mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SHERMAN RIOT OF 1930: AN IMPORTANT EVENT THAT CHANGED AMERICA
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-3-28

. Madam , I rise today in solemn remembrance of the Sherman Riot of 1930. Many may be unfamiliar with the Sherman Riot, as it is all too often overlooked in the teaching of Texas history. prgtoken The violence began at the Grayson County Courthouse in Sherman, Texas on May 9, 1930 and spread throughout the town, devastating the Black community. The riot began in response to the trial of George Hughes, a Black farm laborer, accused of allegedly assaulting his white employer's wife. In the middle of Hughes' trial, a white mob gathered and attempted to take over the county courthouse. The crowd eventually made its way into the courtroom, forcing law enforcement to relocate Hughes to a vault in order to protect him from the mob. However, protesters set the courthouse on fire and, despite efforts to rescue Hughes, it burned to the ground with Hughes still inside. After the fire was put out, Hughes' corpse was pulled from the rubble and dragged by automobile to the center of Sherman's Black business district where it was mutilated, then hanged from a tree, and a fire was subsequently set beneath it. The rioting continued and culminated in the burning and looting of many Black-owned businesses. The Sherman Black community was terrorized by angry white mobs. The National Guard was deployed and ultimately martial law was declared by the Texas Governor. Among those victimized included noted civil rights lawyer William J. Durham, whose office was destroyed. Despite the attack, Durham would go on to work with Thurgood Marshall on the cases that led to the integration of the University of Texas School of Law and the end of white primaries in the State of Texas, and ultimately throughout our Nation. prgtoken In February of 2022, the Texas Historical Commission approved plans to place a State of Texas Historical Marker on the grounds of the current Grayson County Courthouse to finally commemorate the riot, with an expected unveiling date of May 9, 2023. prgtoken Madam , tragically the lynching of George Hughes was only one of many incidents like these that occurred in Texas and throughout the South during the Great Depression era. Now, nearly 92 years later, the fight for equality continues. Today, we remember and reflect upon the heinous violence of the Sherman Riot. Americans everywhere must remain vigilant in our efforts to combat racism and hatred everywhere it may occur.
STATUE TO HONOR UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR AND STATUE TO HONOR UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG
Greg Stanton (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2022-3-28

I rise today in support of S. 3294, a bill to honor Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg with statues here in the United States Capitol. prgtoken Both overcame formidable barriers and defied the odds, paving the way for future generations of women, but Justice Sandra Day O'Connor holds a special place in the hearts of all Arizonans. prgtoken Born on a ranch in eastern Arizona, Justice O'Connor brought a tough, no-nonsense attitude with her throughout her career in public service. She blazed every trail she set foot on. And just this past Saturday, she celebrated her 92nd birthday. prgtoken Justice O'Connor served as Arizona's assistant attorney general, the first female majority leader to serve in any State senate across the United States of America, and as a Maricopa County Superior Court judge. In 1981, she took her Arizona brand of independence and pragmatism with her to the United States Supreme Court. prgtoken Justice O'Connor shattered the highest glass ceiling in the legal profession, but Arizonans most admire her for the way she made it there, with unparalleled talent, intelligence, and relentless grit. prgtoken Her independent-minded commitment to interpreting the Constitution and reaching workable decisions served our Nation and the rule of law well. prgtoken One of the things that I most admire about Justice O'Connor is what she did after she retired from the United States Supreme Court. She foresaw deep divisions in our society and our politics. She knew that we needed to improve civil discourse if we hoped to keep our democracy strong.
UKRAINE
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-3-28

in a few moments I will file a discharge petition to move forward on the nomination of Lisa DeNell Cook to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. prgtoken Not very long ago, a nominee like Ms. Cook would have sailed toward final confirmation. She serves on the advisory board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. She is a professor of economics at Michigan State and has served on the White House Council of Economic Advisers. She would also be the first Black woman to sit on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. prgtoken Sadly, every single in the committee voted in lockstep against Ms. Cook--that was in the Banking Committee--providing no good explanation for obstructing this qualified and historic nominee. prgtoken Nonetheless, the step I am taking now will make sure Ms. Cook's nomination will move forward, setting up a vote as soon as tomorrow.
AMERICA CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANUFACTURING, PRE-EMINENCE IN TECHNOLOGY, AND ECONOMIC STRENGTH ACT OF 2022--Continued
Maria Cantwell (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2022-3-28

