mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ISRAEL
Ted Cruz (Republican, TX) \u2014 2023-10-18

I rise today as Israel is at war. They are at war in response to a genocidal assault by the Iran terrorist group Hamas, an assault against Israel and against America and against the citizens of dozens of other countries. prgtoken The numbers are staggering: over 1,400 Israelis killed, thousands more wounded and tortured, over 199 kidnapped--alongside them, 30 Americans killed and about a dozen kidnapped, by far one of the deadliest attacks against Americans in history. And so our Israeli allies are rightly going to war to eradicate Hamas. prgtoken We often hear that Israel and the United States share the same interests and the same enemies, that when Israel fights for its own security, they are also fighting for ours. Rarely in history has that been so explicitly, horribly true. prgtoken And let us be clear about what they are fighting against. What we saw on October 7, in the early hours of Saturday, October 7, was pure evil unleashed, genocidal, exterminationist violence, Nazi tactics in pursuit of Nazi aims. Entire Israeli families were murdered in door-to- door horrors. Israeli babies were brutally slaughtered, burned, and decapitated. Women and young girls were systematically raped. prgtoken In some homes, children were shot right in front of their parents. In other homes, parents were shot right in front of their children, and then the children were kidnapped--husbands and wives murdered in front of each other, holocaust survivors massacred. In one home, Israelis found the burned remains of an adult and a child who died hugging each other in terror as they were murdered. They were burned to death, clutching each other in their home. And throughout these atrocities, Hamas terrorists gleefully filmed themselves in ecstatic joy. There are harrowing videos of Israeli babies and toddlers in the hands of Hamas terrorists after they were kidnapped. prgtoken Why were these crimes committed? Because the victims were Jews in Israel, because Hamas and the Iranian regime--which arms, funds, and controls Hamas--because both are committed to the eradication of Jews. It was the biggest mass murder of the Jewish people in a single day since the Holocaust. prgtoken At the Supernova music festival--which was billed as a celebration of friends, love, and infinite freedom--young Israelis were dancing when Hamas assassins paraglided in, raining terror from the skies. They shot at defenseless Israelis, murdering 260 of them. They systematically raped survivors. They shot those who were too brutalized to be moved, and they kidnapped others. prgtoken At kibbutz Be'eri, 120 people were murdered. Hamas terrorists infiltrated the kibbutz from several directions, and they went home by home murdering people. prgtoken One of the victims was Tom Hand's 8-year-old daughter Emily, who was at a sleepover with her friends. Tom is a single father. His wife, Emily's mom, had passed away earlier from cancer. On that Saturday mor
HONORING ALVARADOSMITH AND FROST BROWN TODD LLC
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-10-18

. Pro Tempore, I rise today to honor AlvaradoSmith and Frost Brown Todd LLC, and to congratulate these two law firms on their recent merger. AlvaradoSmith is a community staple in my district, and I am delighted to see their growth and to welcome Frost Brown Todd LLC into the California market. prgtoken AlvaradoSmith was started by two college friends, Salinas Alvarado and Ruben Smith, a Santa Ana native. After completing their studies, both went their separate ways and took on roles for big law firms. It was not until eight years later, in the 1980s, that a phone call about their common interests brought Alvarado and Smith back together to start their new firm. prgtoken AlvaradoSmith prides itself in not only helping clients in the United States, but also extending its services to clients across the border. Their offices might have only been in Santa Ana and San Francisco prior to their merger with Frost Brown Todd LLC, but they have always made it their goal to help anyone who is in need. prgtoken Frost Brown Todd LLC was founded in Cincinnati in 1919, and now is made up of 545 attorneys spread across the country. With this merger, Frost Brown Todd LLC will now be able to offer expertise on a range of topics--from real estate, energy, and infrastructure to litigation, employment, financial institutions, and international matters--to a whole new market already familiar with AlvaradoSmith's service. prgtoken Frost Brown Todd LLC and AlvaradoSmith stand for character, diversity, equity, teamwork, and hard work. With their merging, their combined clientele now has access to 575 attorneys in 16 offices across the United States. prgtoken Pro Tempore, please join me in congratulating AlvaradoSmith on this merger and welcoming Frost Brown Todd LLC to our Orange County community.
RECOGNIZING REV. FREDDIE BANKS' SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2023-10-18

. Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize Reverend Freddie Banks, the Pastor of New Testament Baptist Church in Ypsilanti, Michigan, on the occasion of his retirement. For the last 40 years, the leadership he has displayed for his congregation and his greater community is worthy of commendation. prgtoken Reverend Banks was born in 1937 in Merigold, Mississippi. His family would later move to Ypsilanti, Michigan where he graduated from Ypsilanti High School in 1957. Shortly thereafter in 1959, Reverand Banks married his wonderful wife, Evelyn. Their legacy now includes 4 children, 6 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. prgtoken Reverend Banks began his journey with the St. John Missionary Church of Ypsilanti in 1965. There he served as Sunday School superintendent, President of the Usher Board, and Chairman of the Deacon Board. He would preach his first sermon in September 1977 and was ordained as Assistant Pastor in 1978. Reverend Banks attended classes at the Detroit Bible College, later the William Tyndale Bible College, where he graduated in 1984. prgtoken Reverend Banks went on to serve at St. Mary Baptist Church in 1983 as their Assistant Pastor. Later, he was called to preach at Fellowship of Believers, which was later named New Testament Missionary Baptist Church. His service to the community includes execution of marriage ceremonies, providing marriage counseling, and providing funeral services. prgtoken Pro Tempore, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing and celebrating the lifetime of work that Reverend Freddie Banks has been kind enough to share with us. He has spent his entire life in the service of others, and though he may be stepping down from the pulpit, we will be sure to feel his influence for years to come.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-10-18

. Now, , the slaughter of over 1,300 people in Israel on October 7 reminds every Jewish person in the world of darker, more sinister times. It lay bare, sadly, that the ancient poison of hatred against Jews still persists. prgtoken We must be clear that Hamas does not speak for the Palestinian people. Hamas is a terrorist organization dedicated to Israel's eradication. Hamas must be defeated. And the violence of Hamas terrorists has tragically put innocent Palestinians in harm's way. prgtoken I was deeply saddened and shocked by the awful news of the explosion at the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza. The loss of innocent life is a sickening tragedy. My prayers are with the victims, the families, the children, and all innocent people who were injured or killed. prgtoken Now, while we await the results of a full review to be completed, as the President indicated and as of this morning--people should look at this--the released signal intelligence confirms, it appears that terrorist fighters within Gaza were responsible for the explosion and deaths, not the Israeli IDF. It is clear that terrorists in Gaza have no regard for civilian human life. prgtoken As I have said, and as the administration has made clear, civilian life must be protected. And we must help civilians impacted by the war--Palestinian civilians--who have nothing to do with Hamas. As the Senate considers a supplemental package to help Israel fight Hamas, we will include robust humanitarian aid to help civilians and make sure that the aid goes to those who need it urgently and does not fall into the wrong hands, such as Hamas's. prgtoken When I joined my Senate colleagues in meeting with the Israeli Government, we promised to do whatever we could to help Israel defend herself. prgtoken In the coming days, President will send Congress a supplemental request that will provide Israel the resources they need to defend themselves and eliminate the threat of Hamas. prgtoken The Senate will move this package as soon as we can, without delay, with strong bipartisan support. want to act, and I know a lot of s want to act, and I was very encouraged to hear my friend the leader, Leader McConnell, express his support too. prgtoken At this moment of crisis in Israel and of the chaos in the House of Representatives, the Senate must step into the breach and stand firmly together to get emergency military and humanitarian aid to Israel. prgtoken In this difficult moment, the Senate must act as a steady, bipartisan force. We must show that the work of the first branch of government is continuing. prgtoken We will not wait for the House--we cannot--because the need for this package is too urgent to sit and wait for them to get themselves out of their own morass. I hope the Senate passing a strong bipartisan package will importune the House to follow suit in whichever way they see fit. prgtoken Passing this supplemental and
S. 3041
Joe Manchin, III (Democrat, WV) \u2014 2023-10-18

on October 17, 2023, in a speech offered by Mr. Cotton on the Senate floor, Mr. Cotton erroneously indicated that I was not a cosponsor to S. 3041, a bill to reinstate certain sanctions imposed with respect to Iran. Prior to Mr. Cotton's speech on October 17, 2023, I requested to be added as a cosponsor to S. 3041 and was added on that same day. Please let the Congressional Record reflect this.
U.S. SUPREME COURT
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2023-10-18

