mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2022-12-15

I rise today in support of Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, the President's nominee to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy. prgtoken As a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I know that growing and sustaining our industrial base is a critical aspect of the resilience of our national security, and it is critical also to maintaining our competitive advantage with China and other near-peer competitors. A resilient defense industrial base is also vital to the support the United States is providing to Ukraine. prgtoken Dr. Taylor-Kale is well suited for this role, having served in the - administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing in the International Trade Administration and as the senior adviser for policy and operations at the U.S. Development Finance Corporation. She has significant professional experience at the intersection of business and government and has a thorough understanding of industry challenges and their impact on supply chains most crucial to our national security. Her experience across government, the private sector, multilateral organizations, and academia leave her well suited to help ensure the Department of Defense continues to deliver secure and resilient capabilities to our forces. prgtoken Filling this position is important. It is vital to addressing critical vulnerabilities in industrial supply chains, to reducing reliance on foreign adversaries, and securing domestic industrial capacity--all actions that are key to U.S. economic and national security. prgtoken If we are serious about the role of the United States as a global competitor, we need a fully staffed and capable team managing the current and future needs of our military forces. Dr. Taylor-Kale will help complete that team. prgtoken I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, in consultation with the leader, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 1152, Laura Taylor-Kale, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense. (New Position); that there be 10 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form on the nomination; that upon the use or yielding back of the time, the Senate vote without intervening action or debate on the nomination; and that the Senate resume legislative session.
BANNING AMERICAN INVESTMENTS IN CRYPTOCURRENCY
Brad Sherman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-12-15

for 5 years, I have been trying to ban American investments in cryptocurrency. I am the only Member of this House to get an F grade from the only crypto-promoting organization that rates Members of Congress. prgtoken My fear is that we will view Sam Bankman-Fried as just one big snake in the crypto garden of Eden. The fact is, crypto is a garden of snakes. prgtoken Now, from the outside, crypto just looks like a token, an electronic pet rock for the 21st century, something that might be good to invest in--though it has no apparent value--because you might get somebody else to buy it from you for more than you paid for it. prgtoken But in reality, crypto aspires to be a currency and compete with the U.S. dollar. It is not a currency yet, but if it has any long-term value, it is because its promoters are successful in turning it into a currency. prgtoken Now, the U.S. dollar is an excellent currency. It is a medium of exchange that will be used billions of times today for people to buy this or that. It is a medium of exchange. It is a measure of value. prgtoken So how can a cryptocurrency compete with the U.S. dollar and other established currencies? prgtoken Whenever you come up with a new product, you find an advantage that you think you have--at least for part of the market--of your product over the incumbent products, and then you name your product after that advantage. prgtoken The advantage that crypto hopes to be its ticket to become a currency is right there in the name: Cryptocurrency literally means hidden money. prgtoken Well, is there a big market for hidden money? Well, there are the drug dealers, the human traffickers, the sanctions evaders who will find that to be a good feature. As Sam Bankman-Fried would tell you today, there is a hell of a market for those who need a currency that will help them hide assets from the bankruptcy courts. But the true big market for a hidden currency is tax evasion. prgtoken Now, I know there are some on the other side who are kind of happy every time the IRS is defeated. It is said that anytime a billionaire successfully cheats on his taxes, a member of the Freedom Caucus earns his wings. prgtoken The other announced purpose of cryptocurrency design is not just to be a currency available to those who want hidden money, but to compete with the U.S. dollar as a world reserve currency. This would enrich the crypto oligarchs beyond measure and take thousands of dollars a year of advantage away from every American family because every American benefits from the fact that the U.S. dollar is the established world currency. prgtoken Now, Sam Bankman-Fried, or should I say inmate 14372, had one purpose in his efforts in Congress. And he was well known in Congress. The only one wearing shorts walking around. His one purpose was to keep the SEC, the Securities and Exchange Commission, out of the crypto world to provide a patina of regulation, baby regulation by assigning cryp
FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS AND EXTENSIONS ACT, 2023
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-12-15

