mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Maui Wildfires (Executive Session)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2023-9-7

tomorrow marks 1 month since the devastating fires that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina on Maui and damaged several of Maui's upcountry communities. prgtoken These devastating fires and the events that followed have been harrowing for all those who call Maui home and the many more who have visited these communities over the years. Initial estimates suggest the fires destroyed nearly 3,000 structures in Lahaina, almost 90 percent of which were residential. It also leveled roughly 700 businesses in and around Lahaina's historic Front Street. Tragically, the fires have claimed 115 lives to date, with some 385 people still unaccounted for. prgtoken These numbers are devastating and reflect the pain and anguish Hawaii is feeling. But this disaster did not simply impact a collection of numbers or statistics; it impacted a community of people, tight-knit and proud--business owners who served as stewards of family-owned shops and restaurants passed down through generations; immigrants who came to Maui in search of a better life for themselves and their families; firefighters who raced into horrific, toxic conditions to try to save a town they loved even as many of their own homes burned to the ground mere miles away; and so many more who called Lahaina home. prgtoken As the onetime capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Lahaina holds great agriculture and historic significance for the Native Hawaiian community. For some families, their roots in Lahaina date back more than a century, with homes passed down from generation to generation. Others came from elsewhere, captivated by Lahaina's beauty and charm. And before the fires, Lahaina was a bustling seaside town that welcomed thousands of visitors every month. But in mere moments, all of that was destroyed as 80-mile-per-hour winds, fueled by a hurricane 500 miles away, propelled the fire through the town with unimaginable speed and fury. prgtoken The devastation is difficult to put into words, as is the trauma this community is experiencing. Front Street, once vibrant with the sounds of music and revelers in the air, is now eerily quiet. The only sound to be heard is often the clanging of twisted metal in the wind. At the hotels where survivors are staying, parents are afraid to send their children to school, not wanting them out of their sight. prgtoken I met a woman who escaped the fire with just a backpack of belongings--a backpack she now takes everywhere with her, refusing to take it off her back. I met hotel workers and others, especially a mental health worker who said that weeks after the fires, some residents and workers were so traumatized, they didn't even want to come out of their rooms. prgtoken At the same time, at a time of grief and loss, residents have been subjected to disinformation on social media, likely coordinated by foreign government entities, to discourage residents from reaching out to FEMA for disaster assistance and disinf
Medicare (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-9-7

my timing couldn't have been better than to prgtoken have arrived on the floor of the Senate after the leader, Senator McConnell, had given a speech on the cost of drugs in America. I have the rest of the story, the other side of the story, that he has just delivered. He spoke about prescription drug socialism. I want to talk about the unfairness of pharmaceutical pricing to Americans, to families, and across the board. prgtoken People have talked about the cost of prescription drugs being too high for as long as I can remember; but last week, President and the in Congress marked a milestone in fulfilling a commitment to start bringing down the outrageous price of prescription drugs. For years, Americans have paid the highest prices in the world-- in the world--for medications. We pay an average of nearly four times more than other Western countries for exactly the same drugs made by the same companies. prgtoken Last year, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, which Senator McConnell calls prescription drug socialism, the finally delivered for America's patients, granting Medicare the power to negotiate fair prices for medications used by seniors. He made the point; I want to make it again. Not a single Senator voted in favor of bringing down prescription drug prices in the Inflation Reduction Act. Not one. Not one Senator would join us. Thank goodness, we had enough votes to pass it, and President signed it into law. prgtoken Well, last week, the President announced the first 10 drugs that would see the reductions from negotiations--the medications that cost the Medicare program and American taxpayers more than $50 billion last year. In 2022, seniors across America spent more than $3 billion on copays at the drug stores for these 10 drugs. prgtoken For example, 132,000 seniors in Illinois each spent an average of $500 out of pocket on Eliquis. Do you recognize the name? Eliquis is a blood thinner. The Inflation Reduction Act capped the price of insulin for seniors at $35 a month and went on to say that no senior will have to pay more than $2,000 in a year out of pocket for the cost of prescription drugs. The law established new penalties for drug manufacturers that raise prices unreasonably. And many vaccines are now free for seniors, like the shingles vaccine that had a list price of nearly $400. prgtoken This is what Senator McConnell and the s call socialism. To me, it is simple fairness. Once again, not a single voted to support this measure. Not one. In fact, the s have called this socialist price controls--socialism. It is all socialism. Bringing down the cost of prescription drugs, to the s, has to be just too much government--socialism. prgtoken How do they ignore the fact that, for years, the Veterans Health Administration has already used negotiations to bring down prices
Nomination of Anna M. Gomez (Executive Calendar)
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2023-9-7

