mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IN RECOGNITION OF THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE IN ALBANY, GEORGIA
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2022-2-28

. Madam , I rise today to pay tribute to the men and women who have served and currently serve at the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) in Albany, Georgia. On Thursday, March 1, 2022, base personnel, Armed Services veterans, and local dignitaries will celebrate the facility's 70th anniversary. prgtoken Over the last 70 years, the brave men and women who have served at MCLB, Albany have made significant contributions in defending our homeland and safeguarding our liberties. prgtoken On March 1, 1952, MCLB, Albany was commissioned as the Marine Corps Depot of Supplies. By 1954 the station was sufficiently complete with warehouses and administration buildings to assume supply support for Marines east of the Rocky Mountains and in the Atlantic area. In 1967, the base became a Storage Activity and Depot Maintenance Activity. prgtoken On January 17, 1990, the Commandant of the Marine Corps designated the Commanding General, Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany to also be Commander, Marine Corps Logistics Bases. The reorganization placed control of Marine Corps Logistics Base, Barstow, California; Blount Island Command, Jacksonville, Florida, as well as Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany under this single command. prgtoken Over the last several decades, MCLB, Albany has provided exceptional support to the Marine Air Ground Task Forces sent to Southwest Asia. The MCLB, Albany military and civilian team's hard work and dedication, combined with equal efforts from MCLB, Barstow and Blount Island Command have reaped outstanding results for our nation's Armed Services. prgtoken In 2021, MCLB, Albany won in the Fiscal Year 2021 SECNAV Energy Excellence Award's small installation category for its achievements in policy implementation, reductions in energy and water intensity, cybersecurity, and overall commitment to energy security planning. This vital Net Zero Initiative from MCLB, Albany reduced the energy cost aboard the installation and helped the base nearly reach its goal in FY 2020 of covering all critical building energy loads in the event of an outage by increasing its sources of on-site generation. prgtoken Madam , I have had the pleasure of traveling to many U.S. military installations around the world and the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia is one of the finest military bases I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. prgtoken Through my ongoing interaction with MCLB, Albany personnel, one of the things I have come to admire about our nation's Marines is that their commitment to serving our country does not end once they separate from Active Duty. In their everyday life and actions off base, the personnel at MCLB, Albany have remained faithful to serving their fellow Marines, their community, and their nation. They have truly exemplified the U.S. Marine Corp's motto, Semper Fidelis. prgtoken MCLB, Albany Marines hold themselves to a higher standard--that service to our nation is a lifelong commitment
SUPPORTING PRESIDENT ZELENSKY
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2022-2-28

last week, I led a bipartisan group to visit Lithuania and the OSCE meeting in Vienna, Austria. prgtoken In Lithuania, we met with the leaders and assured them of America's Article 5 responsibilities and commitments in case Russia comes into Lithuania. They are very concerned. prgtoken We met with our troops, who are 6 kilometers away from Russian troops stationed in Belarus. We then went to the OSCE in Vienna, and we led a strong response to support Ukraine and oppose an unbelievable invasion by the cruel Vladimir Putin. prgtoken The European community is united, except for Russia and Belarus, in opposing the intrusion. Vladimir Putin is not operating in a rational manner. His KGB history and his extreme response to COVID have driven him to a delusional, paranoid, and dangerous state. It concerns all. prgtoken I appreciate the actions of our President in supporting our country. I support President Zelensky, who is the Maccabee of his era, but the candle has only lasted so long. We need to get him more oil.
RITA LAWRENCE
Ed Perlmutter (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2022-2-28

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Rita Lawrence for receiving the 2021 Arvada Chamber of Commerce's Chamber Champion Award. prgtoken The Chamber Champion Award is given to an organization or individual who has gone above and beyond in their support of the Arvada Chamber and who has served as a leader and champion promoting the good work and priorities of the Chamber. prgtoken Rita serves in many roles at the Chamber, including on its Board of Directors and Executive Committee, the Networking KAPS Council, Annual Dinner Action Team and more. Rita has a long tenure as a member of the Chamber joining in 2011 and jumping right in as a leader and active volunteer. Rita serves as a role model and impressive community leader. Her work has benefited the Chamber and the business community as a whole. prgtoken Again, congratulations to Rita Lawrence for this honor and I thank her for her contribution to our community.
TRIBUTE TO DR. SALLY ROCKEY
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-2-28