I, too, rise to thank Senator Toomey for his distinguished public service. I first got to know Pat Toomey back in 2011. prgtoken For those who have been around here a long time or at least a medium amount of time, you may remember the budget impasse in 2011 between the House and the Senate. At that time, there were constant threats of government shutdowns. There was, of course, the issue of the debt ceiling. prgtoken What finally happened was that a piece of legislation or an agreement was reached that said: We are going to create what was then called a supercommittee to try to work out some of these budget issues, and if the supercommittee did not reach an agreement, then this Rube Goldberg machine would take effect, providing automatic budget cuts both to defense and nondefense spending. prgtoken Everybody agreed that having this automatic sequester take place would not serve the best interests of the country and hoped that this supercommittee would be able to come up with a solution. prgtoken Senator Toomey was new to the Senate then, but because of his great expertise and because of the fact that he was trusted by Leader McConnell, he was appointed as one of the very few people--about three or four people from the Senate--to participate on the supercommittee, and I was appointed by Pelosi to serve on the supercommittee. prgtoken We did not, in the end, succeed in reaching an agreement, but one of the really good things that came out of that supercommittee from my perspective was getting to know and work with Pat Toomey. We disagreed on a lot of those issues, and, of course, ultimately the disagreements in the supercommittee overwhelmed our ability to get to some kind of yes. But what I learned during that process was, when you are talking to Pat Toomey, you are talking to somebody who is incredibly knowledgeable and presents his perspective very well. prgtoken You also found somebody who was trustworthy. Pat Toomey never said anything in that process where he went back on his word. He was always very clear about where he stood. Once he said he was for something, he would stick with it, and if he was against it, you would know he was against it. prgtoken You also knew he was someone you could trust in terms of confidence because when you are in a situation like the supercommittee--and we worked for weeks. It was a good-faith effort. We worked for weeks. But you have to learn to trust each other because you are talking about different proposals that ultimately would require a compromise, and we all know that compromise can sometimes be very difficult and politically charged. prgtoken So during that period of time, I recognized that Pat Toomey was someone you could trust. Because of that, when I came to the U.S. Senate, it was a great privilege to work with my by then friend Pat Toomey on a range of issues. prgtoken Senator Toomey talked today about his passion and conviction for expanding freed
RECOGNIZING THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO DIPLOMATIC BINATIONAL RELATIONSHIP
Mark Takano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-12-15

. Madam , I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 200th anniversary of the diplomatic binational relationship between the United States and Mexico. On December 12, 1822, Mexican envoy Jose Manuel Zozaya y Bermudez presented his diplomatic credentials to U.S. President James Monroe. In the two centuries since, we have strengthened the robust strategic and diplomatic relationship between our two countries. The United States and Mexico remain united through deep bonds of friendship and partnership that have helped make our shared continent one of the most prosperous regions in the world. prgtoken Madam , I am particularly proud of the pioneering role my hometown of Riverside, California has played in this key diplomatic relationship. Riverside is proud to have two Sister Cities in Mexico-- Cuautla, Morelos and Ensenada, Baja California Norte. The relationship between Riverside and our two sister cities is grounded in both art and cultural exchanges and public safety partnerships, fostering impactful dialogue and information sharing. prgtoken I commend the International Relations Council of Riverside for their commitment to facilitating these sister-city relationships and strengthening our region's global ties. IRC Riverside brings world leaders and dignitaries to our community, providing students and local business leaders with the opportunity to interact with and learn about people from our sister cities through citizen diplomacy. prgtoken Madam , I thank the cities of Cuautla and Ensenada for their continued commitment and partnership with Riverside and their dedication to strengthening the important binational diplomatic relationship between our two countries. I know that this relationship will continue to grow and prosper in the years to come.
HONORING THE SERVICE OF MURAT GOKCIGDEM
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-12-15

. Madam , I rise today to recognize my longtime Chief of Staff, Mr. Murat Gokcigdem. He is leaving the Hill this month after 29 years of service to the House of Representatives. prgtoken Prior to coming to my office, Mr. Gokcigdem attended West Virginia University in Charleston, earning his bachelor's and his master's degree in International Public Policy. He then began his career as a Hill staffer working for Congressmen Jim Moody and Tom Barrett. He worked his way from Special Assistant to Legislative Director before joining my staff. He has since served in my Washington, DC office for over 21 years. He began as my Legislative Director in 2001 and quickly demonstrated a deep understanding of the legislative process and inner workings of Capitol Hill. His success in that role led me to promote him to Chief of Staff, where he has long advised me on all communications, legislative, and administrative issues and managed my DC and district office staff. prgtoken Murat has been a constant companion for those 21 years, probably more so than he ever imagined. I would not have made it this long in this job without his counsel. I call him at all hours of the day and night, make seemingly impossible requests, and rely on him in part for every aspect of my Congressional operation. prgtoken Murat has also served as a resource for Legislative Directors, Chiefs of Staff, and schedulers from all over the Hill, particularly for those serving the Congressional Black Caucus and the Texas delegation. They know that if they have a question, Murat has an answer. prgtoken Murat's presence in my office has greatly improved my capacity to serve the constituents of TX-30 and supported the professional development of those who have worked for me. prgtoken I want to thank him and his family, his wife Elin and his children Ela and Elif, for his service, his counsel, and most importantly, his friendship over the years.
JAMES M. INHOFE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023--Resumed
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-12-15