I come to the floor tonight happy that the Senate is going to move forward on substituting what is originally the Senate-passed Schumer-Young bill on the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act. That is what we are going to be voting on and then sending that over to the House of Representatives to basically convey that that is our desire here in the Senate and, hopefully, get this process of going to conference and a response back from the House of Representatives so we can move forward on reinvigorating America's supply chain. prgtoken , I know you know how important this is, but the Senate bill, again, brought to us by Senators Schumer and Young, I think, was quite prescient on the problems that we were going to face as it relates to supply chains. But I don't think that everybody really understands that the Senate position is really about the fact that we need to have technology transfer happen at a faster rate; that other countries, because the United States has been such a prolific publisher of information and content, actually have taken that content and information and been able to turn it into actual commercial applications. prgtoken So in the United States we want to do something to create, while still protecting NSF, the National Science Foundation, on basic research and advanced research and the Department of Energy on research, and also work faster at translating the successes of our science into true application and translating that into helping our manufacturers here in the United States of America. prgtoken This is so important because we know that in various sectors of our economy, we are seeing much of the supply chain controlled in other parts of the world. We see that Asia now controls much of the supply chain for pharmaceuticals. prgtoken We are having a big debate about how we are going to drive down the cost of pharmaceuticals. We are going to invest here in the United States, I think, in more biotechnology and synthetic biology to find new ways to discover and make lifesaving drugs, and it is very important that we do that research here. prgtoken In the Senate bill, we are very focused on: In what areas do we want to do faster translational science to help bring the supply chain back to the United States? prgtoken As we talked last week, we see that Taiwan makes more than 90 percent of the world's leading-edge chips which drive our national security and our economic security, and we want to do the research here in the United States through the acceleration with the Tech Directorate to invent the next generation of chips and build them here domestically. prgtoken And we have heard about the risk of Americans falling behind on advanced communications, like 5G or 6G, and so we have ideas here about how to translate that into faster deployment of technology that could help our manufacturing base. prgtoken So I am actually very excited about all of that innovation b
HOMICIDE VICTIMS' FAMILIES' RIGHTS ACT OF 2021
Eric Swalwell (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-3-28

I thank the gentlewoman for her continued leadership in this area and the gentleman from Oregon for his support. prgtoken , this legislation plainly says and will plainly make so that the sun will never set on justice for victims of homicides and their families seeking closure. prgtoken I want to thank the chairman and ranking member for their unanimous support of my bill, H.R. 3359, the Homicide Victims' Families' Rights Act of 2021. I really appreciate the majority leader and the for allowing this measure to be considered before the floor today. prgtoken I also want to thank my co-lead on this legislation, former Federal prosecutor, Congressman Mike McCaul from Texas, for his dedication to bringing justice to victims of unsolved homicides. His perspective, having served in the Federal courts, brought with him a wealth of knowledge on criminal investigations at both the State and Federal level. prgtoken I also want to acknowledge former Assistant United States Attorney from the District of Columbia, Glenn Kirschner, who worked with my office, after spending many years serving as a prosecutor in the District of Columbia to detail the pain and suffering that far too many families face when they see their loved ones' cases go unsolved. Mr. Kirschner's expertise has been invaluable as I drafted this legislation to ensure no victim is forgotten. prgtoken I also have relied upon my own experience as a prosecutor, knowing that no jury verdict, no criminal sentence can bring back to life a lost loved one. However, I have been in the courtroom when a guilty verdict is delivered in a murder case and I have seen the closure that the families experience when that occurs for them. prgtoken I have also met with a number of families where they have not yet seen their family member's killer brought to justice. There is a marked difference. This revitalizes the review and reinvestigation processes for cold case homicide files. Upon request by a loved one or a family member 3 years after a case goes cold, my legislation requires a complete reexamination of the file and accompanying evidence, new or renewed interviews with potential subjects and witnesses and other methods to identify possible missteps. prgtoken Improvements in technology, resources, and evidence-based techniques will also better equip law enforcement agencies with tools they need to review files under a novel lens, one that would assist in identifying new leads and witnesses to solve crimes and obtain justice that victims' families and loved ones so rightfully deserve. prgtoken It also assists investigators in homicide cases that serve important underserved communities such as Native Americans on Indian Reservations, Federal law enforcement officers killed in action, U.S. citizens who are murdered abroad, or homicides that take place on Federal land and the high seas. prgtoken It will also serve as a crucial model for the States to look at a Federal law t
STATUE TO HONOR UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR AND STATUE TO HONOR UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG
Mary Gay Scanlon (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-3-28