I rise today in support of Anna Gomez, President 's nominee to serve on the Federal Communications Commission. prgtoken The FCC is one of the premier, expert Agencies in the Federal Government, responsible for overseeing the wires and the radio waves that have become the backbone of our economy and our communities. prgtoken But since the beginning of the administration nearly 1,000 days ago, the Agency has been hamstrung in implementing critical communications priorities due to the absence of a fifth Commissioner. With Ms. Gomez as a Commissioner, that will finally change. The Federal Communications Commission will have the power to take on the big-dollar interests that seek to block critical consumer protections at every turn. prgtoken I support Ms. Gomez's nomination because I know she is ready for these fights. She knows that today broadband is not a luxury. Like running water or heat, broadband is an essential utility. Without high- quality and affordable broadband, students cannot learn, small businesses cannot reach new customers, entrepreneurs cannot innovate, and seniors cannot access telemedicine. The FCC's authority must reflect the essential nature of the internet in American life, and that is exactly what Ms. Gomez will provide. prgtoken With three ic Commissioners, the FCC can act swiftly to restore net neutrality and protect a free and open internet. My colleagues will say that Congress should act on net neutrality instead of the Federal Communications Commission, but their Big Cable and Big Tech industry allies will be in their ear with crocodile-tear arguments about an out-of-control Agency usurping the will of Congress. prgtoken Well, if s really want to take on this problem through legislation and not administrative action, then they should be prepared to join me when I reintroduce my net neutrality legislation in the coming weeks. They can be on record supporting internet freedom or siding with the broadband behemoths. prgtoken It has been nearly 6 years since the FCC repealed net neutrality. We cannot wait any longer for s to come to their senses. We must confirm Ms. Gomez so that the FCC can act without delay. prgtoken We must also confirm Ms. Gomez because the FCC must address other critical communications issues, including technology accessibility for people with disabilities, protecting local community media, and closing the homework gap. prgtoken I am particularly concerned about the future of the $7 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund, which I passed during the pandemic. Over the past 2 years, thanks to the Commission's hard work, the Emergency Connectivity Fund has provided laptops, tablets, and internet services to more than 17 million students and teachers. Those resources are particularly critical for Black and Brown and immigrant and low-income populations who often lack access to the internet at home. prgtoken
Nomination of Adriana Debora Kugler (Executive Session)
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2023-9-7

every so often, this Chamber is granted an opportunity to alter the course of American history. These rare opportunities allow us to pick up the torch, hoist it high like those who came before, and carry it forward as we strive to create a more perfect Union. prgtoken Today, we have such an opportunity. In a few minutes, this body will consider the nomination of a preeminent economist, Dr. Adriana Kugler, to serve on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. Already, she has broken barriers and blazed new trails--the first Hispanic American ever nominated to serve in that critical role. prgtoken But for my colleagues who will soon cast their votes on her nomination, I would just like to highlight what this means for the 62 million Latinos who call America home. Simply put, we see ourselves reflected in her story and her nomination. prgtoken Dr. Kugler is a first-generation American, the daughter of immigrants from Colombia. To hear her tell her story is to listen to the American dream come to life, from her grandparents who overcame tremendous obstacles--whether it was fleeing religious persecution, being orphaned at the age of 3, or dropping out of high school to help a widowed mother raise five siblings. Dr. Kugler's family instilled in her the importance of grit and resilience alongside an unwavering work ethic. As a result, her life's work has been to help others similarly rise above their station. prgtoken For more than 25 years as an economist, she has conducted essential research on labor markets, worker mobility, and firm productivity-- three areas that are essential to the Federal Reserve's mandate. prgtoken She currently serves as U.S. Executive Director at the World Bank after previously serving as Chief Economist at the Department of Labor, bringing a domestic and international perspective at a time when global economies have never been more connected. Because of this work, because of her sterling credentials and outstanding reputation, Dr. Kugler's nomination has earned the endorsement of 33 peer economists from across the political spectrum. In a joint letter, they called her ``a brilliant, objective economist who takes an evidence-based approach to decision-making and is an expert in policy evaluation.'' prgtoken Make no mistake, Dr. Kugler is eminently qualified for the role she has been nominated for. At her confirmation hearing, she reaffirmed a fundamental commitment to the Federal Reserve dual mandate, pledging to continue its efforts to bring down high inflation that is hurting workers and businesses alike. prgtoken In addition to her qualifications and balanced approach to decision making, Dr. Kugler has demonstrated time and time again that she will uphold the Federal Reserve's long legacy of independent decision making. It is precisely because those decisions affect every community in our country that I am especially proud that Dr. Kugler will finally bring lived exp
Nomination of Anna M. Gomez (Executive Calendar)
Maria Cantwell (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-9-7

