mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson (Executive Session)
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2022-4-6

I proudly rise to speak about the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. prgtoken When I began law school in the fall of 1979, the only woman Justice at the Supreme Court was a white marble statue on the steps. There were no women members of the Court. There had never been women members of the Court. prgtoken The motto engraved over the Court's entrance, ``Equal Justice Under Law,'' sounded great, but it also rang hollow for the more than half of the U.S. population that had never seen themselves represented on the U.S. Supreme Court. prgtoken And it was more than just the absence of women on the Court. In 1868, the 14th Amendment to the Constitution was adopted in core memorable phrase guaranteeing to all persons the equal protection of the law. But the Court, for more than 100 years, refused to extend equal protection to women. prgtoken In one of the first cases testing the meaning of the phrase ``equal protection of the law to all persons,'' the Supreme Court considered an Illinois State law restricting the practice of law to men only. A dynamic, young, feminist activist, Myra Bradwell, passed the Illinois bar exam and applied for a law license to practice law in Illinois. She was turned down because she was a woman. She appealed her case to the Illinois Supreme Court, and they turned her down because she was a woman. And then she came to the U.S. Supreme Court and said: We have just changed the Constitution to guarantee equal protection of the law to all persons, surely, you cannot turn me down in my quest to practice law after I have passed the Illinois bar exam. prgtoken The Supreme Court of the United States, in 1873, by a vote of 8 to 1, ruled that she was not entitled to an equal right to practice the profession of her choosing. prgtoken Let me read you a key part of the decision in that case: The paramount destiny and mission of women are to fulfill the noble and benign office of wife and mother. This is the law of the Creator. prgtoken So a wife and mother can't be a lawyer? So every woman must be a wife and mother? That is what the Supreme Court determined in analyzing the simple phrase ``all persons are entitled to equal protection of the law.'' prgtoken Here is a great trivia question: When did the Supreme Court finally decide that equal protection of the law applied to women? 1971. It took 103 years after the 14th Amendment was adopted for the Supreme Court to say: Wait a minute, equal protection of the law to all persons, that means women. prgtoken In the case of Reed v. Reed, the Court ruled that a State statute providing that males must be preferred to females in the administration of estates--it was an estate administration case--the Court ruled, wait a minute, that violates women's rights to equal protection. Who was the lawyer in that case? A dynamic, young civil rights lawyer with the ACLU named Ruth B
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3807, RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND REPLENISHMENT ACT OF 2021, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Mary Gay Scanlon (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-4-6

in southeastern Pennsylvania, and in cities and towns across the country, restaurants are an essential cornerstone of our local communities and our regional economies. These restaurants were hard-hit by the pandemic. prgtoken Despite the excellence of their cuisine, over the past 2 years, many independent restaurants in Philly, Delaware County, and Montgomery County struggled to stay in business, and some permanently shuttered. prgtoken The Restaurant Revitalization Fund, passed as part of the American Rescue Plan, was a lifeline for the restaurants that received it. The program provided grants targeted to the hardest-hit restaurants, giving restaurant operators financial relief to keep their doors open and keep people employed. prgtoken The funds weren't enough to match the need. I have heard it from my constituents, and everybody who is listening has heard it from their constituents. While roughly 300,000 restaurants applied for aid, only about 100,000 received grants. prgtoken For months, I have joined Representative Blumenauer and my colleagues in calling to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, using only funds recouped from fraudulent claims that have been made in earlier small business relief programs. The Relief for Restaurants and other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act will provide additional financial support to restaurants and small businesses in the industries that are still grievously affected by the coronavirus pandemic. prgtoken , I am glad this needed bill is getting a vote on the floor. I strongly support the rule and its underlying legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to recognize that this issue is still before us and to do the same.
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-4-6

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.
Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson (Executive Calendar)
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2022-4-6

I rise tonight to support Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to serve as an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. prgtoken Judge Jackson comes to this floor with impeccable credentials. She graduated from Harvard magna cum laude. She graduated with honors from Harvard Law School, where she edited the Harvard Law Review. prgtoken After graduation, Judge Jackson worked at top firms in private practice and secured three prestigious clerkships, including one for Justice Breyer on the Supreme Court of the United States. Later, she served as a public defender, representing people who couldn't afford a lawyer. prgtoken I can't think of better evidence of her commitment to equal justice under the law, where everyone, regardless of their means, has the right to fair representation. prgtoken Judge Jackson is clearly qualified for this position. There is nobody who doubts that. My colleagues know it because the Senate has confirmed her three times with bipartisan support: first, to serve as Vice Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission; second, for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia; and, last, for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. prgtoken Taken together, Judge Jackson comes to this floor with the best legal training America can offer: a decade of experience on the Federal bench and a consistent record of bipartisan support here on this floor. prgtoken I had the opportunity to meet with Judge Jackson 2 weeks ago, after she had been rolled around in the barrel--that is one way of saying it--during the confirmation hearings that people all over the country watched. And in our conversation, after she had been through all of that turmoil, she told me about how her parents had attended segregated schools in Miami before working as public school teachers here in Washington, DC. Her dad went on to be a lawyer, a lawyer for the Miami school district, something I appreciate, having been a superintendent of schools. prgtoken Unlike her parents, Judge Jackson grew up in America after the civil rights laws of the 1960s and remembered how hard her parents worked every single day to give her opportunities they never even dreamed of for themselves. And she seized those opportunities. She earned top grade. She was elected student body president. prgtoken And when she told her guidance counselor she wanted to apply to Harvard, the counselor warned she shouldn't set her ``sights so high.'' Fortunately for America, she set her sights high. She set her sights where they should have been set. She followed the high example of her parents, working hard and impressing everyone along the way, friends and colleagues and mentors, who are virtually beating down the doors of this Capitol to tell us what a thoughtful, fairminded, and principled Justice she would be. prgtoken That hasn't stopped some colleagues from distorting her record, trying to say to the American people that she is soft on crime. T
REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE STATUS QUO
Vicente Gonzalez (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2022-4-6

I rise today to celebrate House ' efforts to pass the Affordable Insulin Now Act, which would cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month. prgtoken This bill will be a game changer for the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas and the country as a whole. We have the highest rates of diabetes in the country, and over 25 percent of the population is uninsured. prgtoken The stark reality is that the skyrocketing cost of insulin is crushing south Texans and people across our country. prgtoken One in four Americans who rely on insulin have been forced to ration or skip a dose or choose between buying groceries and filling prescription drugs. prgtoken Pharmaceutical companies manufacture insulin for less than $10 yet sell it to the American people for more than 10 times that. prgtoken I refuse to accept the status quo. prgtoken This long-overdue legislation is an important step to lower healthcare costs for families and hold Big Pharma accountable. prgtoken I urge my Senate colleagues to pass the Affordable Insulin Now Act and send it to the President's desk to sign today.
UKRAINE CHILDREN
Madeleine Dean (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2022-4-6

while preparing remarks, I considered showing much more graphic photos of Ukrainian children brutalized at the hands of Vladimir Putin. But then I thought of some of the people who might see this--refugees of war, war veterans who would be reminded of their own pain and suffering. prgtoken The truth is, for survivors who actually see the end to war, the trauma never recedes, it never leaves. The cost of war is simply too high. prgtoken I come to the floor tonight not as a Congresswoman, but as a mother and a grandmother. My heart breaks at these sights of horror of children lost or scarred forever. prgtoken Last night, my son sent me a photo of a child who is nearly the same age as his daughter, my granddaughter. On her back, her mother had written her name, her contact information, her birth date in case the mother was killed, or the daughter was left alone. prgtoken I cannot imagine that planning--the fear, the despair, the trauma. prgtoken No matter the war, we must think of the children in Syria, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Cameroon, anywhere on our planet. prgtoken I pray for peace for anyone suffering at the hands of a brutal dictator. prgtoken We must do everything we can to find a peaceful resolution. ``Slava Ukrani,'' ``Glory to Ukraine.'' ``Slava heroem,'' ``Glory to the heroes.''
Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson (Executive Session)
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-4-6

first let me say, after listening to my colleague from Texas, if half of what he said I thought was accurate, I would not be supporting Judge Jackson. Fortunately, it is not. So I rise today to urge the Senate to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the United States Supreme Court. I am so excited about her nomination. prgtoken Her nomination, we know, is historic--not just because Judge Jackson is eminently qualified for the position. Both and s agree. In fact, based on her broad range of experience, you could argue she is more qualified to serve on the Supreme Court than any sitting judge. It is not just historic because of the dignified and honorable way she has conducted herself during this entire nomination process. If you think your last job prgtoken interview was rough, take a look at hers. Judge Jackson showed incredible grace during more than 20 hours of questioning that at times was incredibly hostile and rude. I would challenge any Member of this Chamber to endure that level of pressure without cracking. I am quite certain I couldn't do it. She is eminently qualified, and we have seen her judicial temperament up close. prgtoken What really makes Judge Jackson's nomination historic is this number: 115. One hundred and fifteen. That is how many U.S. Supreme Court Justices have served in our Nation's entire history--115. Out of those 115 Justices, 108 have been White males. Just think about it for a moment. In other words, nearly 94 percent of the Supreme Court Justices in our Nation's history have been White men. That is a very exclusive club. prgtoken And like many very exclusive clubs, it has tended to leave a lot of folks out in the cold. In a country as magnificently diverse as ours, that is simply not right, and I am so grateful that President understands this. prgtoken The decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court touch every single American. What does the right to vote truly mean under our Constitution? Freedom of religion; our freedom of speech. How are we as consumers or workers treated under our Constitution? Can a public school district force White students to attend one school while sending Black students to another? Can that same public school district refuse to educate students with disabilities? Can a couple be prevented from marrying and spending the rest of their lives caring for one another because they happen to be gay? And can a State override a woman's right to privacy and force her to continue a pregnancy that puts her own health and future at risk? prgtoken These are some of the types of decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court every day. And when the Supreme Court doesn't look like America, it means that its decisions are less likely to take into account the lives and the needs of all Americans. prgtoken The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had a straightforward answer when she was asked how many women should serve on the U.S. Supreme
TRIBUTE TO KAY GUINANE
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2022-4-6

