mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING THE HONORABLE JENNIFER VIDRINE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF VILLE PLATTE, AND NEWLY APPOINTED BOARD PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN
Troy A. Carter (Democrat, LA) \u2014 2022-7-29

. Madam , today I rise to pay tribute to an outstanding, cherished public servant from my home State of Louisiana. My dear friend and the mayor of the City of Ville Platte, Jennifer Vidrine, will soon take the top leadership position of the Louisiana Municipal Association (LMA) as the first African-American woman Board President. The LMA was established in 1926 and is the strongest advocate for municipal government in my state. On July 30, it will become an even stronger and more effective organization with the installation of Mayor Vidrine as president. prgtoken This is one of many ``firsts'' she is known for. In 2011, she was elected the first woman and African-American mayor of her fine city where today she continues to provide sound and caring leadership. Mayor Vidrine is a skilled and dedicated municipal leader with a deep passion for the residents she serves. On any given day, you will find Mayor Vidrine meeting with constituents about an array of issues affecting the elderly and youth, inspecting city utilities, sharing ideas with business leaders, and visiting local schools. Her phone never stops ringing. She encourages residents to call her directly on her cell phone, and they do. She frequently utilizes a telephone messaging service to keep residents informed on issues ranging from severe weather warnings, boil advisories, local sporting events, and the all- important annual celebrations like the city's Smoked Meat and Louisiana Cotton festivals. prgtoken She was one of the first mayors to provide free testing and vaccinations during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Working with state and federal officials, Mayor Vidrine was steadfast in instituting sound local ordinances to keep her community safe and provided critical personal protection equipment. She is an eloquent speaker who knows how to educate and motivate those of us in positions that can help navigate the federal bureaucracy. She never hesitates to speak up on behalf of the smaller towns and villages of our state giving them a voice of care and concern. She is an absolute force to be reckoned with each time she travels to Capitol Hill as one of the LMA's chief advocates for local government issues. prgtoken Madam , it is a distinct honor for me to recognize this great leader and advocate for our great State of Louisiana, The Honorable Jennifer Vidrine in such a public way. I am confident she will have a significant and lasting impact on the LMA for years to come. I am extremely proud to call her my dear friend and now, .
ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN OF 2022
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2022-7-29

I thank the gentleman for yielding time. prgtoken We face two choices today in this body. One is to protect our children, to protect our houses of worship, to protect where we shop, to protect where we watch a movie from guns that exist for one purpose only--mass death inflicted efficiently. prgtoken Or we can listen to the other argument, which you have heard, in thrall to the gun manufacturers, to protect them at any cost, and you as a citizen are collateral damage at the altar of the gun manufacturers, and we will be bathed in blood forever. prgtoken It is time to act. It is time to end the madness and disenthrall ourselves from automatic weapons that are mass killers.
FBI Investigations (Executive Session)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2022-8-1

we all know that Congress has a constitutional responsibility to ensure that the executive branch executes the laws and uses taxpayers' money appropriately in accordance with congressional intent. It doesn't matter whether we have a President, a ic President, a Senate, or a ic Senate. We all have the constitutional responsibility of checking the executive branch. prgtoken In furtherance of that constitutional responsibility, Congress has an obligation to investigate the executive branch for fraud, for waste, for abuse, and even gross mismanagement. prgtoken And if Congress finds potential wrongdoing, we have an obligation to the American people to make sure that it is public because transparency of the public's business brings accountability to those who conduct that public business. prgtoken Last week, I made public two oversight letters that I have sent to the Justice Department and to the FBI. These two letters are part of my investigation into a political bias that is infecting the Department of Justice and the FBI. prgtoken These letters are based on information provided to my office by whistleblowers, and I hope everybody knows that I consider whistleblowers as patriots. And whistleblowers have to have guts, and they do have guts. prgtoken And Director Wray has personally told me that these whistleblowers won't be subject to retaliation, as often, whistleblowers in the Federal Government are subject to retaliation, hurting themselves professionally and maybe even losing their jobs. prgtoken Now, these letters that I sent follow up on a May 31, 2022, letter to the Justice Department, the FBI, and the inspector general. prgtoken In those letters, I provided evidence of extreme leftwing bias shown by a special agent in charge by the name of Tim Thibault. He is special agent in charge of the FBI's Washington field office. prgtoken Now, he has since been referred to the Office of Special Counsel for potential Hatch Act violations. Thibault is at the center of my two letters sent last week. The first letter relates to an FBI investigation that Thibault opened on the campaign and its advisers. He allegedly had help from Richard Pilger, an official in the Justice Department's Election Crime Branch within the Public Integrity Section. During Chairman Durbin's investigation into the Justice Department misconduct, Pilger really stood out. prgtoken The committee interviewed Richard Donoghue, the former Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General during the administration. He was also a key January 6 Committee witness. Donoghue testified to the Judiciary Committee that Pilger's conduct frustrated the Department's ability to properly operate the Elections Crime Branch. prgtoken Thibault and Pilger played a major role in opening the criminal investigation into the campaign. And this isn't a preliminary investigation; it is a full investigation, which r
Cloture Motion (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-8-1

. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Burr), the Senator from Texas (Mr. Cornyn), the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Hawley), the Senator from Louisiana (Mr. Kennedy), the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Moran), the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Sasse), and the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Shelby). prgtoken Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Hawley) would have voted ``nay.''
Korean War Veterans Memorial (Executive Session)
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2022-8-1

I want to talk briefly about a very sacred place on our Nation's Mall, The National Mall, that I had an opportunity to visit yesterday. It is the Korean War Veterans Memorial that millions and millions of Americans have visited. Something happened last Wednesday that I wanted to talk about a little bit, a really important rededication of this very moving war memorial. prgtoken Now, I like to get out on The Mall most days, go for a run in the morning when I am in DC, and I love our memorials, like everybody in America does, particularly the memorials that are dedications to the service of our military members, our veterans. The Presiding Officer is a veteran, a war hero. I have a ton of respect for her and her service. But whether it is the World War II or the Vietnam Memorial, one of the most moving memorials that I like to visit is the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Why? Well, I think there is so much we can all learn from the Korean war. prgtoken In the Marine Corps, they really drill into you what happened during the Korean war. Unfortunately, not enough Americans know about the Korean war. But one of the big lessons is, you need to be ready. You need to be ready. prgtoken In 1945, the U.S. military was the most fearsome military in the world, probably in the history of the world, and in 1950, just 5 years later, we had a very difficult time stopping a third world army in the opening months of the Korean war. Now, we rebounded, as Americans always do, but that is a lesson. That is a lesson for our country. In my view, the uniformed civilian leadership of our military did not serve their country well, letting the state of our forces become very unready. That is prgtoken one of the lessons of that very difficult, brutal war. prgtoken There is another lesson, and it is the nobility of service from our veterans that really is epitomized by service in the Korean war. The memorial has many beautifully engraved sayings, but one, when you think about it, is so moving and, in my view, depicts the nobility of American military service, particularly as it relates to that war. prgtoken It says: Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met. prgtoken Think about that--young men and women in America sent to fight halfway around the world to defend freedom. That is exactly what they were doing. And they didn't even know whom they were defending. A lot of them didn't even know where they were. prgtoken To me, those words capture the essence of nobility, and so does the Korean War Memorial. You see part of it here. The centerpiece is nine large statues--soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines. They are grunts, infantry grunts on patrol. You can see there is a cold, wet wind whipping their ponchos. Their faces are full of fear, when you look at the statues, but also pride and determination. And all of this, in my view
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2022-8-1

Eastern Kentucky is reeling, reeling from some of the worst flooding in our State's history. The area is still experiencing rainfall today. This horrible, tragic crisis is far from over. prgtoken In Jackson, waters reached 43-\1/2\ feet high, breaking an 83-year- old record. Drone footage shows whole towns completely submerged. Roadways have turned into rivers. Rising waters have reached rooftops. Across more than a dozen counties, severe rainstorms have created crisis conditions. Water rose too quickly for many to react, with tragic consequences. prgtoken The Governor has confirmed that, so far, 35 people have lost their lives amid flash floods, including children, and I think that number is likely to rise in the coming days. Even the families who were lucky enough to get out unscathed have lost homes, businesses, and heirlooms. In many communities, the waterlogged destruction is absolute. prgtoken Eastern Kentucky is well known for its steep hilltops, rolling forests, and deep hollers. Those features, which make the region one of the most unique in the country, also create complications for emergency personnel. prgtoken Our heroic first responders, including the National Guard from Kentucky and surrounding States, are working overtime to find and recover stranded residents. They have rescued more than 1,400 individuals since floodwaters hit. Nearly half of the rescues were by air. prgtoken Late last week, I joined with every member of Kentucky's congressional delegation to support the Governor's request to the President for a major disaster declaration to give our first responders Federal help. President issued that declaration promptly, and resources are already flowing into the Commonwealth to assist local emergency personnel. The President called me the other day, as well as Secretary Mayorkas and FEMA Director Criswell. We are deeply grateful to them all for their speedy action. prgtoken Director Criswell traveled to Kentucky last week and has been on the ground assisting with recovery efforts directly. My staff in Southeastern Kentucky are in close touch with local officials in the area, providing all the help we can. I will visit the affected communities myself in the coming days to meet with constituents and offer support. prgtoken Unthinkably painful stories continue to come to us out of Eastern Kentucky. However, we have also heard moving reminders of Kentuckians' selflessness. Last December, the city of Mayfield, in the western part of Kentucky, was devastated by tornadoes. The town lost its fire station in that storm. But despite their own challenges, last week, the Mayfield Fire Department filled an ambulance with equipment and rushed to Eastern Kentucky to aid relief efforts. They didn't have to think twice before helping fellow Kentuckians. prgtoken We saw generosity all across the affected region. Residents with boats, jet skis, and kayaks put their own lives at risk to re
REMEMBERING LIEUTENANT COLONEL ETHYLE E. O'NEAL
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2022-8-1

