mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IN SUPPORT OF BIPARTISAN BURN PIT AMENDMENTS
Raul Ruiz (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-12

. Madam , I rise in support of three amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act which include language from three of my bills, the Burn Pits Registry Enhancement Act, the Reducing Exposure to Burn Pits Act, and the Toxic Exposure Education for Servicemembers Act. prgtoken All three of these amendments are bipartisan here in the House as well as in the Senate. I thank my partners and friends here in the House, Congressmen Wenstrup and Bilirakis. prgtoken Fighting to ensure our veterans get the care and benefits they have earned and deserve has always been, still is, and will always be a priority of mine. prgtoken Additionally, all three of these amendments are endorsed by the major veterans service organizations, including Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, and the Wounded Warrior Project. All three amendments will help care for servicemembers exposed to toxic burn pits. prgtoken Amendment 460 is my Burn Pits Registry Enhancement Act. It would allow veterans in the burn pit registry to designate someone to update the registry with their cause of death. This data is crucial to further identify the vast array of illnesses that are causing burn pit-exposed servicemembers and veterans to die, and it will help doctors recognize early symptoms of life-threatening conditions and save lives. prgtoken The next amendment, 464, is my Reducing Exposure to Burn Pits Act. It would require the Department of Defense to submit a report to Congress on what the cost would be to get rid of the use of burn pits. This amendment will get us one step closer to ending the use of dangerous and toxic burn pits to prevent illness. prgtoken Finally, amendment 503 is my Toxic Exposure Education for Servicemembers Act. It would require the Department of Defense to establish a new risk assessment for toxic exposure for servicemembers who are assigned to work near toxic burn pits. This amendment would also require the Department of Defense to establish an outreach program to inform servicemembers about the harms associated with working near toxic exposures. prgtoken These three amendments all aim to save lives and help prevent exposure to toxic burn pits. They do this by requesting the collection of data in the hopes of catching associated illnesses and conditions faster, educating our servicemembers on the harms associated with them, and forging a path forward to end their use. prgtoken I have fought for years to bring attention to this issue and its devastating toll on our Nation's servicemembers and their families. Time and time again, I have come before this body to tell the stories of those whose lives were devastated and forever changed by burn pits. prgtoken I have told the story of Jennifer Kepner, an Air Force veteran from Cathedral City in my district. Jennifer was an otherwise healthy mother of two who lost her courageous battle with pancreatic cancer likely caused by her exposure
NOMINATION OF TIFFANY M. CARTWRIGHT
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-7-12

today, the Senate will vote to confirm Tiffany Cartwright to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. prgtoken Ms. Cartwright is an accomplished litigator who has dedicated her career to protecting the civil rights of all Americans. She received her Bachelor's degree from Stanford University and her law degree from Stanford Law School. prgtoken Ms. Cartwright began her legal career as a law clerk--first with Justice Dana Fabe on the Alaska Supreme Court, and then with Judge Betty Fletcher on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Most recently, she has worked as a trial lawyer at MacDonald Hoague & Bayless, where she has handled a number of cases on issues ranging from employee discrimination to voting rights. prgtoken In addition to her litigation practice, since 2016, Ms. Cartwright has served on the Local Rules Committee of the Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington, a role in which she has gained significant expertise in the District's rules and practices. prgtoken The American Bar Association has unanimously rated Ms. Cartwright ``Qualified,'' and she has the strong support of Senators Murray and Cantwell. prgtoken Given her considerable trial experience and deep knowledge of the Western District, Ms. Cartwright will be an excellent addition to the federal bench. prgtoken I strongly support her nomination and urge my colleagues to join me in voting for her confirmation.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-7-12

I am proposing the ``last servicemember standing service medal.'' prgtoken , I have the privilege and responsibility to share the story of the late, great American soldier Sergeant John Eade of Toledo, Ohio. prgtoken In 1965, at aged 21, he deployed to la Drang Valley, Vietnam, as fire team leader in 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Air Cavalry Regiment. prgtoken On November 14, the single deadliest day for American forces of the war, Sergeant Eade and his team became pinned down by the Vietcong due to terrible intelligence. prgtoken By the end of that bloody day and night, he was the only surviving member of his platoon, sustaining shrapnel wounds to his legs, struck by napalm, and shot in the shoulder and abdomen. He was wounded by grenades that affected his walking for the rest of his life. His face was terribly wounded, resulting in the loss of his eye, injuries that he dealt with his entire life. prgtoken He refused to withdraw, repeatedly exposing himself to the onslaught to hold the southwestern flank. prgtoken Regrettably, the Department of Defense has yet to appropriately honor his valor and those of other soldiers who gave everything to this country with a Distinguished Service Cross because there were no witnesses to attest to his sheer heroism. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support a last servicemember standing medal that would recognize not just Sergeant Eade but all of America's greatest soldiers who continue to fight for their country against enemy forces even as every one of their squad mates gave their lives. prgtoken Please support the last servicemember standing award. I am grateful for the time allowed today.
HONORING LINDA F. DAVIS
Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat, MS) \u2014 2023-7-12

