLINA
Donald G. Davis (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2023-9-21

. Madam , today, my former colleagues in the North Carolina General Assembly reached an agreement to pass a new State budget with the expansion of Medicaid. prgtoken More than a decade after the Affordable Care Act became law, 95,000 eastern North Carolinians trapped in the Medicaid coverage gap have been waiting or, in some cases, dying without access to lifesaving healthcare. prgtoken Since entering Congress, healthcare has been my top legislative priority, having led, co-led, or cosponsored more than 50 bipartisan pieces of legislation. My very first acts in Congress included introducing a resolution to affirm support for Medicaid expansion and restarting the State Medicaid Expansion Caucus. prgtoken To the people of eastern North Carolina, know that I stand ready to fulfill my commitment to Medicaid expansion by working closely with officials to see this through and tackle the unacceptable healthcare disparities in our community.
WELCOMING GUEST CHAPLAIN BISHOP MICHAEL E. DANTLEY
Greg Landsman (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-9-21

I rise today to honor our guest chaplain, Bishop Michael E. Dantley of Christ Emmanuel Christian Fellowship in the neighborhood of Walnut Hills in the city of Cincinnati. prgtoken Bishop Dantley has been the senior pastor of Christ Emmanuel for over 40 years, almost 50 years. He has worked to establish a grade school and built a program for the homeless, formerly incarcerated, and men battling addiction. prgtoken He has been honored by numerous community groups, including the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, and uplifts his congregation with messages of hope and healing every week. prgtoken As you heard today, he invokes action--to act for the good of our neighbors, especially the least of these. prgtoken Bishop Dantley has been a guide and source of strength for me, inspiring me to act even when I wasn't sure I could and to act in service of those I represent, especially those most marginalized. prgtoken I thank Bishop Dantley not just for joining me today but for his decades of service to our community and our country.
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FRANKLIN PIERCE SCHOOL OF LAW
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2023-9-21

I rise today to honor the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law on its 50th anniversary. prgtoken Taking its name from the only Granite Stater to become President of the United States, the Franklin Pierce Law Center was established in 1973 as New Hampshire's first law school. Its founder, renowned inventor Robert Rines, welcomed the first class of students in an old bull barn on the city of Concord's east side. The school's modest beginnings belie the outsized and prgtoken international impact it would soon have on the legal community, particularly in the field of intellectual property--IP--law. prgtoken The Franklin Pierce Law Center quickly developed a reputation as a powerhouse in IP law. It strove not only to instill an understanding in intellectual property law, but also to train students to be comfortable in the practice of an emerging legal field. Many of its graduates have climbed to positions of global influence in IP, and many attribute their success and achievements to the preparation and instruction they acquired as law students. The law center's administration--and Mr. Rines in particular--also invited groups from other countries to attend classes at no cost. These groups observed the American system of patent law and ventured home to shape systems that suited the needs of their own countries. prgtoken In 2010, the Franklin Pierce Law Center entered into a partnership with the University of New Hampshire to become the University of New Hampshire School of Law. It was renamed the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law in 2019 after careful consideration of the Franklin Pierce name in the intellectual property community and its longstanding reputation for innovative legal education. prgtoken While known for its intellectual property law curriculum, the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law also offers instruction in traditional legal fields, as well as public interest and social justice law, health policy and law and sports and entertainment law. It is also home to the Daniel Webster Scholars Honors Program, a groundbreaking initiative that provides an alternative to the traditional bar licensing process. These students enroll in a rigorous educational program under the supervision of judges, lawyers, professors, and bar examiners, and they are sworn into the New Hampshire bar the day before law school graduation. It is the only program of its kind in the country. prgtoken Thousands of attorneys in 48 States and more than 80 countries can point to their experience at the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law as the foundation of their thriving legal practices and careers. Countless more have been represented, educated, and protected by attorneys who honed their skills in an active, practice-based learning environment in Concord, NH. The reach of this small school with humble beginnings is truly widespread.
EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS OF CESAR MILLAN
Tony Cárdenas (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-9-21

. Madam , as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I wish to recognize the extraordinary contributions of Cesar Millan. Cesar has transformed the lives of countless people and dogs and has also touched the hearts of people all over the world. prgtoken From humble beginnings in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, working on his grandfather Teodoro Millan Angulo's farm, Cesar came to the United States undocumented and unable to speak English. He lives his dream right here in America doing the job that he has always wanted to do, to be the best dog and human trainer in the world. prgtoken Through his television series, ``The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan,'' Cesar taught us how to understand our four-legged friends and to better understand ourselves. He launched the Cesar Millan Foundation, a nonprofit organization designed to support the rescue, rehabilitation, and placement of abused and abandoned animals. prgtoken Cesar Millan has inspired us to become more compassionate, more understanding, and more forgiving. As Cesar would say, better human, better dog, better together. prgtoken Cesar is both a proud immigrant and a proud United States citizen.