it is my privilege to recognize and honor Dr. Sally Rockey, the inaugural executive director of the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, and a pioneer in Federal research, on the occasion of her well-earned retirement. prgtoken Dr. Rockey's career has improved countless people's lives through research, and she continues this mission today. She has been a leader in the advancement of research programs in both agriculture and biomedicine. She spent almost 20 years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture managing competitive research grant programs, and she was with the National Institutes of Health--NIH--for 11 years as the NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research, where she led the operations of the world's largest extramural research program. prgtoken Together with Senator Pat Roberts, I established the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research in the 2014 prgtoken farm bill. Under Dr. Rockey's leadership, the foundation has become a significant force in the agriculture research community by developing innovative private-public partnerships to fund rigorous food and agriculture research. During Dr. Rockey's 6 years at the helm, the foundation awarded more than 250 grants in collaboration with over 550 partners. Her engagement with a broad swath of partners helps leverage $1.40 for every dollar allocated by Congress. To put this into perspective, with Congress' investment of $385 million over 10 years, along with the matching funds, the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research is on track to invest nearly a billion dollars in agriculture research, an impressive feat for a new initiative and a testament to Dr. Rockey's leadership. prgtoken Dr. Rockey's legacy is not only audacious research--and the lives that are impacted by this research--but also the invaluable support the foundation provides to the next generation of scientists. During her tenure, the foundation established several programs that specifically prepare today's young scientists to address the food and agriculture challenges of tomorrow. prgtoken Dr. Rockey's future-focused perspective has led the foundation to create AgMission. Founded in partnership with U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action and World Farmers Organization, AgMission is an unprecedented global collaboration of farmers, ranchers, and scientists co-creating and rapidly expanding innovation, adaptation, and the adoption of climate-smart technologies. AgMission embodies our shared vision that agriculture can be mobilized to address the climate crisis. prgtoken I want to personally congratulate Dr. Rockey on the conclusion of her spectacular career in public service and wish her the best of luck on the start of the next chapter of her life. prgtoken We wish you well, Sally.
IN RECOGNITION OF MULTIFOCAL MOTOR NEUROPATHY (MMN) MONTH 2022
Jennifer Wexton (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2022-2-28

. Madam , today I recognize the month of February as Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN) Awareness Month. prgtoken Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN) is a rare disorder in which focal areas of multiple motor nerves are attacked by one's own immune system. Typically, MMN is slowly progressive, resulting in asymmetrical weakness of a patient's limbs. Patients frequently develop weakness in their hand(s), resulting in dropping of objects or sometimes inability to turn a key in a lock. The weakness associated with MMN can be recognized as fitting a specific nerve territory. There is essentially no numbness, tingling, or pain. Patients with MMN can have other symptoms, including twitching, or small random dimpling of the muscle under the skin which neurologists call fasciculations. prgtoken The clinical course of MMN is chronically progressive without remission. The prevalence of this very rare disease is estimated to be 0.6 cases in every 100,000 people, which makes it even rarer than GBS, a spontaneously self-limiting disorder in which 1-2/100,000 cases occur each year in North America and Europe. prgtoken It is now established that intravenous immunoglobin (IVIg), a preparation of antibodies obtained from healthy volunteers, can be readily given through an arm vein and provides benefit to patients with MMN. It is the only treatment for this disorder that is approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and regulatory agencies in Europe and Canada. IVIg can lead to improved motor function in most patients with MMN, with the response varying from minimal to very large. Early treatment shortly after symptom onset is always more effective. The treatment usually does not completely reverse all of the symptoms, and those patients who do respond will require repeated treatments to maintain their improvement. prgtoken Founded over 40 years ago, the GBS|CIDP Foundation International is the preeminent global nonprofit organization supporting individuals and their families affected by Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), and related syndromes such as multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) through a commitment to support, education, research, and advocacy. prgtoken On behalf of my constituent Brenda Perales, an MMN patient, member of the Board of Directors of the GBS|CIDP Foundation International, and Co-Chair efforts to raise awareness of MMC, I call on my colleagues to join me in recognizing the month of February as Multi focal Motor Neuropathy (MMN) Awareness Month.
SUICIDE TRAINING AND AWARENESS NATIONALLY DELIVERED FOR UNIVERSAL PREVENTION ACT OF 2021
Frank Pallone, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-2-28

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today in support of S. 1543, the Suicide Training and Awareness Nationally Delivered for Universal Prevention Act, also known as the STANDUP Act. prgtoken Americans are facing a growing mental health crisis, and that crisis is hitting our Nation's youth particularly hard right now. While the challenges of COVID-19 amplified this crisis, children and young people in the U.S. have been experiencing rising rates of mental health conditions and suicide for years, particularly among youth of color and LGBTQI+ young people. prgtoken Between 2008 and 2018, the suicide rate among adolescents and young people increased by nearly 60 percent. Today, , suicide is the second leading cause of death among children and young people between the ages of 10 and 24. prgtoken Black youth are nearly twice as likely as White youth to die by suicide, and the rate of suicide amongst American Indian and Alaska Native youth is 2\1/2\ times the overall national average. Meanwhile, the suicide rate among young Hispanic women increased dramatically in the decade leading up to the pandemic. prgtoken Additionally, LGBTQI+ youth are at greater risk for depression and suicide. According to a 2020 survey, 50 percent of LGBTQ youth considered attempting suicide in the prior year. prgtoken All of these trends are alarming, so much so that pediatric experts have declared the state of children's mental health a national emergency. Last December, Surgeon General Murthy issued an advisory on the youth mental health crisis. prgtoken Today, the House is continuing its critical work of considering legislation to address the crisis. The STANDUP Act would require State and Tribal education agencies to establish and implement a suicide awareness and prevention training policy for middle- and high-school students. The policy would be required for any agency receiving funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA's Project AWARE funds, and it would need to be evidence based, as well as culturally and linguistically appropriate. prgtoken Last May, , we passed the House companion of this bill with bipartisan support here on the House floor after it passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee last Congress. I commend the lead House sponsors of the bill, Representatives Peters and Bilirakis, for their leadership on this issue. prgtoken As chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I strongly support legislation that will help bring awareness and promote best practices on suicide prevention among our Nation's youth. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support S. 1543, and .
METHAMPHETAMINE RESPONSE ACT OF 2021
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-2-28

I rise in strong support of S. 854, the ``Methamphetamine Response Act of 2021'' which designates methamphetamine as an emerging drug threat (a new and growing trend in the use of an illicit drug or class of drug). prgtoken It also directs the Office of National Drug Control Policy to implement a methamphetamine response plan. prgtoken Methamphetamines are a highly addictive substance that can cause considerable health adversities which can sometimes result in death. prgtoken Meth not only changes how the brain works, but also speeds up the body's systems to dangerous, sometimes lethal, levels--increasing blood pressure and heart and respiratory rates. prgtoken People who repeatedly use meth may also experience anxiety, paranoia, aggression, hallucinations, and mood disturbances. prgtoken According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the misuse of methamphetamine remains an extremely serious problem in the United States. prgtoken In some areas of the country, it poses an even greater threat than opioids, and it is the drug that most contributes to violent crime. prgtoken According to data from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), over 14.7 million people (5.4 percent of the population) have tried methamphetamine at least once. prgtoken NSDUH also reports that almost 1.6 million people used methamphetamine in the year leading up to the survey, and it remains one of the most commonly misused stimulant drugs in the world. prgtoken According to a report commissioned by the CDC in 2018, the age- adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths involving methamphetamine in the United States more than tripled from 0.6 per 100,000 population in 2011 to 2.1 in 2016. prgtoken The rate increased on average by an astounding 29 percent per year. prgtoken Jane Carlisle Maxwell from the University of Texas found in 2021 that methamphetamine still outnumbers other drugs in the four drug reporting systems, and it continues to increase, a pattern consistent with that seen in other states. prgtoken Over the years, the proportion of methamphetamine items seized has changed. prgtoken In 2005, methamphetamine represented 21 percent of all items identified by DEA laboratories; in 2019, methamphetamine comprised 50 percent of all the items examined. prgtoken Methamphetamine admissions to treatment programs increased from 3 percent of all admissions in 1995 to 11 percent in 2007, dropped to 8 percent in 2009, and then rose to 22 percent of admissions in 2020. prgtoken The race-ethnic composition has changed in terms of Hispanic representation. prgtoken In 1995, 91 percent were White, 2 percent were Black, and 5 percent were Hispanic. Of the 2020 admissions, 90 percent were White, 7 percent were Black, and 18 percent were Hispanic. prgtoken Forty-one percent of the admissions were ages 26-35. prgtoken In 1994, 59 percent of the clients were male, as compared to 45 percent male in 2020. prgtoken Based on the results of Maxwell's previous r
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-2-28

I want to begin my remarks by joining Senator McConnell in expressing my condolences to our friend and colleague Senator Dianne Feinstein on the passing of her husband and partner Richard Blum. prgtoken Dick Blum was a trailblazer in the Senate family, one of the first men to join the Senate Spouses club. He was proud of Senator Feinstein's historic career in public service. prgtoken He was a success at business and invested his wealth in easing human suffering--from the streets of San Francisco to some of the poorest corners of the globe. He founded the American Himalayan Foundation to assist the people of the Himalayas. He also founded the Blum Center for Developing Economies at UC Berkeley to help teach students about microlending, social enterprise, and other ways for poor people in developing nations to lift themselves from poverty. prgtoken A story in today's Los Angeles Times contained an anecdote that captured well Dick's good humor and generous spirit. prgtoken He said that in all the conversations he had over the years with Buddhist friends in the Himalayas, no one had ever convinced him of the likelihood of reincarnation. Maybe that is why he worked so hard to achieve so much good in this one lifetime he was given. He did more to ease human suffering than others might do in a dozen lifetime opportunities. prgtoken To Senator Dianne Feinstein, their beloved daughters and grandchildren, and all who knew and loved him, Loretta and I offer our condolences. prgtoken Dick Blum's friendship was a gift, and his memory will be a blessing. Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson prgtoken , on another note, there was a historic announcement last Friday when President announced Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his choice to serve as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. I am going to speak about her nomination at length tomorrow, but a few words now. prgtoken She is an extraordinary person. To become the first African-American woman nominated to serve on the Supreme Court, you have to be the best--and she has proven throughout her life that she is. prgtoken She was a clerk to the retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, whose seat she now aspires to. She worked in the practice of law in so many different aspects and then on three different occasions came before this U.S. Senate for approval, advise and consent. On all three occasions, she emerged with bipartisan support, and we certainly hope to see that revisited again. prgtoken She has authored some 500 different opinions, so there will be no mystery about her jurisprudence or her judicial philosophy. She has also been a person who has come before our committee as recently as last year when she was approved by the committee in June to serve on the DC Circuit Court. prgtoken I think she is an exceptional choice, and I want to make sure that the hearing that is given to her is respectful, fair, and professional. I ha
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-2-28

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
RECOGNIZING TAMPA'S LOCAL TRAILBLAZER, ROOSEVELT ``ROCKY'' RATLIFF, III, IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Kathy Castor (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2022-2-28

. Madam , this Black History Month, I am proud to celebrate local trailblazers who have dedicated their lives to lifting up our community. I rise today in immense gratitude of Roosevelt ``Rocky'' Ratliff, III, a lifetime public servant. Born in Perry, Fla at 2 pounds and 11 ounces, he gained the name Rocky by his delivery nurse because he was a fighter, despite his low birthweight. His parents, Roosevelt Jr. and Gloria, taught him that hard work and doing your very best in everything you do pays off. He moved to Tampa in 1984 and received his bachelor's degree in criminology from St. Leo University--becoming the first in his family to attain a college degree. He also attended Bethune Cookman University, where he was a member of the Marching Wildcats Band. prgtoken Mr. Ratliff joined the Tampa Police Department in 1998, patrolling the seven public housing properties that existed at the time. He led with his ``Boots on the Ground'' philosophy that stressed the importance of patrolling neighborhoods on foot to deter crime and foster invaluable relationships with the neighbors. This philosophy helped him work his way up the ranks to corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain before retiring as a major in 2018. He had a reputation for building strong community relationships throughout the City of Tampa. Because of his initiative, our communities became a safer place to live, work and play. prgtoken Major Ratliff pioneered the Community Oriented Program (COPs) in all three Districts and helped resolve community complaints and disturbances in city parks by serving as the liaison to the Parks & Recreation Department. After 30 years, Major Ratliff retired but continued his community involvement through mentoring. He is a member of the Pi Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. that started a mentoring program at Just Elementary School for 20 young men in the fourth and fifth grades called the Gentlemen's Club. This program is vital in helping young men develop the proper skills needed to guide them throughout life and furthering their education. In addition, he is CEO of Strategic Community Engagement Consulting, LLC. He, along with Derrick Brooks Charities, developed a Community-Police Relationships (CPR) Zoom Forum to focus on addressing concerns between law enforcement and our Black and Brown communities. The Forum has been a major success throughout Florida. For decades, City of Tampa and Hillsborough County employees supported an annual local MLK tribute through a scholarship fund and downtown march, and Major Ratliff was part of that effort during his tenure at the Tampa Police Department. In 2018, he became a member of the MLK Parade Foundation. Today, the MLK Foundation hosts one of the largest MLK parades in the southeastern United States and engages with businesses, community organizations and entertainment--over the past few years, numerous bands from Historically Black Colleges & Universiti