I rise today to honor a tenacious and self-motivated leader, Linda F. Davis. She has shown what can be done through hard work, dedication, and a desire to achieve. prgtoken Day of Caring is a community event that allows various groups and organizations to come together for a day and help different local organizations. Davis volunteered at United Way of West Central Mississippi's Day of Caring this past April. She is also the Vicksburg Post Volunteer of the week. prgtoken Davis is a 39-year employee at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station supporting the Engineering Department. She has a daughter named Johnalynn, and in her free time, she enjoys volunteering, traveling, watching television and family time. prgtoken , I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Linda F. Davis for her passion and dedication to the Vicksburg Warren Community.
Business Before the Senate (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-7-12

I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, if cloture is invoked on the Kotagal nomination, all postcloture time be considered expired at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 13; further, that if cloture is invoked on the Uhlmann nomination, all postcloture time be considered expired and the vote on the confirmation be at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the leader; further, that following the cloture vote on the Uhlmann nomination, the Senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; further, that at 1:45 p.m the Senate proceed to executive session to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Bloomekatz nomination.
Introductory Statement on S. 2253
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-12

I rise to speak in support of the Fairness for Farmworkers Act, which I am reintroducing today. prgtoken Farmworkers feed our Nation. This is especially true in California, the agricultural heart of the Nation. California prgtoken is the most successful State in agricultural production and has the largest population of farmworkers. In fact, more than one-third of our country's vegetables and two-thirds of fruits and nuts come from California. During COVID-19, a time of incredible hardship, farmworkers put food on the tables of millions of Americans despite working in extreme conditions and facing deep-rooted inequities in the workforce. The time to address these inequities is now. prgtoken While the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act established Federal standards for minimum wage and overtime pay, the law excluded millions of domestic and agricultural workers, who were overwhelmingly people of color. In 2016, California recognized the need to provide farmworkers overtime protection. The California overtime law, which ensures farmworkers will have an equal right to overtime pay, is the same model as this Federal bill. prgtoken Farmworkers in California and across the Nation deserve an end to discrimination in labor laws. We must undo the discriminatory exclusion of farmworkers by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act. prgtoken That is why I am proud to introduce this bill, which will improve the lives of farmworkers and their families, create equity in our food system, and benefit farming communities as the increased wages are spent in local businesses. prgtoken This bill will gradually implement overtime pay over the course of 4 years and bring greater equity to the American agricultural industry to greater prosperity to historically marginalized workers. prgtoken This legislation will also boost farming community economies as increased wages are spent in local businesses. prgtoken I want to thank Congressman Grijalva for introducing this bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us in support of this bill that would provide a measure of long overdue fairness for our Nation's farmworkers.
Introductory Statement on S. 2269
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-7-12

I rise today to introduce the Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2023 and thank my colleague Senator Padilla for joining as an original cosponsor. prgtoken Our bill would allow the U.S. Forest Service to approve removal of hazardous trees near power lines on Federal forest lands without a timber sale, thereby reducing administrative burden and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire. prgtoken Californians are all too familiar with the potential for electrical power lines to cause devastating wildfires. Three of the largest and most destructive wildfires in California history--the 2017 Thomas Fire, the 2018 Camp Fire, and the 2021 Dixie Fire--were started by electrical equipment. Together, these wildfires burned more than 1.2 million acres, destroyed more than 15,000 homes, and killed 87 people. prgtoken When power lines cross Federal land, the Forest Service generally requires utility companies to keep the area around them free of trees that could touch or fall on the lines or otherwise ignite. Removing those cut trees, however, requires the Forest Service to hold a timber sale, which imposes administrative costs. Meanwhile, cut trees often linger on the landscape, posing a continued risk of igniting during a wildfire or damaging other infrastructure during a flood. prgtoken Our bill would make targeted changes to existing Forest Service authorities to encourage quicker and less costly removal of the trees. Specifically, we would allow the Secretary of Agriculture to grant utilities permission to cut and remove trees or other vegetation near their power lines without a separate timber sale, provided that that removal is consistent with existing forest management plans. prgtoken Included in this legislation is a requirement that any proceeds obtained from timber or forest products removed under this authority be returned to the Forest Service. This removes any financial incentive to remove trees other than those necessary for wildfire mitigation. After all, the goal is to streamline actions that protect against devastating wildfires--protecting, not removing, our Nation's forests. prgtoken Congress has an opportunity this year to make this small change to Forest Service authorities to ensure better stewardship of our national forests and prevent catastrophic wildfires. I thank Senator Padilla for his partnership on this bill, and I urge the full Senate to take it up and and pass it as soon as possible.
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF GEORGE M. HAMPTON
Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2023-7-12

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Dr. George M. Hampton. prgtoken Dr. Hampton passed away late last month at the age of 95, and I was honored to have met this stalwart Virginia leader. prgtoken In the days since his passing, I have heard directly from many in the Prince William County community about his outsized role in standing up for fair political representation. I have heard about his service as a mentor to the next generation of leaders, and the community has celebrated what a dedicated man he was in his professional and personal life to the service of others in his community. prgtoken Dr. Hampton truly lived his values, one of which was education. He received his bachelor of science degree from North Carolina A&T University, a master of science degree from Virginia State University, and a doctorate of arts in education from the University of Central Arizona. prgtoken Dr. Hampton then dedicated himself to educating the next generation as an adjunct professor of psychology at the Far East Division of the University of Maryland, as well as an adjunct professor of human relations at Pepperdine University. prgtoken Dr. Hampton also valued service to country. He served for more than two decades in the United States Army, fulfilling various command and staff assignments and spending 4 years as an assistant professor of military science at Virginia State University. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Army Commendation Medal during his military service. He retired from the Army in 1971 as a lieutenant colonel. prgtoken Following his retirement from the military, Dr. Hampton held many positions that allowed him to have a hand in shaping future leaders, both within and outside of military service. One such role was as codirector of the Marine Corps Leadership and Human Relations Institute in San Diego, California, where he helped train leadership instructors for the formal schools at Quantico, in Virginia's Seventh District, and other major installations. prgtoken Throughout decades of service to the Commonwealth of Virginia, Dr. Hampton was appointed by both and s to hold various notable positions. In 1982, Governor Charles Robb appointed him to the Virginia Parole Board. Reappointed by Governor Gerald Baliles, he served on this board until 1990. In 1995, Governor George Allen appointed him to a 4-year term on the State Board of Elections, where he served as vice chairman until January 1999. prgtoken In July 2003, then-Governor Mark Warner appointed him as a member of the Board of Visitors at Virginia State University, where he served until July 2007. He was also a member of the Virginia State University Foundation. prgtoken Dr. Hampton was appointed to serve on the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Citizens Advisory Council, as well as the Prince William County representative to the Board of Directors of Northern Virginia Community College. prgtoken
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Jon Ossoff (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2023-7-12

I rise to commend Rev. Dr. Kenneth B. Martin of Antioch Baptist Church in Augusta on his retirement and lifelong service to the Augusta community. prgtoken For 37 years, Rev. Martin has led a life of service and devotion as Antioch Baptist Church's longest serving pastor. He also served as a former president of the 10th district of General Missionary Baptist Convention. Under his leadership and spiritual guidance, the Antioch Baptist Church community has been able to establish more than 30 ministries that give members of the community access to vital transportation, nutrition, and healthcare services. Rev. Martin has made it his mission to serve those around him, and his inspiring work, rooted in spiritual growth and development, has transformed the lives of many in his community. prgtoken As Georgia's U.S. Senator, I commend and recognize Rev. Dr. Kenneth B. Martin for his service to the Augusta community and the State of Georgia and join his family, friends, congregation, and the entire community in celebrating his retirement.
Military Promotions (Executive Session)
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2023-7-12

I rise today to talk about a crisis in our military leadership driven by one of my Senate colleague's decision to place a blanket hold on now more than 250 apolitical nominations of senior military officers. The senior Senator from Alabama has done so. These 250 military nominations are soon to be joined by another 400 or so, which would mean that 650 individuals who volunteered to wear the uniform of this country and to defend the country, even at risk of their own lives, are being blocked in their professional advancement by a Senator punishing them for something they had nothing to do with-- nothing to do with. prgtoken The Senator is concerned about a policy of the Pentagon's that would allow women servicemembers who cannot obtain reproductive healthcare where they are deployed or assigned to travel to other places to receive that care. prgtoken That is currently the way we treat members of the military. If they are assigned at a base in the United States or elsewhere and they need medical care that they cannot obtain where they are assigned, they are able to travel to seek that care. But because the Pentagon, in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision, has said that longstanding policy allowing travel would also apply to women troops seeking reproductive healthcare, the Senator from Alabama has taken the drastic, radical, extreme, unusual step of saying he will block confirmation and approval of now hundreds of our military officers. prgtoken I am a member of the Armed Services Committee. I have a child who is a U.S. marine. I want to take the floor today to talk about how destructive this policy is and ask the minority in the Senate to drop this opposition, stop punishing people who are patriotically serving this country. prgtoken To be clear, my colleague who has placed a hold on these individuals has stated no challenge with their qualifications. And to be clear, my colleague who has placed a hold on these nominations has never suggested that they had anything to do with the policy he disagrees with. He is just using them as targets because he is dissatisfied with the way the Pentagon is operating. prgtoken There is a right way and a wrong way to do this. Before I get to the right way to raise the issue, let me talk about what this means when you are a member of the military and you have your career delayed because a Member of this body decides to hold you up so that you cannot be promoted. prgtoken Many of the promotions and appointments in the military that we are obligated to vote on in the Senate occur during the summer. The transition times occur during the summer. Why? Because this is the time, when someone prgtoken gets a promotion and they move, where they can move with their families--sometimes across the country, sometimes across the world--at a time when they can then maybe look for a new place to live or a new school for their children to attend. prgtoken When you are
IT IS TIME TO END THE BLOCKADE OF MILITARY APPOINTMENTS
Jeff Jackson (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2023-7-12

. Madam , a Senator from Alabama is now many months into a blockade of all the generals and admirals in our military who are scheduled to advance in their leadership. This is no longer just a political statement from him. This is a national security issue for all of us. prgtoken He has taken a personal crusade and made it an impediment to our entire prgtoken military. We are at 250 nominations blocked so far. By the end of this year, it will be 650. prgtoken These are our military's top leaders. The notion that all of these positions should remain vacant because one Senator objects to the Defense Department's travel policy regarding servicemembers who get an abortion is a perfect example of letting culture war politics impact our military. prgtoken This year, we have been treated to countless speeches about whether politics has infected our military and whether that has impacted its readiness. Now, the single clearest example of culture war politics colliding with our military is this blockade of our top military leaders, a blockade built by one man in defense not of our Nation but of his politics on the issue of abortion. prgtoken The clearest price yet was paid this week as the leader of the Marine Corps retired and then Congress tried to replace him with his appointed successor, General Eric Smith, and the Senator from Alabama blocked that replacement. The Marine Corps is now without a confirmed leader for the first time since 1910. prgtoken Up next, we have several members of the Joint Chiefs with scheduled retirements, including the Chair of the Joint Chiefs. Half of those positions will be vacant by the end of this year if the Senator from Alabama decides to maintain his blockade. prgtoken Asked about this, the Senator from Alabama expresses indifference. He says everything will be fine. He is wrong. We have leaders in place for a reason. When they are not there and crisis strikes, we get chaos. prgtoken We are the world's most powerful Nation, and when one Senator chooses to sideline hundreds of nominations for military leaders, he chooses to reduce our power knowingly, willfully, and in the face of our enemies who are delighted by the self-inflicted wound. prgtoken When in doubt, act in a way that frustrates your enemy. This does the opposite. prgtoken I respect everyone's sincere beliefs on matters of culture and policy. That does not extend to respecting any and all tactics in pursuit of those goals. Those who disagree with the Defense Department, as the Senator does, do their cause a disservice by adopting extreme tactics that carry with them such collateral damage. prgtoken The Senator from Alabama is in his first term in Congress, as I am. He is in the minority party in his Chamber, as I am. I have lost several battles here. I will lose several more. But when you can't get something done that you very much care about, how you conduct yourself in that moment matters. Even people who don't follow politics e