mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
INFRASTRUCTURE
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-3-9

so many cities and towns across America have the story of a segment of highway or a railroad track that cuts ruthlessly through neighborhoods. These neighborhoods may not have been affluent, but they supported vibrant, tight-knit, supportive communities with cherished homes, schools, and small businesses. prgtoken Backed with Federal funding, these highways and other massive infrastructure projects tore these neighborhoods apart and left them an enduring legacy of exclusion and diminished opportunity. To be sure, these infrastructure projects were intended to serve a purpose, and they did serve a purpose--transportation, of a particular sort. For families who could afford a car and a house in the suburbs, highways were built to whisk people in and out of our urban downtowns, without regard for the people and the communities remaining in those downtowns. prgtoken In the most benign cases, these projects were designed without care or sensitivity to the people they left behind and excluded. In the worst cases, the outcome of suppression and exclusion of people of color was, in fact, deliberate. prgtoken It is time to confront our legacy of racism and exclusion in infrastructure development and promote the next generation of infrastructure that heals, unifies, and reconnects--an infrastructure of inclusion, not division. prgtoken Thankfully, under President 's leadership and the direction of Congress, we are doing just that. President has affirmed and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing equity and combating systemic racism through two Executive orders. prgtoken The first Executive order, which was signed on the first day in his office, said: The Federal Government should pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. Affirmatively advancing equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity is the responsibility of the whole of our Government. prgtoken The Executive order he signed just last month acknowledges that we have so much work to do. It says: [M]embers of underserved communities--many of whom have endured generations of discrimination and disinvestment-- still confront significant barriers to realizing the full promise of our great Nation, and the Federal Government has a responsibility to remove these barriers. prgtoken How to remove these barriers. prgtoken These barriers exist in a metaphoric sense, but sometimes they are concrete--literally. Baltimore City has dealt with the enduring legacy of its own ``highway to nowhere.'' This project is on the Franklin- Mulberry corridor in West Baltimore. It started as a way to get drivers out of the city quickly. Although the city never completed the project, a 1.4-mile stretch of highway contained
GROWING THREATS AND HARMS FROM THE RIGHTWING JUDICIARY
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-3-9

thank you for allowing us to address the floor this evening, and thank you to the Congressional Progressive Caucus for holding this Special Order hour. prgtoken I rise today on behalf of the millions of Americans whose student loan debt balances are at risk of escalating due to the rightwing reactionary judiciary. prgtoken Hundreds of borrowers from across the country gathered in front of the Supreme Court on February 28 to express their discontentment. West Palm Beach resident Kayla shared: I think President 's loan forgiveness plan is a good thing for college students who don't have funds to pay for college. Indeed, this is a good thing. prgtoken One important aspect of the debt relief program is that it addresses the unequal burden that student debt has placed on borrowers of color. prgtoken , 40.2 percent of White undergraduate students use student loan debt to pay for their school, while 50 percent of Black students use student loan debt. In addition, approximately 72 percent of Latinx students take on debt. prgtoken By providing up to $20,000 in debt relief to borrowers that received a Pell Grant, President 's plan would allow one in four Black borrowers to see their debt fully eliminated, and nearly half of all Latinx borrowers to be entirely debt free. prgtoken This is so important because Black and Brown college graduates owe an average of $25,000 more in student loan debt than their White counterparts. prgtoken Furthermore, Black bachelor's degree holders have an average of $52,000 in student loan debt. Over 50 percent of Black student borrowers report that their net worth is less than they owe in student loan debt. prgtoken The disparity between the amount owed by Black and White borrowers quadruples 12 years after graduation. Four years after earning their degrees, 48 percent of Black students owe an average of 12.5 percent more than what they borrowed. After that same time period, 83 percent of White students owe 12 percent less than what they borrowed. prgtoken In addition, women hold nearly two-thirds of outstanding debt in this country. Black women carry the highest student loan debt burden of any race or ethnicity. prgtoken We must address the unequal burden that student loan debt has had on borrowers of color. I ask the majority of the Supreme Court to turn against the right-wing, reactionary agenda and to deliver for the 40 million people in June. prgtoken We rely on our education systems. Education and higher education is one of the pivotal equitable points that we have in this country. We must protect it for everyone. prgtoken The destiny of our country is dependent on everyone being able to matriculate through school, pursue their education, and give back to this country that we love so much. prgtoken , I thank the gentlewoman for holding this Special Order hour. To the Congressional Progressive Black Caucus, and the anchor, the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Lee), it is an hon
COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JUDY HEUMANN
Dina Titus (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2023-3-9