such time as I may consume. prgtoken This bill, by creating statues in the Capitol, honors former Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, two women who made groundbreaking contributions to American history and jurisprudence. prgtoken The United States Capitol is a global symbol of democracy. This iconic building, where we debate and craft law, is also a museum of American art and history, with a rich collection of portraits, paintings, and statues. prgtoken Among the hundreds of sculptures, just 14 honor women leaders. By adding statues of these two pioneering Supreme Court Justices, we will honor their legacy and inspire all who pass through these Halls. prgtoken In 1869, Arabella Mansfield became the first woman admitted to practice law in the United States when she was admitted to the Iowa bar. prgtoken Ten years later, Belva Lockwood became the first woman admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. One hundred years would pass before Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. prgtoken Born in the early 1930s, Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg both achieved extraordinary academic success. One of only five women in her class at Stanford Law, O'Connor served on the Board of Editors of the Stanford Law Review and graduated near the top of her class. prgtoken Ginsburg first attended Harvard Law School, one of nine women in her class. She became the first female member of the Harvard Law Review, while also caring for her husband, who had been diagnosed with cancer, and their young daughter. When her husband took a job in New York City, Ginsburg transferred to Columbia Law School and graduated first in her class. prgtoken Despite their outstanding academic qualifications, O'Connor and Ginsburg faced barriers to employment after graduation, as law firms were unwilling to hire women lawyers. Each persevered and rose to prominence. prgtoken O'Connor obtained a position as a deputy county attorney in California. Then, when her husband was stationed in Germany, she served as a civilian attorney with the United States Army Quartermaster Corps. prgtoken In 1957, the O'Connors settled in Arizona, where they raised their three sons. O'Connor started a law practice, became involved in local politics and community service, and served as an assistant state attorney general. prgtoken In 1969, O'Connor was appointed to the Arizona State Senate, where she was twice reelected and became the first woman majority leader in any State. In 1974, she was elected as a trial judge, a position she held until 1979, when she was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals. prgtoken In 1981, President Ronald Reagan fulfilled his campaign promise to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court by nominating O'Connor. The Senate unanimously confirmed her appointment. In her nearly 25 years on the Court, Justice O'Connor establi
AMERICA CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANUFACTURING, PRE-EMINENCE IN TECHNOLOGY, AND ECONOMIC STRENGTH ACT OF 2022--Continued
Tommy Tuberville (Republican, AL) \u2014 2022-3-28

during the first few months of President 's term, he has tried to brush off the surge of illegal immigrant apprehensions as nothing more than a seasonal trend. But after month 6, seasonal migration was no longer a valid explanation for what turned out to be a recordbreaking year. prgtoken This border surge wasn't by accident. President pledged to enact an open border agenda by halting border wall construction, reversing successful -era immigration policies, and hamstringing our law enforcement officers. It was one promise he has kept. prgtoken And over a year into the administration, we are seeing the consequences of that promise. prgtoken Just last year, nearly 2 million illegal immigrants were apprehended at our southern border from more than 160 different countries. And for 2022, it looks like we are on track to exceed that record, as this February was the 12th--the 12th--consecutive month with over 100,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions. And if President 's administration stops invoking title 42, and it doesn't secure the border, the crisis is going to be dramatically different. prgtoken A lot of attention is paid to who is coming across the border, and rightfully so, but it is time we all turn our attention to what is coming across the border, and it is called deadly fentanyl. prgtoken Just as our border continues to be overwhelmed by illegal immigrants, our communities are overwhelmed with this lethal drug. I have been to the border, and I have seen firsthand the impact of President 's open border policies and agenda. prgtoken At a checkpoint in McAllen, TX, I saw a truck bed filled with fentanyl, filled to the brim--a deadly synthetic opioid. prgtoken Thankfully, our Border Patrol officer stopped this particular truck from making it across the border, but for that one being stopped, there are several more that get across the border. Thankfully, our Border Patrol officer stopped this truck, stopped it from making it across the border, and it saved many lives. But for every truck of fentanyl, many, many more continue to come across. prgtoken It is hard to understand the significance of a truck bed full of fentanyl, so just let me break it down. prgtoken Look at my chart. Two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose; 2 milligrams is the weight of a mosquito. Ten pennies weigh one ounce. One ounce of fentanyl can kill nearly 30,000 people. A football weighs 1 pound. Just 1 pound of fentanyl can kill over 200,000 people. prgtoken In October of last year, in South Alabama, Baldwin County sheriff deputy seized 14 grams of fentanyl. That is enough to kill upward of 7,000 people. And, of course, in any arrest, sometimes you have problems with fentanyl. One of his deputies just happened to touch fentanyl and was immediately put into the hospital. prgtoken We are seizing these deadly drugs across America every day. Last year, in San Diego, a trucker was arrested a
RECOGNIZING A CRITICAL AND STRATEGIC ASSET FOR MARINE CORPS AVIATION AT MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA
Gregory F. Murphy (Republican, NC) \u2014 2022-3-28