I rise today in support of President 's nomination of Anna Gomez to be a commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission. prgtoken Americans need an FCC fully equipped to deliver affordable high-speed connectivity, strengthen local broadcasting, foster spectrum innovation, and promote emerging technologies. Ms. Gomez will deliver on these priorities. prgtoken While she has dedicated much of her career to public service, working in various roles at the FCC, serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary at NTIA, and at the National Economic Council during the Clinton administration, she has also worked in the private sector. prgtoken For 3 years, she served as the vice president of State and Federal regulatory, government affairs for Sprint Nextel, and for 9 years, she worked at Wiley Rein, as part of the law firm's telecommunications practice. prgtoken Ms. Gomez will focus on ensuring affordable, reliable broadband across America's cities, suburbs, and rural communities. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that for healthcare, education, labor, and so much more, broadband is a necessity. prgtoken For this purpose, Congress allocated $65 billion for broadband in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including $42.5 billion allocated based on the FCC's broadband maps. Ms. Gomez has pledged to work to improve the accuracy of these maps and deliver broadband to all. prgtoken We also need to lower the cost of broadband deployment. By leveraging our existing electrical grid infrastructure, we can build out more middle mile capacity. This will spur competition and help lower the cost of broadband. prgtoken While Congress invested $1 billion to create a middle mile grant program at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the demand for this funding was more than seven times the amount available. We must do more. prgtoken Given her experience working at NTIA, Ms. Gomez has unique expertise in middle mile broadband deployment issues. prgtoken The FCC also plays an important role in sustaining local news. Local stations provide trusted on-the-ground reporting that informs the public and strengthens our democracy. prgtoken Ms. Gomez understands that we must protect local broadcast news and has pledged to delve into what the FCC can do to protect it. prgtoken She will also fight to ensure that the United States remains a leader in global spectrum policy. As countries like China compete for spectrum leadership, we must develop smart spectrum policies that promote national security and innovation. prgtoken We know the FCC has a crucial role in making sufficient spectrum available for wireless innovation and our federal agencies' critical missions. prgtoken Over the past year, Ms. Gomez has worked hard to prepare the United States for the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference and develop a comprehensive U.S. global spectrum strategy. She has also built a strong team that is well-in
BUDGET
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2023-9-7

yesterday, Appropriations Chair Patty Murray and Vice Chair Susan Collins announced they are ready to move ahead with the first three appropriations bills here on the Senate floor: MILCON-VA, Agriculture, and Transportation HUD. prgtoken This is extremely good news for what has already been a fruitful and bipartisan Senate appropriations process. Chair and Vice Chair Murray and Collins have done an outstanding job negotiating this difficult work, so I thank them, as well as my other colleagues, particularly those on Appropriations, on both sides of the aisle. prgtoken To keep the bipartisan momentum alive, I will file cloture on this package today, with a plan to hold our first vote early next week. The Senate appropriations process is a lesson in how governing should work. All 12 appropriations bills have been passed with bipartisan support through regular order. Nine of them were either unanimous or just had one ``no'' vote. prgtoken That doesn't mean the parties have to agree on everything--we know that won't happen. But what it means is that our disagreements have not paralyzed the process. That is the mark of good governance. prgtoken Of course, the work is far from over. When the House gavels back into session next week, time will be short for both parties in both Chambers to unite around a plan to keep the government open beyond September 30. prgtoken There is only one way--one way--that this will happen: through bipartisanship. Neither party can afford to go at it alone if we want to avoid a shutdown. We are going to have to work together, just as we have done in the Senate, without resorting to extremism and unseemly tactics. And that message is intended for the House, the House s, and the House leadership, in particular. prgtoken When I last met with the at the end of July, we had a good conversation on the matter, so I hope he prgtoken sticks to his guns as this process begins in earnest. Both parties in both Chambers must come together on passing emergency supplemental funding to help our fellow Americans reeling from natural disasters, to stand with our friends in Ukraine fighting against Putin, and to fight against the fentanyl crisis, among other priorities. prgtoken Later this morning, I will attend a classified briefing on the state of the war in Ukraine, where I expect we will see precisely why, now more than ever, our friends abroad need our help. We must continue to show Putin and the forces of autocracy that the United States stands firmly behind Ukraine. The worst thing we could do right now for our own national security and for our democratic values is to waver or hesitate in our support. prgtoken What is the point in cutting off support now when we are at a turning point in the war--an inflection point--after we have invested such a large amount of resources to get us to this inflection point? It is a crucial moment right now. prgtoken So one more time, l
Nomination of Anna M. Gomez (Executive Session)
Ben Ray Luján (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2023-9-7