I rise today to commemorate the life and legacy of Judy Heumann, an internationally recognized activist and trailblazer who I am also fortunate enough to have called a friend. prgtoken As a young girl in a wheelchair, Judy was denied entry to her local public high school because she was considered a ``fire hazard.'' prgtoken Years later after graduating from college with a degree in education, she was again discriminated against and denied the opportunity to teach. She challenged the city in court and went on to become the first teacher in a wheelchair in New York. prgtoken Her passion for justice and inclusion persisted throughout her lifetime. I was honored to work with her to craft and pass disability legislation of my own in recent years. prgtoken Judy once said: ``Disability only becomes a tragedy when society fails to provide the things we need to save lives.'' prgtoken I will continue to pursue disability advocacy in Congress with her quote and her legacy top of mind and close to heart.
Nomination of Maria Araujo Kahn (Executive Calendar)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-3-9

today, the Senate will vote on the nomination of Justice Maria Kahn, who has been nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. prgtoken Since 2017, Justice Kahn has served as an associate justice for the Connecticut Supreme Court. Over the past 6 years, she has authored over 55 opinions. Prior to her appointment, she also briefly served on the Connecticut Appellate Court, where she authored eight opinions. Justice Kahn began her judicial career on the State's Superior Court in 2006 and presided over thousands of matters, 50 criminal trials, and several civil trials. prgtoken Prior to joining the bench, Justice Kahn spent her entire time in practice in government service. She began her legal career as a deputy assistant public defender for the Connecticut Public prgtoken Defender Services in 1991. In 1993, she became a staff attorney in the Connecticut Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities. Most recently, Justice Kahn served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. As an AUSA, she worked in the civil division from 1997 to 1999 and the criminal division from 1999 to 2004 before being promoted to computer crimes coordinator. Across these roles, she tried dozens of cases and argued two appeals before the Second Circuit and one before the Connecticut Supreme Court. prgtoken Born in Benguela, Angola, Justice Kahn immigrated to the United States when she was 10. She earned her B.A. cum laude from New York University in 1986 and her J.D. from Fordham Law School in 1989. She also clerked for the Honorable Peter C. Dorsey on the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut for 2 years. prgtoken Justice Kahn enjoys the strong support of Senators Blumenthal and Murphy, and she has been unanimously rated ``well qualified'' by the American Bar Association to serve on the Second Circuit. I hope all of my colleagues will join me in supporting this eminently qualified nominee.
RAIL SAFETY
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-3-9

on the railroads, this morning, Norfolk Southern's CEO, Alan Shaw, will testify before the Environment and Public Works Committee, where he will be held to account for his company's pattern of negligence when it comes to safety regulations. prgtoken My questions to Mr. Shaw remain the same: Why did Norfolk Southern spend years lobbying for looser regulations to prevent accidents like this, particularly when was President? Despite seeing a record $3.3 billion in profits last year, why did Norfolk Southern prioritize billions in stock buybacks instead of investing in safety equipment or in their workers? What is Norfolk Southern doing to prevent future accidents like the one in East Palestine? And God forbid another one happens, how will Norfolk Southern ensure communities get the resources they need to respond to them? prgtoken I expect Mr. Shaw to answer these questions. The American people expect Mr. Shaw to answer these questions. And we expect a candid, frank, and honest discussion about the dangers of rail companies like Norfolk Southern maximizing profits at the expense of everything else, even people's safety.
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN NATIONAL MUSEUM PILOT TRAINING PROGRAM
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2023-3-9

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate the Tuskegee Airmen National Museum in Detroit for securing $500,000 in grant funding for its pilot training program from the Federal Aviation Administration. prgtoken The Tuskegee Airmen National Museum was originally founded to record and honor the unsung but substantial contributions of our Nation's first Black military airmen. prgtoken Madam , the museum has grown to operate from three different locations across the city of Detroit, including the Charles H. Wright African American History Museum, historic Fort Wayne, and the Coleman A. Young municipal airport, where it offers career training programs for young people interested in aviation and aerospace science. prgtoken The museum takes particular pride in its community engagement around aviation training, which has been in operation for more than 30 years. $500,000 will go a long way in their flight training program which is offered to young people age 14-19 in the metropolitan Detroit area and puts students on the path toward obtaining a private pilot's license. I wish you could have seen the excited faces when I went to one of their events for young people, again, learning to fly. prgtoken The museum works in partnership with many of our local organizations and universities to connect the many interested students with training and resources. prgtoken I say this wholeheartedly, I am so proud that our own government, the Federal Aviation Administration, sees the gem that the Tuskegee Airmen National Museum is. Their training program and the unique opportunities they offer to our young people is truly a huge contribution to Wayne County, Michigan. Again, I am pleased to see the FAA see a tremendous value in their work. War in Yemen
SAD ANNIVERSARY FOR UKRAINE
Mike Quigley (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-3-9