. Madam , I rise today in honor of a critical and strategic asset for Marine Corps Aviation--Fleet Readiness Center East (FRC East) located in Havelock, North Carolina. Since 1943, FRC East on board Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, has played an important role in securing the national defense of our great country. Their workforce has earned a reputation for excellence in providing world-class maintenance, engineering and logistics support for Navy and Marine Corps aviation, as well as other armed services, federal agencies and foreign governments. prgtoken FRC East has accomplished this vital mission while maintaining a safe and healthy work environment. The depot's Safety and Occupational Health programs have been recognized at the state and federal levels, as well as within the Department of Defense. FRC East closed out calendar year 2021 with the lowest number of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordable mishaps in the command's nearly 80-year history. The depot's superior standard of safety has also earned recognition from the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). VPP highlights employers with effective safety and health management systems that record injury and illness rates below the average for their industries. prgtoken In 2019, FRC East became the first Naval Aviation command to achieve OSHA VPP Star Status. The depot is one of only 21 VPP Star recognized sites in the entire Department of the Navy. FRC East was recently chosen as one of five sites for a Department of the Navy and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study aimed at evaluating VPP's effectiveness in reducing noncombat injuries. FRC East has also been recognized by the North Carolina Department of Labor. The depot was presented with two ``Million Hour'' awards and its fourth consecutive ``Gold Award.'' Million Hour safety awards are given to organizations that accumulate one million employee hours with no injuries or illnesses involving days away from work. To meet the Gold Award standard, an organization must have had no fatalities during the award year, and also post a Day Away, Restricted or Transferred (DART) rate at least 50 percent below the industry average. prgtoken Madam , please join me in honoring and recognizing FRC East for its unwavering commitment to workplace safety. FRC East's culture of safety ensures the depot's most valuable resource, the highly skilled men and women who work there, are protected. I would also like to express my appreciation to the outstanding employees of FRC East for their dedication and continued service to our nation, our allies, and the Eastern North Carolina community.
AMERICA CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANUFACTURING, PRE-EMINENCE IN TECHNOLOGY, AND ECONOMIC STRENGTH ACT OF 2022--Continued
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2022-3-28

today, Senator Johnson and I begin a series of speeches on our investigations into the family's financial deals. We will make these presentations with two themes. prgtoken First, we will refute and we will dismantle the talking points that the liberal media and our ic colleagues pushed onto the American people. Their talking points said that our investigations over the years advanced and spread Russian disinformation. On November 29, 2021; May 11, 2021; March 18, 2021; December 14, 2020; December 10, 2020; October 19, 2020; and September 29, 2020, I came to this Senate floor to rebut those false charges. prgtoken Now--or at least then--the liberal media and my ic colleagues ought to be ashamed of themselves for the outright lies that they peddled about our investigative work. As a result, Senator Johnson and I did what any good investigator would do: We gathered even more records to prove all these people wrong, which brings me to the second theme. prgtoken Senator Johnson and I will produce new records to show additional connections between the family and the communist Chinese regime. Before we get to those records, I am going to discuss the background of our investigation. prgtoken We started this investigation last Congress. Then, I was chairman of the Finance Committee, and at that time, Senator Johnson was chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. prgtoken It began in August 2019. I started at that time an inquiry into a transaction involving Hunter that was reviewed by the Federal Government's Committee on Foreign Investment. prgtoken On September 23, 2020, Senator Johnson and I released our report. On November 18, 2020, we released our supplement to that report. Those reports were based in large part on administration government records and also almost a dozen transcribed interviews of government officials. prgtoken In both reports, Senator Johnson and I made financial information public that hadn't ever been known before. Our report exposed extensive financial relationships between Hunter and James and Chinese nationals connected to the communist regime. More precisely, these were Chinese nationals connected to the Chinese Government's military and intelligence service. prgtoken One of those individuals was a person by the name of Patrick Ho. According to reports, Hunter said of Patrick Ho: I have another New York Times reporter calling about my representation of Patrick Ho-- prgtoken Then Hunter says the f-word-- [denoting] the spy chief of China who started the company that my partner, who is worth $323 billion, founded and is now missing. prgtoken We will get into more detail with respect to Patrick Ho in future speeches. We will do the same with Gongwen Dong, another close associate of Hunter 's who was connected to the communist regime. prgtoken Now, Hunter 's re