I am rising today for the 25th time to address the multifaceted dark money scheme to capture and control our Supreme Court. We will look today at how the creepy billionaires who captured the Supreme Court get their message through to the Justices they helped plant there. prgtoken That, of course, is the last leg of the capture operation. First, you have the so-called Federalist Society list, purportedly created by the Federalist Society for former President to pick Supreme Court Justices from. Bad enough if that were true--a secretive, anonymously funded, private group picking Supreme Court Justices while accepting big, secret contributions. What could possibly go wrong? But it is actually worse. The Federalist Society can show no official process to cook up the list--no agenda item, no vote, no nothing. It was done in some back room secretly by the Federalist Society's Leonard Leo, the operative of the creepy billionaires who fund this endeavor. prgtoken The Federalist Society did let use the ``Federalist Society'' name for cover on the list, as if it was their list, but it wasn't. prgtoken After that step, the fake list, came the billionaire-funded campaign to get the Senate to confirm the Federalist Society Justices. This part of the operation ran through another dark money front group, the Judicial Crisis Network, conveniently located just down the hall--in the same building, on the same floor--from the Federalist Society. ``Judicial Crisis Network'' is the fictitious name for yet another dark money front group. And, of course, millions in dark money were poured into Senate political coffers from the same billionaires, and--no surprise-- Senators voted to confirm even deeply troubled Justices, and now there they sit on the Court. prgtoken So let's say you are a billionaire who funded all of this. You have your handpicked Justices on the Supreme Court. How are they supposed to remember what you want? Well, easy--you tell them. prgtoken Queue the front groups that file briefs at the Supreme Court as amici curiae--Latin for ``friends of the court.'' They file them in coordinated flotillas, usually of about a dozen. But where it is a really big deal to the dark money billionaires, they have sent in more than 50 of these briefs. prgtoken In the case where it was over 50, it was at the certiorari stage, early in the proceedings, to make sure the chosen Justices got the message. That case was Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta. It was about disclosing donors behind dark money front groups. After the deluge of over 50 front group amici, the Federalist Society Justices let nonprofits--known as 501(c)(3)s--hide their donors even from sovereign States where they operate and which have a responsibility to police them for fraudulent abuse of the tax system. prgtoken This decision added more secrecy to the latest and greatest secret political influence techn
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2023-10-18

we have a longstanding adult literacy crisis that affects the quality of life for individuals and families and holds our economy back. It is time for a major expansion of adult education. Today, I am proud to introduce bipartisan legislation--the Adult Education Workforce Opportunity and Reskilling for Knowledge and Success Act, or the Adult Education WORKS Act--with my colleague Senator Young. prgtoken Adult education provides numeracy, literacy, digital literacy, English language skills, work readiness, soft skills, high school equivalency, and numerous wraparound services to millions of adult learners nationwide. These essential skills can make the difference between earning a family-sustaining wage and struggling to make ends meet. A study commissioned by the Barbara Foundation estimated that getting all U.S. adults to the equivalent of a sixth-grade reading level would generate an additional $2.2 trillion in annual income for the country. Without the opportunities provided through adult education programs, many adults will be left on the sidelines. prgtoken Estimates from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, PIACC, indicate that 43 million adults are low-skilled in literacy and 63 million are low-skilled in numeracy. Building a sustainable economy that truly works for everyone is going to require helping these individuals acquire the basic skills they need to succeed. Unfortunately, we are reaching only a fraction of these individuals today. PIACC data show that 23 to 30 percent of working-age adults with low literacy or numeracy skills wanted to participate in adult education but were unable to do so. The Department of Education calculates that this means there are up to 16 million adults seeking education opportunities from programs that currently serve fewer than 1 million individuals. prgtoken In my home State of Rhode Island, there are over 61,000 adults who could benefit from English language instruction and over 64,000 working-age adults without a high school credential. Yet, under current funding levels, the adult education program serves just over 4,500 individuals. prgtoken The Adult Education WORKS Act provides a roadmap for addressing this crisis. It calls for increased resources, doubling funding for adult education by 2029. At the same time, it makes significant improvements to the adult education system. It calls for a new emphasis on digital and information literacy, which are essential for success in the workplace and in navigating everyday life. It enhances the role of adult education providers, with a special focus on public libraries and community-based organizations throughout the workforce development system, ensuring coordination and efficient use of resources. It invests in the professionalization of the adult education field, strengthening State certification policies, encouraging full-time staffing models, and expanding pr
TRIBUTE TO STANLEY S. FINE
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-10-18

on October 26, the University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business Real Estate and Economic Development Advisory Board are hosting their annual ``Lessons from Legends'' celebration. This prgtoken year's honoree is my dearest friend, Stanley S. Fine, a partner at Rosenberg Martin Greenberg, LLP. Stanley is indeed a legend. As the announcement of the celebration notes, ``The city's skyline and neighborhoods highlight Stanley's vast impact on Baltimore; from office buildings to shopping centers and local businesses, from industrial buildings and office parks to neighborhood restaurants and pickleball courts.'' As his lifelong friend and law partner Ben Rosenberg has said, ``Wherever you look at bright spots in Baltimore, chances are you'll see something that Stanley has helped bring about.'' Stanley and Ben went through grade school, college--Johns Hopkins University--law school--the University of Maryland School of Law--and service in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve together. prgtoken My wife Myrna and I have known Stanley since we were all in junior high school together. For us, it is a family affair: Stanley's wife Bailey ran my reelection campaign to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1982 and then served as my campaign aide during my first congressional race in 1986; as my district director for 20 years; and, finally, as my State director during my first term in the Senate before she retired at the end of 2012. This couple has devoted their lives to strengthening our community and helping those in need. Stanley and Bailey will be celebrating their 52nd wedding anniversary on November 28. They have two lovely adult children Michael and Laura and four grandchildren. Michael and his wife Whitney have two daughters Riley and Blakely; Laura and her husband Ben Liebman have two sons Eli and Brooks. prgtoken If I were to recite all of Stanley's accomplishments and awards, I would surely run out of breath. But I will mention a few: recipient of the Baltimore District Council of the Urban Land Institute's--ULI--2016 Lifetime Achievement Award; cofounder of the Baltimore Development Workgroup; director of the Maryland State Lottery Agency and chairman of the Maryland State Lottery Commission; former member of the Baltimore City Planning Commission; and president of a community association. Best Lawyers in America magazine has repeatedly recognized Stanley as ``Land Use & Zoning Lawyer of the Year.'' Baltimore Magazine has repeatedly recognized Stanley as one of ``Maryland's Super Lawyers.'' prgtoken Stanley's brilliance as a lawyer merely followed his brilliance as an athlete. While he was a freshman at Johns Hopkins University, he played in the first game of Baltimore's box lacrosse league, televised live in 1962, and scored a game-high four goals for his club team, which won the game. He had a wicked left-handed shot. At the university, he was the backbone of a tenacious midfield for the Blue Jay
RECOGNIZING KATHLEEN "KATHY" M. DAVIS
Chris Pappas (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2023-10-18

. Pro Tempore, I rise today in recognition of Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt.) Kathleen Davis, who passed away earlier this month. An Air Force veteran, a loving wife and mother, and a strong, determined woman, Kathy Davis embodies the values of personal perseverance and pure patriotism. Her selfless dedication to her family, our state, and our nation speaks to the courage and conviction she brought to the uniform and to our community. Today, we honor the life of Kathy Davis, recognizing her spirit of service and sacrifice. prgtoken Born and raised in Dover, New Hampshire, Kathy spent her life in service to others. After starting her career at the Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, Kathy made her return to the Granite State, working at Pease Air National Guard Base in Portsmouth. For 30 years, Kathy served as a member of the United States Air Force, continuously challenging herself to improve, encouraging others to work hard, and offering support to members of her own community. After retiring from the military, Kathy and her husband Michael moved down south to the Carolinas. Persistent and hard-working, Kathy used her retirement to go back to school and earn her certificate as a personal trainer. In her final days, Kathy returned home to New Hampshire, spending her time in the Lakes Region of Meredith. prgtoken Kathy will be fondly remembered for her strength and support by all those who knew her across the state and around the country. I want to commend Kathy on her legacy of service, and I want to offer my sincere condolences to her husband, children, parents, and the large network of family and loved ones that will continue to uphold her memory. On behalf of the constituents of New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I thank Kathy for her many years of service to our state and Nation.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. RES. 413
Peter Welch (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2023-10-18

reserving the right to object, I want to make it very clear that there are 100 Members of the U.S. Senate who absolutely condemn the brutal attack by Hamas on innocent Israeli citizens; that absolutely condemn the kidnapping of Israeli citizens and some Americans; who absolutely condemn the vicious ``kill Jews'' philosophy of Hamas. And all of us have an opportunity--which I think all of us are going to take--to stand by Israel when it comes to going after Hamas. prgtoken I hope all of us are also going to do everything we can to encourage that every precaution that can be taken to protect innocent Palestinians be taken because they, too, have been kidnapped by Hamas, who cynically use them as human shields. prgtoken But I read the resolution of my colleague from Florida. This is not about enforcing the existing law. This is about compromising a constitutional right that Americans have enjoyed since the inception of our country. It is the First Amendment. prgtoken And it may be something that people in this body may object to, but when a person is in the United States, they enjoy the protections of our magnificent founding document to be free from unlawful searches and seizures and, certainly, to be able to say things that we may find repugnant. There have been many things that have been said that are repugnant. prgtoken But at a time of maximum stress--and we are in that right now--is when there is the maximum stress to compromise the right we have enjoyed of free speech protected by the First Amendment since the founding of our country. prgtoken And we have had some recent experience with this. After 9/11 and the trauma that our Nation experienced with the loss of over 3,000 wonderful people--in the Twin Towers, at the Pentagon, in Pennsylvania--there was a call to go after groups, to compromise rights. In hindsight, in those times when we did do the wrong thing, because we harmed innocent people in our anger--our justified anger, by the way--we don't want to do that again. prgtoken So this resolution--however my colleague wants to characterize it--is about what happens in this country. This may be something my colleague disagrees with, but when a person is in this country, they enjoy the benefits of our Constitution and the right of free speech. I stand for free speech. prgtoken My preference is that we focus on doing the things that this U.S. Senate can do to help Israel go after Hamas, to help all of the innocent Palestinians who seek to live in peace have that opportunity to do so. prgtoken I object. prgtoken .
ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2023-10-18

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 19; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for later in the day, and that the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.