. Madam , as we reflect on the 1-year anniversary of Putin's war against Ukraine, it cannot help but remind us of why we fought in the Second World War and that the fight in Ukraine embodies the very same principles we fought for in the Second World War. prgtoken First: Preventing authoritarian regimes from wiping out sovereign democratic countries. prgtoken Ukraine is a sovereign democratic nation. They have held free and fair elections since 1991. They have freedom of expression, press, and speech, while Russia is an autocratic nation led by an authoritarian dictator who represses personal expression, the free press, and free speech. He invaded Ukraine expressly to expand his sphere of autocratic control and subvert the will of the free people of Ukraine. prgtoken The second principle: To prevent further genocide. prgtoken Putin's invasion has been characterized by the commission of war crimes. One year ago this month, Russian forces deliberately targeted a civilian shelter. That same month they struck a children's hospital and maternity ward. The next month, over 400 bodies of civilians were found in mass graves in Bucha after the city was liberated. In September, 450 bodies, mostly of civilians, were found in mass graves in Kharkiv. prgtoken I visited Ukraine last summer, where I met with President Zelenskyy and traveled to Bucha and saw the mass graves firsthand. prgtoken In the Second World War, we vowed, ``Never again.'' Removing ourselves from this effort would be an egregious breach of that commitment and would demonstrate that we have not learned the lessons of those who gave their last full measure of devotion in the Second World War. prgtoken The third principle we defended in World War II was the preservation of a liberal world democratic order. prgtoken As we have seen in history, the actions of one autocratic nation can inspire the actions of others. Allowing Russia to conquer Ukraine will send the message to other autocrats that their expansion to free nations will not be opposed. This cannot be the future we allow. prgtoken President 's recent historic trip to Kyiv highlighted these reasons, but it also recalled the words of FDR in his last inaugural address in the months leading up to the end of that great conflict. He said, ``We have learned that we cannot live alone, at peace; that our own well-being is dependent on the well-being of other nations far away. . . . ``We have learned the simple truth, as Emerson said, that `The only way to have a friend is to be one.' We can gain no lasting peace if we approach it with suspicion and mistrust or with fear.'' prgtoken Just as the world has borne witness to Putin's relentless violence, we have seen the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people. Their fight is the reason we formed the United Nations and NATO in the first place. Quite simply, they have earned that support. prgtoken As President Zelenskyy said: Aid is not charity, it
TRIBUTE TO SCOTT SLADE
Jon Ossoff (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2023-3-9

I rise to honor a titan in Atlanta's media industry, someone whose name--and voice--are a staple of everyone's morning routine. prgtoken Scott Slade began his storied career at WSB Radio in 1984 on an overnight music show. In 1991, he took over as host of ``Atlanta's Morning News,'' becoming the longest running host in the Atlanta market. Last month, Slade announced he would step aside from daily hosting duties of ``Atlanta Morning News.'' prgtoken Slade's service to the community extends beyond his duties on air as a trusted voice for news. In 2000, Slade started the WSB Radio ``Care- a-Thon'' for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Cancer Center, helping raise millions of dollars to fight childhood cancer and blood disorders. Slade's voice and journalism has informed Georgians for decades, and we are all grateful to him. prgtoken As Georgia's U.S. Senator, I recognize and commend Scott Slade on his historic career and on his induction into the Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame on March 15, 2023.
PAYING TRIBUTE TO GARY WASSERSON
Susan Wild (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2023-3-9

I rise to pay tribute to a fellow Pennsylvanian, Gary Wasserson, of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. prgtoken A little over a year ago following the beginning of Russia's full- scale invasion of Ukraine, Gary found out that he had distant cousins in Lviv. That realization prompted him to act, and soon he was on the Poland-Ukraine border assembling a team to cross the border and bring his relatives to safety. prgtoken Gary didn't stop there. prgtoken He has helped build an entire support network coming to the aid of Ukrainians in need: assisting in the successful extraction of thousands of Ukrainians to safe havens in Poland, Slovakia, Moldova, and across Western Europe; and sending hundreds of thousands of pounds of needed aid into Ukraine. Gary recently brought a gravely injured Ukrainian soldier to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City where he was able to receive the complex medical procedures that he urgently needed. prgtoken These are just a few examples of the profound difference that Gary, a private citizen, is making. prgtoken , I thank Gary for his compassion, for his willingness to act, and his dedication to standing with the Ukrainian people as they continue to resist this horrific war of aggression.
GROWING THREATS AND HARMS FROM THE RIGHTWING JUDICIARY
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2023-3-9

let me thank the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania for her leadership. Hopefully, we have been able to share some very important thoughts. I thank her for presiding and leading us on this very important discussion. prgtoken We have a Constitution. I hope that I will be holding the Constitution in my hand in a short while. prgtoken Obviously, Article I is the Congress. We are to represent the people of this Nation. prgtoken Article II is the executive branch. prgtoken Article III are supposed to be unfettered, unbiased courts, the Federal courts. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes all over the region, all over the Nation. They are what we call Article III courts. prgtoken Certainly, there are State courts, and there are county courts, and there are city courts, but the Federal courts are the place where we believe that there should be the infrastructure of justice, where I can come, where no place else, I might find justice. I can even be pro se. That means, without counsel. prgtoken But the laws and the responsibility of the judges, clearly, are to make me feel that I will be receiving justice. prgtoken So it saddens me, as a member of the Bar, and someone who, through law school, viewed the Federal judiciary in the highest esteem. prgtoken I was an Earl Warren training fellow. Earl Warren, the Supreme Court Justice, , appointed by Eisenhower, I recall, and who presided over the Brown v. Topeka Board of Education that opened the doors for many to be able to have an education that was not segregated, and many other cases that the Court presided over. prgtoken But there was something unique that, I believe, that held our consciousness. We always felt that the courts would render truthful judgments, or that they would look for the truth, and that they would discern, between the plaintiff and the defendant, who was telling the truth; and they would rule in justice and the law for those who told the truth. prgtoken I hold in my hand the Constitution that also includes the Declaration of Independence, where we all are created equal, with certain inalienable rights, of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. prgtoken I loved what the Founding Fathers said: The power under the Constitution will always be in the people and it is entrusted for certain defined purposes. prgtoken It is important to note that even though the men who have said these words were not perfect, the words epitomize who we are; that no matter who you are, what ``unempowerment'' you may have, you should have power in the courts. You should have power in this country, by the very essence of the Constitution. prgtoken So I watched with intensity, as a Member of this body, and as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, all of the confirmation hearings where they were selecting a United States Supreme Court Justice. prgtoken What struck me most of all, to the last two Justices before Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, is the questioning after
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Grace F. Napolitano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-3-9

I rise in very strong opposition to this resolution of disapproval. prgtoken Clean water was not always a partisan issue, and no issue has more support among American families than the protection of our Nation's waters. Now is the worst time to lower our guard on protecting clean water as over half of the United States is experiencing drought conditions. Even though we have had rain, we are still in drought conditions. We need to be doing everything to ensure our cities, our businesses, and our farmers have sufficient, safe, and sustainable supplies of water to meet our economic and agricultural needs, our quality-of-life needs, and our day-to-day survival. prgtoken This is especially true in my home State of California. As the Metropolitan Water District, the biggest in the area, commented at our subcommittee last month, the definition of WOTUS is central to the Clean Water Act's implementation and has significant implications for water agencies' day-to-day operations and for water source protection efforts. prgtoken That is why I support the efforts of the administration to permanently repeal the previous administration's dirty water rule, a rule that eliminated Federal protections on a minimum of 75 percent of streams and wetlands that have been protected by the act since its inception. prgtoken These waters and the wetlands are critical to capturing and storing rain and snowmelt to ensure the long-term supply of water and recharge our underground water aquifers. prgtoken , I cannot understand how this resolution, which seeks to undermine and confuse agency efforts to protect our clean water, makes any sense to my constituents who are already making sacrifices to protect our local waters. prgtoken This resolution would increase levels of pollution in our waterbodies, increase risk of downstream flooding, and make it harder for communities like mine to maintain sustainable sources of drinking water. prgtoken Worst of all, hardworking American families would have to pay for the horrible impacts of this resolution. The rule provided the best available prgtoken option to balance the need for protection of waters with the desire for familiarity and workability within the constraints of the law and interpretations of the Supreme Court. This resolution achieves none of those outcomes and is only more likely to make it worse, not better. prgtoken , I very strongly oppose the resolution. prgtoken , I include in the Record a Statement of Administration Policy from the Executive Office of the President on H.J. Res. 27, providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency relating to ``Revised Definition of `Waters of the United States.' '' Statement of Administration Policy prgtoken H.J. Res. 27--Providing for congress