I ask unanimous consent that upon the disposition of H. Con. Res. 121, the Senate resume consideration of the message with respect to H.R. 1437; that it be in order to make motions to concur with the following amendments: Scott of Florida amendment No. 6540; Lee amendment No. 6541, as modified with the changes at the desk; that there be 2 minutes for debate between each vote, equally divided between the two leaders or their designees, and the Senate vote in relation to the Scott and Lee motions; that if neither of the motions to concur with amendment are agreed to, the Schumer motion to refer and motion to concur with amendment be withdrawn and the Senate immediately vote on the motion to concur; that the Scott motion and motion to concur votes be subject to a 60-affirmative vote threshold for adoption; finally, that if the motion to concur is agreed to, the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 123, which is at the desk; that the concurrent resolution be considered and agreed to, all without further intervening action or debate.
ENHANCING SAFETY FOR RIDESHARE PASSENGERS
Josh Gottheimer (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-12-15

the House voted this week on the bipartisan Sami's Law, which I am proud to have co-led, to enhance safety for rideshare passengers. prgtoken Sami's Law has been named to honor Samantha Josephson, a senior at the University of South Carolina, originally from New Jersey, who was kidnapped and brutally murdered by a man pretending to be her Uber driver. prgtoken Under Sami's Law, all rideshare services will be required to adopt digital systems that allow passengers to verify the vehicle before they get into the car, make it illegal to sell ridesharing signs without authorization, and create a U.S. Department of Transportation council to ensure safety measures stay current. prgtoken The bill also mandates State-issued front license plates for rideshare vehicles and illuminated windshield signs visible day and night. It will examine the prevalence of assault and abuse perpetrated by rideshare drivers and passengers. prgtoken We must ensure our residents in New Jersey's Fifth District and nationwide are safe when using rideshare. prgtoken I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support commonsense measures like these to ensure the terrible tragedy that befell Samantha Josephson never happens again.
Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis (Executive Session)
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2022-12-15

reserving the right to object, 6 months ago, the Supreme Court ripped away the right to abortion; and, since then, s have enacted abortion bans in States across the country. The outcry against s' cruelty has been loud and clear and overwhelming. prgtoken In every single State where abortion was on the ballot, voters backed abortion rights. They made their voices clear: Women must be able to control their own bodies. They want us to protect abortion access. They want us to stand up against the wave of extreme bans and bills and partisan attacks on abortions and on doctors from s. prgtoken That is exactly what this bill is, another attack on abortion that will make it harder for women to get the care that they need. prgtoken If my colleague really wants to talk about protecting healthcare providers, let's talk about the sharp rise in threats and violence against abortion clinics and what we are doing about that. Let's talk about the providers back home in my home State of Washington who tell me they are worried they could be punished for providing an abortion to patients from out of State. In my State, it is legal. prgtoken Let's talk about how State lawmakers have already discussed a bill to make it a crime to provide abortion care to a resident even in another State where it is legal. prgtoken Yet, if you are one of the many, many doctors and nurses who believe they have a duty to provide abortion care, this bill does nothing to protect you for doing your job, not even if your patient's life is in danger. It is silent on the legal threats that these providers are facing from States, not to mention the increasing physical threats that they face. That prgtoken violence, that science speaks volumes about the real point of this bill. prgtoken By the way, if you are a patient, well, then, the message from this bill is even more clear and even more outrageous. This bill says the ideology of your boss, of your health insurance company, of your pharmacist, or your doctor is more important than your personal decision, your medical needs, or your well-being. prgtoken That is dangerous, it is wrong, and I will not stand for it. Therefore, I object.
JAMES M. INHOFE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023--Resumed
Joe Manchin, III (Democrat, WV) \u2014 2022-12-15