communications and technology are at the forefront of policy today. From protecting consumers to establishing competitive and open markets to using spectrum and fiber to close the digital divide, the Federal Communications Commission is the expert Agency to establish regulations, policy, and recommendations to Congress. prgtoken Before us today is a genuine and passionate public servant. Anna Gomez has proven herself to be a prominent leader in technology and telecommunications, and I urge my colleagues to support her confirmation. prgtoken Ms. Gomez is more than ready to assume her next role in public service as our fifth and final FCC Commissioner. As I often say, folks know the difference between fast internet, slow internet, and no internet. I rise today before my colleagues to voice my support for a deeply qualified person who knows the difference between fast internet, slow internet, and no internet. She has the experience to bridge those divides. prgtoken Today, one in five families in New Mexico are living without a reliable connection to the internet. Ms. Gomez has worked on bringing more reliable and affordable ways to connect Americans to the internet almost as long as the term ``digital divide'' has been around. I was a strong advocate for the President to nominate Anna, and her reception here in the Senate is proof that she is the right choice. Anna's professional record is impeccable, and her path is an inspiration. prgtoken During her confirmation hearing, Ms. Gomez shared her story of scraping, borrowing, and working her way through college and through law school. Beyond law school, Ms. Gomez's experience in the White House, the State Department, the U.S. Senate, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and the FCC shows us all that she is not afraid to roll up her sleeves and get to work. prgtoken I am confident that with her issue-oriented experience at every level of the congressionally mandated responsibilities of the FCC, she will be ready on day one. Protecting the public interest and advancing universal service for broadband and broadcast services is a passion for Ms. Gomez. prgtoken Anna's voice as the first Latina to serve on the Commission since my fellow New Mexican, Gloria Tristani, is very welcomed. I know that many of my colleagues here know that numbing sense of fear one can have when your constituents are in the midst of danger from a wildfire or a hurricane or a flood, with no way to reach them. Having reliable access to broadband connectivity during an emergency can mean the difference between someone coming home or not. prgtoken Anna Gomez has worked on securing reliable communication access for our first responders all across the country. As we continue to encounter more and more climate disasters, these efforts made by Ms. Gomez will continue to play a critical role. prgtoken Moreover, the Federal Communications Commission has never bee
ORDER FOR ADJOURNMENT
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2023-9-7

60 years ago last week, on Monday, August 28, hundreds of thousands of men and women descended on our Nation's capital for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. prgtoken The march has become synonymous with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s ``I prgtoken Have a Dream'' speech, which he delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and has become a central rallying theme for the civil rights movement. prgtoken Dr. King was prophetic in his remarks, beginning by saying that the day ``will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.'' prgtoken To this day, it is the standard by which every other march and rally in Washington is judged. I thank all the Marylanders who attended the march and wanted to give a special thanks to those who joined the reenactment last week in Annapolis, which was kicked off by the Morgan State Marching Band. Had he lived to see the progress that has been made, and sometimes lost, six decades later, I am confident that Dr. King would have been uneasy and deeply frustrated that we are still fighting many of the same battles against bigotry and racism as well as economic repression and hate-fueled gun violence. Yet I am sure he would have leaned into the words he spoke on March 31, 1968, just days before his assassination, when he said: We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice. prgtoken Of course, Dr. King knew that we cannot leave it to fate to bend the arc of the moral universe on its own. We must work together for justice, equality, and democracy so that all people in this great Nation can be free. As Dr. King said: All men, yes, black men, as well as white men, would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. prgtoken Labor leader A. Philip Randolph's opening speech at the march was also explicit in the broad demands of the moment: We want a free, democratic society dedicated to the political, economic, and social advancement of men along moral lines. prgtoken To that end, for many years in the U.S. Senate, I have been humbled to lead the fight for a number of key civil rights measures that would move the arc in the right direction of progress. These are basic measures that rebuke the structural racism that has been so deeply ingrained in our legal, social, and economic system for generations. prgtoken All of these legislative measures have healthy ic support; but, regrettably, with few exceptions, they are not yet bipartisan. prgtoken So let me go through some of these efforts. First, the End Racial and Religious Profiling Act would ban discriminatory profiling by Federal, State, and local law enforcement nationwide. Prohibited behavior would include targeting based on actual or perceived race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientatio