mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
GIRLS OF STEEL
Michael F. Doyle (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-4-5

. Madam , I rise today to commend the Girls of Steel robotics team for qualifying for the eleventh time to attend the FIRST World Championship competition by winning the Regional Engineering Inspiration award at the Greater Pittsburgh Regional, held at California University of Pennsylvania in California, Pennsylvania, between March 17th and 19th, 2022. prgtoken I also want to commend the Girls of Steel for winning the Regional Chairman's Award at the Buckeye Regional held at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio, between March 24 and 26, 2022. The Regional Chairman's Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST. It honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST. prgtoken The students are proud that their awards qualify them to attend the 2022 FIRST World Championship in Houston, Texas. I think that the remarkable accomplishment of continuously making it to the Championship speaks volumes about the dedication these young women have in pursuing ``STEM''--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math--careers, their ability to sustain their team, and the thousands of hours they have spent collectively doing outreach in the community. The Girls of Steel are often referred to as the hometown favorite robotics group and continue to be featured in videos, print media, and blog posts. prgtoken FIRST, which stands for ``For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology,'' is an organization dedicated to engaging our students in STEM fields. Hundreds of thousands of students gain practical, team- based engineering experiences through FIRST every year. prgtoken As a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Robotics Caucus, I believe competitions like these are incredible tools for helping our young people to explore potential careers in STEM. I've witnessed firsthand the incredible economic growth and development that these fields can bring to my home district, and I strongly believe that these fields are crucial to our nation's future prosperity. For encouraging young people in these pursuits, I want to commend organizations like FIRST for their important work. The FIRST Robotics Competition allows students to apply creativity and critical thinking in the demanding and competitive field of robotics, all while instilling a strong sense of pride in participants. prgtoken Fifty-three young women from 8th through 12th grade associated with schools located in and around the Pittsburgh area represent this year's Girls of Steel program, and in recognition of their hard work, intelligence, and teamwork, I would like to mention each of these inspiring young people by name. They are Ciara Anderson, Ariella Avigad, Somdatta Basu, Justine Bennett, Aashi Bhatt, Megan Cassady, Elise Chu, Diya Cowlagi, Nina Cranor, Elizabeth Crookston, Maggie Davis, Maeve Dever, Mikaela Dassanaike-Perera, Natalie Ficca, Alexandra George, Susanna Getty, Anuva Ghosal
Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson (Executive Calendar)
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-4-5

I rise to speak in support of the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. When confirmed, Judge Jackson, who currently serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the prgtoken District of Columbia Circuit, will take the seat on the Supreme Court that Justice Stephen Breyer has held for almost three decades, so I would like to first offer a few words about Justice Breyer as he prepares to step down from the Bench. prgtoken Justice Breyer has served the Court and the Nation with grace, expertise, humility, brilliance, and an unwavering dedication to justice. He has worked tirelessly to build consensus among his colleagues, and he has always kept in mind the real-world impacts of the Court's decisions on the American people. prgtoken Justice Breyer knew that ``justice for some'' was a failure of the Court. From his opinions on voting rights to reproductive rights, to the Affordable Care Act, he has been a key voice in many historic decisions that have affected so many Americans. We owe him a great debt of gratitude. And I am honored and privileged to call Justice Breyer a dear friend, and I wish him the best in his retirement. prgtoken Now, in looking for Justice Breyer's successor, President said that he wanted to nominate a ``persuasive'' Justice, someone in the mold of Justice Breyer, and with Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President has found that person. prgtoken I am confident that Judge Jackson--who clerked for Justice Breyer on the Supreme Court--will follow in his footsteps as a Justice who will make a lasting contribution on the Court through her pragmatism, evenhandedness, and deep understanding of the Constitution and the impact that the Court's decisions have on all Americans. prgtoken And as the first African-American woman Justice on the Bench, Judge Jackson's historic nomination is an important and long overdue step toward making the Supreme Court better reflect the Nation whose people the Court serves. prgtoken Fifty-four years ago yesterday, our Nation, our world, lost the guiding light of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr to assassination. That loss was incalculable. We can only imagine the society we would live in if Dr. King were still with us, preaching, marching, teaching, and I have no doubt that Dr. King would be on the steps of the Capitol as the loudest and proudest voice in support of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be our next Supreme Court Justice and the first Black woman to serve on our highest Court. prgtoken He would know that with the appointment and confirmation of Judge Jackson, we would take the long overdue step to make the Nation's top Court look more like and better represent all of the American people. prgtoken The legacy of the more just, more equal society that Dr. King pushed us to create is alive and it is well in this confirmation and on the floor and hearing rooms of the U.S. Senate this week.
UPHOLDING THE FOUNDING DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION AND ESTABLISHING A CENTER FOR DEMOCRATIC RESILIENCE
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2022-4-5

such time as I may consume. prgtoken I think this is a really important resolution. It is also timely because, as Mr. Boyle indicated, we have our next NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Athens this weekend; and if we are going to have input to the strategic concept of NATO, which is being revised and will be adopted next month, in May, we have got to have this in hand as an expression, a bipartisan expression of the collective concern and commitment of this body. prgtoken I am honored by the fact that this is bipartisan. It passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee overwhelmingly, and I would hope that later today we have a strong bipartisan vote on this resolution so we can bring it to our deliberations in Athens and in Madrid in the next 2 months. prgtoken , .
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-4-5

I want there to be no mistake about what just happened here on the Senate floor. s blocked a bipartisan bill that would provide vaccines, testing, and therapeutics for the American people. prgtoken Yesterday, a group of and s announced we had reached a bipartisan agreement for COVID relief funding, but today, a majority of Senate s have blocked this critical and much- needed funding from going forward. prgtoken Vaccines, therapeutics, and testing were negotiated in good faith. And it should not--they should not be held hostage to extraneous, unrelated issues. This is too important for the health of the American people. But that seems precisely what some s want to do. prgtoken This is a potentially devastating vote for every single American who is worried about the possibility of a new variant rearing its nasty head within a few months. prgtoken It is devastating for any American who, in the future, looks for a vaccine or a booster shot, only to be told supplies have run out. prgtoken It is devastating for anyone looking down the line to get tested because they feel sick or want their families safe and discover no tests are available. It is devastating for anyone who--God forbid-- falls seriously ill but can't access lifesaving therapeutics because the Federal Government can't purchase new supplies because of the vote our colleagues on the side of the aisle just took. prgtoken Too many s seem to want to play politics at a time when we need to work together to pass legislation our country desperately needs. s voted no on vaccines for kids. s voted no on tests for new COVID variants. s voted no on therapies to save lives and make us less sick. prgtoken Have we learned nothing from the last 2 years of living with this horrible disease? Have s learned nothing about how lack of preparation could damage our economy? This money--the money that they rejected today--will go a long way to keeping our schools, our businesses, our churches, our communities running as normally as possible. prgtoken If we want to stay at normal, we need these dollars. Without these dollars, the risk of schools closing, of businesses closing, of public transportation closing is too large. prgtoken Should a future variant rear its nasty head--should a future variant rear its nasty head--Americans will know who voted against more funding. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. prgtoken This was a $10 billion agreement that was fully paid for. If there is another surge, it costs us 10 times that if we are behind the curve again. prgtoken I hope s will get serious about this. It should not be so difficult for them to do something so good and important for our country. There is still some time. I hope my colleagues change their tune quickly. prgtoken .
TRIBUTE TO ANA J. KORDOVICH GALOVSKI
Joseph D. Morelle (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-4-5

. Madam , I would like to pay tribute to Ana J. Kordovich Galovski, who passed away earlier this year following a battle with Alzheimer's disease. prgtoken Ana was born in Bukov, Macedonia and immigrated to the United States in 1951, where she was able to meet her father for the first time at the age of 12. She attended West High School here in Rochester and graduated as a member of the Class of 1957. prgtoken Ana was deeply involved in the local community--especially in the local Macedonian community. She was a founding member of St. Dimitria Macedonian Orthodox Church in Henrietta, NY and remained active in the church community throughout her life. She was often seen attending services and board meetings, singing in the choir, or calling bingo numbers. Ana went above and beyond to help those in the Macedonian community acclimate to living in the United States. prgtoken Ana loved to travel with friends and family, especially with her grandkids later in life. She was loved by all who knew her, and she will be deeply missed. My heart goes out to her entire family during this difficult time.
FRED UPTON HAS BEEN A DEVOTED PUBLIC SERVANT
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-4-5

for 35 years, Fred Upton has been a devoted public servant for southwest Michigan, all of Michigan, and our Nation. prgtoken Throughout his career, he has always put the people he served first. To him, bipartisan and compromise are not forbidden words. Fred knew well that if we are going to deliver real solutions for the American people, we need to come together and listen to all perspectives, no matter how complicated the issue might be. It is because of that thinking, he was able to get so much done in Congress. prgtoken I am especially proud of all that we have been able to accomplish together. Thanks to his partnership, we were able to pass legislation to protect the Great Lakes for future generations and lower the cost of healthcare for all Americans. Together, we have championed removing the harmful PFAS chemicals from our Nation's drinking water, and I am confident we are going to get this to the President's desk. prgtoken While we may not have found harmony on every issue, Fred and I always managed to disagree without vitriolic rhetoric and mean-spirited language. Even through our toughest discussions, Fred always found a way to make me laugh, except today. It is his civility that I--and Congress--will miss the most. prgtoken Fred really believed that he was an American first, that reaching across the aisle was important, that working together is how we get things done for the American people. His retiring is a loss for this country, and especially the people of Michigan. prgtoken Fred is a dear friend to me, was John's best friend, and was there when John died. The Dingell family loves him. He is one of the greatest Michiganders to serve our country. I wish him, Amey, and their family the best as they prepare for the next adventure. And there will be one. Thank you, Fred.
SUPPORTING MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-4-5

I rise today to talk about how proud I was to support the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act last week. It decriminalizes marijuana and expunges marijuana arrests from the books. prgtoken Marijuana laws have been devastating to minority communities. African and Latino Americans are four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana offenses than are White Americans, and they receive longer prison sentences for the same crimes. prgtoken Today, minorities are in prison for offenses that are no longer crimes in most States. This bill would give these Americans a fresh start. prgtoken In addition, the bill has an opportunity trust fund to create opportunities for minority marijuana businesses. prgtoken It is time we passed this bill and ended the gross injustice of marijuana law enforcement in this country.
Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-4-5

reserving the right to object. I have to ask myself, why now? Why does the junior Senator from Missouri bring this bill to the floor of the U.S. Senate today? prgtoken When you think back, this matter has been considered. Originally, the guidelines were considered in 1984. The question of child pornography came back to us in 2003. prgtoken In 2005, there was a Supreme Court case about applying the guidelines on sentencing to these types of cases--a case known as Booker. We know that in 2005, that decision was handed down. prgtoken We know that in 2012, the Sentencing Commission said to Congress and to the world that you need to do something here. These guidelines that you promulgated don't reflect the reality of today. prgtoken We know, as well, that the guidelines were written--some were written in an era when the materials we are talking about were physical materials. And we now live in the world of internet and access to not just tens and hundreds but thousands of images, if that is your decision. prgtoken And all these things have happened, and we come here today--today. I don't know exactly how many years the Senator from Missouri has been in the Senate, but to my knowledge, this is his first bill on this subject that he has presented in the last few weeks. And I wonder why--why now? prgtoken Are there valid questions about sentencing guidelines? Certainly, there is no question about it. I said as much, and he quoted me. prgtoken The Sentencing Commission told us over a decade ago, in 2012: You have got a problem here. The world has changed, and the law doesn't reflect it. prgtoken But this is the first time, to my knowledge, that the Senator from Missouri or any Senator has tried to enact legislation on the subject. Why now? Well, I know why. He said as much. It is because we are now considering the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. prgtoken This Senator has suggested over the course of the last 2 weeks in hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee that somehow this judge--this judge who is aspiring to the Supreme Court--is out of the mainstream when it comes to sentencing in child pornography cases. prgtoken It is no coincidence that the Senator from Missouri comes to the floor today while Judge Jackson's nomination is pending on the Senate calendar. It was discharged from our committee by a bipartisan vote in the Senate last night. It is no coincidence that he is raising this issue within hours or days before her confirmation vote. It is one more, very transparent attempt to link Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation with this highly emotional issue of Federal sentencing when it comes to child pornography or child exploitation. prgtoken There are some political groups--at least one well-known political group--that manufacture theories about child pornography, pedophilia, and the like and that even inspire deadly reactions to them, and they are ch
Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson (Executive Session)
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-4-5

later this week, the full Senate will take up and vote on the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. prgtoken Over the last several weeks, the Congress and the country and, indeed, the world have gotten to know Judge Jackson. We have learned about her broad life experience, her exceptional career, her deep love of the law. prgtoken Judge Jackson endured a verbal marathon of intense questioning from members of the Judiciary Committee. She endured challenging and sometimes specious lines of questioning from some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, but through it all, she shined. She approached every moment of the hearing with grace, with wisdom, and with brilliance. Her good judgment and sharp mind were on full display for all to see. She was unshakable; she was inspiring. prgtoken If confirmed, she will make history as the first Black woman to sit on the highest Court of the land. With Judge Jackson on the top Bench, we will get one step closer to ensuring that the Supreme Court of the United States looks like the Nation it serves; and with Judge Jackson on the highest Court, we will be even closer to realizing the noble ideal inscribed on the face of the Supreme Court building: ``Equal Justice Under Law.'' prgtoken Her confirmation will be a victory for all of America. prgtoken My State of Maryland is also proud to have a small connection with Judge Jackson. Not only did she reside in Maryland for a period of time, but her brother served on the Baltimore Police Department for 7 years, and he has also served two tours of duty as a member of the Maryland National Guard. Other members of her family also pursued careers in public service. Two of her uncles were police officers, and her parents were public school teachers. prgtoken Like her family members, Ketanji Brown Jackson has taken up the mantle of public service as a public defender, as a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, as a district court judge, and as a Federal circuit court judge. prgtoken It is no mystery as to why her nomination has been met with widespread praise. She has been lauded by the Fraternal Order of Police and by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Prominent -appointed judges and lawyers have spoken in favor of her confirmation. The American Bar Association listed her as ``well-qualified'' for the position to which she has been nominated-- their highest rating. prgtoken There is no question in my mind that she will serve our Nation well and with distinction as the newest Justice of the Supreme Court, and I will vote in favor of her confirmation this week, proudly. prgtoken I have watched many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle strain to find some justification for voting against Judge Jackson. They know she is highly qualified. They know she is a person of integrity. They know she has the training
ALLEVIATING HEALTH DISPARITIES
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2022-4-5

I rise to applaud the working with the administration to achieve the best job creation record in United States history. prgtoken Together, we have created 7.9 million jobs and seen the largest decrease in unemployment in history. In March, the national unemployment rate fell to 3.6 faster than expected and reached the lowest level since February 2020. prgtoken The United States has now regained 93 percent of the jobs lost during the pandemic. There have been particularly strong gains in the industries integral to addressing supply chain challenges, including manufacturing, construction, transportation, and warehousing. prgtoken Despite strong economic growth and wage gains, global price increases make it harder for U.S. workers and families to recover everyday expenses. The higher prices deprive households of the full benefits of the strongest wage growth seen in years. prgtoken Investing in children and families, workers, and small businesses, as the building a better America agenda does, would address the root causes of inflation and reduce some of the biggest expenses in our households. prgtoken While we are making great strides in ensuring a thriving economy, we must also remain committed to ensuring access to healthcare for all Americans. There is no wealth without good health. prgtoken While the Affordable Care Act has been critical in addressing the healthcare gap, we know Black and Brown and low-income families across this Nation are still disproportionately impacted by health disparities. prgtoken Allow me to share some daunting data to paint the seriousness of my concerns. prgtoken In 2018, approximately 21.5 percent of Hispanic adults over age 20 were diagnosed with diabetes, compared to 13 percent of White adults over the age of 20. prgtoken Hispanic women are 40 percent more likely to have cervical cancer and 20 percent more likely to die from cervical cancer than non-Hispanic White women. prgtoken There are 11 infant deaths per 1,000 live births among Black women. This is almost twice the national average. prgtoken Alleviating health disparities will require a deliberate and sustained effort to address socioeconomic determinants of health, such as poverty, segregation, and environmental degradation. prgtoken Furthermore, regarding mortality health, I plan to vote in favor of H.R. 1218, the Data Mapping to Save Moms' Lives Act. This legislation will use data mapping to show where high rates of poor maternal health outcomes overlap with the lack of access to broadband services to help identify where improved access to telehealth services can be most effective. prgtoken According to the CDC, severe complications related to pregnancy, known as severe maternal morbidity, impact over 50,000 women in the United States each year. Unfortunately, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. prgtoken In my own State, Florida ranks 32nd out of the 50