I need to respond to that. I wasn't intending to do so, but I want to clarify that, and I would hope my good friend would listen to my clarification because it is in the bill. prgtoken And either someone maybe had not informed you, sir, but, basically, that can't be done, what you said. I can't charge you in Kansas if the line passes through Kansas and you don't benefit from it. If there is no improved reliability, if it didn't reduce congestion, if it didn't reduce or lower power losses, if it wasn't greater carrying capacity, if it didn't reduce operating reserve--all of these that you have to have benefit to have any cost. We made that in the bill. We were very, very correct. prgtoken You know who brought that to me? Senator Cramer, our good friend from North Dakota, my friend from North Dakota. He said: Joe, you can't do that. prgtoken Now, the other thing is, you were saying that, basically, the States lose all their rights. Again, Senator Cramer said: Joe, you have got to at least have 1 year. I said: It makes sense to me. prgtoken Now, let me tell you what happens. If there is new energy coming into the market, wherever it is coming from, new transmission lines coming in, if that line is going to come into a State and the State thinks it is invading its territory--because most of all of the utilities have monopolies on their grid system, correct? They all have monopolies. They don't want anyone infringing on that. prgtoken Well, guess what? They all have great relationships with the public service commissions. If the public service commission is saying: OK. Who wants to come in here?--and they are coming--and they say: Let's sit down and talk. prgtoken Now, if the person who is already there--let's say you have your own power company and you have the utility lines or the grid system, and you say: I am not going to expand. I am not bringing any more power because I am not going to develop over here. It is not profitable for me. prgtoken Then they have got to make a decision, your PSC. Now, if you all can't agree in 1 year and it is something of national interest, then it can move. prgtoken But think what would happen if Dwight Eisenhower, building the interstate highway system--from, I think, your part of the world--the great general, the great President, OK. This would have never happened. He would have never built the interstate system. How about the interstate pipeline system? We would have never had the energy we have today. prgtoken All we are asking for is the opportunity to bring energy to the market where it is needed. That is all. prgtoken And then when you said: Well, it is going to be a litigious nightmare--that is what we tried to work through, and we did that. You know why? We basically put deadlines. We set firm deadlines for permitting decisions: 2 years for environmental impact statements, 1 year for environmental assessments. That is a tremendous improvement from wh
PUERTO RICO STATUS ACT
Darren Soto (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2022-12-15

. Madam , it is time to set our people free. After 124 years, it is past time for Americans in Puerto Rico to decide their own form of government. prgtoken The Puerto Rico Status Act will finally allow Puerto Ricans to throw off their colonial bonds, finally end their territorial status and choose for themselves: statehood, independence, and sovereignty with free association. What a historic day today is in the U.S. House of Representatives. prgtoken With the option of statehood, which is my preference, it is simple. Puerto Rico would become the 51st State in our Nation, with all the representation rights of our States. prgtoken With independence, they would become an independent nation, a sovereign free to decide their own future. prgtoken With sovereignty with free association, they would be an independent nation and would have the right to enter into a compact, a contract between the United States and Puerto Rico that would provide for citizenship for a limited time, foreign policy agreements, among other matters. prgtoken The history of this bill this term is really important to discuss. We had two hearings that lasted a day each. We had bipartisan negotiations with the great leader on the side, Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, the very voice of the island of Puerto Rico, along with my colleagues Nydia Velazquez, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, our great chairman here, and, of course, our leader. prgtoken It is bipartisan. Just to make sure, we had another nearly daylong hearing, meeting with stakeholders on the island after the draft was released. prgtoken Then, of course, we had a markup. That lasted all day. In fact, I can't think of a single bill that we have gotten out of the Natural Resources Committee that we spent more time on this term than this bill. prgtoken Of course, we see a long history of discrimination against territories, or excuses for why territories shouldn't become States. prgtoken With Texas, they said, ``Could a nation become a State?'' But they got in. prgtoken With New Mexico, they talked about a majority Hispanic native State. It took them nearly 70 years. They got in. prgtoken In Utah, there was religious discrimination. In Hawaii, it was a nation and a predominantly native island--Alaska, as well. prgtoken One by one, we admitted these territories as States based upon their desire to join the Union. prgtoken At this moment, I can't help but well up with emotion. I think about the brave, Borinqueneers, who fought in World War I, World War II, Korea. Puerto Ricans serve in our armed services to this day in greater numbers, in many instances, than States. Many died fighting for a country that organized them into segregated units, sent them there on orders of a Commander in Chief for whom they could not vote under our laws. Yet, as Puerto Ricans, as Americans, they did so proudly, sacrificing their lives for our freedom. prgtoken I think about my trips to Iraq and Afghanistan during the global