Oregonians will soon gather to honor an American hero, Ethyle O'Neal. Ethyle will be posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal next month in McMinnville, OR. When the Senate voted to award the medal to Ethyle and her fellow Civil Air Patrol volunteers from WWII, it was with the heroism and devotion to service she embodied in mind. Since I won't be able to attend the ceremony, I want to spend a few minutes today to honor her outstanding legacy, her service, the communities she bettered, and the family she has left behind. prgtoken Born and raised in my hometown, Portland, 14-year-old Ethyle E. Kremers was the first from her high school to volunteer for the Civil Air Patrol, or CAP. With the U.S. military tied up in WWII, the CAP was tasked with patrolling America's borders to detect threats, deter submarine attacks, and protect vital shipping lanes. Ethyle trained as a radio-communicator and support person, as well as taking on the responsibilities of cadet training at dozens of CAP camps across the country. Six years after joining the CAP, Ethyle used her training to single-handedly save the life of a young child and assist in the rescue of four more during the Vanport Flood disaster. For the rescues, she became the first CAP cadet to receive the program's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award. Soon after, Ethyle joined the U.S. Air Force and trained as a medical laboratory assistant at Edwards Air Force Base, where she met her future husband Theodore O'Neal. The two went on to have four wonderful children: Timothy, Ken, Kathy, and Susie. prgtoken After years traveling with her family to Air Force bases around the world, Ethyle returned to Portland. She shortly resumed work with the CAP as commander of the Milwaukie and then Beaverton Cadet Squadrons. Tasked with training new recruits, Ethyle's dedication to the role was matched only by the compassion she showed to her cadets. Her family still remembers Ethyle inviting cadets over to her house to study and practice maneuvers around the dining room. For her service, Ethyle was awarded the CAP's highest award for adult officers, the Gill Robb Wilson Award, and the grade of lieutenant colonel. In addition to training new cadets, Ethyle began flying search and rescue sorties as a mission observer, took the role of director of cadet programs, earning numerous commendations for her work. prgtoken Ethyle was also an active member of her community outside of the CAP. For 13 years, she worked as a bus driver for children with special needs, ensuring education remained accessible for the most vulnerable in society. She also loved teaching local children to fly model rockets. prgtoken A model of selflessness, Ethyle's accomplishments survive her, reminding us that the efforts of a determined few can raise, or even save, the lives of many. Ethyle's success as a woman in the Armed Forces and work with children with special needs inspi
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2022-8-1

I am honored to recognize Deborah Cross of Manchester as July's Granite Stater of the Month. After surviving stage 4 cancer, Deborah used her artistic talents to create photo journals to help other cancer patients process their emotions and find resilience. prgtoken After recovering from endometrial cancer in 2014 and living cancer- free for almost 4 years, Deborah received awful news from her doctor. Her cancer had come back. While Deborah was devastated by the news, she also found solace in a creative outlet that would also help others. prgtoken Deborah began creating booklets with strikingly edited photos of nature in New Hampshire, for example, images of seagulls and ocean sunsets around the New England coast. Below the photos are blank lines where cancer patients can journal. Deborah hopes that the photos can evoke deeper emotions that patients might be struggling with in a time of intense personal hardship. In addition, some of the proceeds from the sales go to the North of Boston Cancer Resource. prgtoken Deborah exemplifies the Granite State spirit of giving back to others and bringing people together even during challenging times. She took an immensely difficult experience--battling with stage 4 cancer--and found her way through it by creating art that would touch others. I commend her for her work and know that her story will inspire others to make a difference in their communities.
ORDERS FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-8-1

. And, finally, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 12 noon on Tuesday, August 2; and that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Hanes nomination postcloture; further, that the Senate recess from 12:30 until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings and that at 2:15 p.m all postcloture time be considered expired and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination; finally, if any nominations are confirmed during Tuesday's session, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be notified of the Senate's action immediately.
Introductory Statement on S. 4688
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2022-8-1

for nearly half a century, the Supreme Court held that the right to make reproductive decisions was protected by the 14th Amendment. Generations of women have relied on the freedom to make reproductive health decisions as a matter of fundamental personal rights. In particular, seminal cases such as Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, Griswold v. Connecticut, Eisenstadt v. Baird, and Carey v. Population Services International established basic rights to obtain abortion services and access contraception. prgtoken The Supreme Court's recent decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health overruled Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, the landmark decisions holding that a woman's right to a pre-viability abortion is constitutionally protected. As the dissenters in Dobbs observed, this right is ``embedded in core constitutional concepts of individual freedom, and of the equal rights of citizens to decide on the shape of their lives.'' The Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs resulted in immediate abortion bans in several States and means that millions of women, particularly women who live in the South, parts of the Midwest, and the West, will live hundreds of miles from the nearest abortion clinic. In fact, approximately 17 million women could be forced to travel more than 200 miles in order to obtain abortion care. prgtoken Not only does the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs upset decades of precedent protecting the right of Americans to make personal decisions about abortion, but it also places in jeopardy many other important 14th Amendment rights, including the right to access birth control. Because the Supreme Court has abandoned constitutional protection of reproductive rights, it is the responsibility of Congress to act. prgtoken That is why Senators Murkowski, Sinema, Collins, and I are introducing the Reproductive Freedom for All Act, bipartisan legislation to guarantee protections for reproductive and contraceptive care by enacting the essential holdings of the landmark cases Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, Griswold v. Connecticut, Eisenstadt v. Baird, and Carey v. Population Services International. The Reproductive Freedom for All Act returns Federal law to its pre-Dobbs status by allowing pre-viability abortions, prohibiting States from banning post- viability abortions necessary to protect the life and health of the mother, and protecting access to contraception. The Reproductive Freedom for All Act creates a minimum Federal standard which states must follow. The bill also ensures that the U.S. Department of Justice or individuals adversely affected by a State abortion restriction can challenge any State restriction on reproductive freedom in court. prgtoken The Supreme Court's overturning of Roe and Casey goes
WELCOMING PAUL DILLARD TO NEW JERSEY
Andy Kim (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-8-2

. Madam , I rise today to welcome Paul E. Dillard, National Commander of The American Legion, as he visits American Legion posts in New Jersey's Third Congressional District. The Commander has a busy schedule across New Jersey, but I am proud that he will be visiting posts in Toms River, Brick, and Seaside Heights. prgtoken Commander Dillard honorably served in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam through four campaigns, including the Tet Offensive. He later received an honorable discharge as a radarman second-class petty officer from the Navy Reserve before attending Grayson County Junior College and East Texas State University. prgtoken As we hope for all of our veterans, Commander Dillard was able to resettle back in his home State of Texas and started a family with his wife, Donna, and a successful insurance business practice focused on employee benefits. prgtoken As a paid-up-for-life member of American Legion Post 265 in Lake Kiowa, Texas, Dillard served as post commander, vice commander, adjutant, and judge advocate. He coached American Legion Baseball for more than 10 years and served as his post's Boys State chairman. Commander Dillard was elected in 2021 and has set a theme of ``No Veteran Left Behind.'' prgtoken Representing a district that has one of the largest concentrations of veterans in the country, serving them and honoring their sacrifice is one of my highest priorities in Congress. The simple promise we make is that if someone steps up to protect us, our families, and our Nation's security, we will have their backs for the rest of their lives. Our country has not always kept this promise, but I look forward to working with Commander Dillard and The American Legion to work for a better future for our veterans and their families so they receive the benefits they have earned. I have no doubt Commander Dillard will enjoy his time visiting with his American Legion family in New Jersey and wish him continued success in his term as National Commander.