I rise as chairman of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee to honor and recognize the contributions of Kay Guinane upon her retirement from the Charity and Security Network. prgtoken In 2009, Ms. Guinane founded the Charity and Security Network--C and SN--a resource and advocacy center for nonprofit organizations to promote and protect their ability to carry out effective programs that support peace and human rights, aid civilians in areas of disaster and armed conflict, and build democratic governance. prgtoken Kay formed C and SN after observing significant obstacles in achieving critical humanitarian, peacebuilding and human rights programs. She recognized laws that restricted interactions with and financial support for designated groups and individuals were also severely limiting the critical work of civil society programs that provided assistance to the most vulnerable populations around the world. C and SN blazed a trail in being one of the first nonprofit organizations to address these issues. prgtoken Early on, in concert with colleagues around the world who had experienced similar impediments, Kay began engaging with elected officials and administration policymakers, seeking solutions, including the committees in Congress responsible for illicit finance and sanctions policy. Kay and her organization were a critical resource for the Senate Banking Committee for years as we addressed important policy issues, and unintended consequences of certain policies around illicit financing, bank de-risking, the conveyance of remittances overseas from families in the US--including large communities of Somalis, Ethiopians, and people from across Latin America--and other issues. prgtoken In May 2010, Kay testified in the first congressional oversight hearing since September 11, 2001, to look at the impact of anti- terrorist financing enforcement policies on the U.S. charitable sector. The hearing entitled, ``Anti-Money Laundering: Blocking Terrorist Financing and Its Impact on Lawful Charities,'' was held by the House Financial Services subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. During the hearing, a Treasury official acknowledged that the laws aimed at stopping terrorist financing could have the unintended consequence of harming the effectiveness of certain charitable programs. Kay outlined specific problems faced by the U.S. nonprofit sector, including the issue of banks freezing accounts indefinitely, and noted the negative impact of U.S. Treasury enforcement actions on legitimate charitable organizations operating solely to assist vulnerable populations. prgtoken Over the next decade, Kay and the work of C and SN were a driving force in efforts to address challenges civil society groups had in implementing their essential lifesaving, peacebuilding and human rights work. Kay's vision and efforts built an impressive network of nearly 200 organizations internationally with a shared goa
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail (Executive Calendar)
Raphael G. Warnock (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2022-4-6

. Abused and scorned though we may be, our destiny is tied up with America's destiny. Before the pilgrims landed at Plymouth, we were here. Before the pen of Jefferson etched the majestic words of the Declaration of Independence across the pages of history, we were here. For more than two centuries our forebears labored in this country without wages; they made cotton king; they built the homes of their masters while suffering gross injustice and shameful humiliation--and yet out of a bottomless vitality they continued to thrive and develop. If the inexpressible cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands. Before closing I feel impelled to mention one other point in your statement that has troubled me profoundly. You warmly commended the Birmingham police force for keeping ``order'' and ``preventing violence.'' I doubt that you would have so warmly commended the police force if you had seen its dogs sinking their teeth into unarmed, nonviolent Negroes. I doubt that you would so quickly commend the policemen if you were to observe their ugly and inhumane treatment of Negroes here in the city jail; if you were to watch them push and curse old Negro women and young Negro girls; if you were to see them slap and kick old Negro men and young boys; if you were to observe them, as they did on two occasions, refuse to give us food because we wanted to sing our grace together. I cannot join you in your praise of the Birmingham police department. It is true that the police have exercised a degree of discipline in handling the demonstrators. In this sense they have conducted themselves rather ``nonviolently'' in public. But for what purpose? To preserve the evil system of segregation. Over the past few years I have consistently preached that nonviolence demands that the means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek. I have tried to make it clear that it is wrong to use immoral means to attain moral ends. But now I must affirm that it is just as wrong, or perhaps even more so, to use moral means to preserve immoral ends. Perhaps Mr. Connor and his policemen have been rather nonviolent in public, as was Chief Pritchett in Albany, Georgia, but they have used the moral means of nonviolence to maintain the immoral end of racial injustice. As T.S. Eliot has said: ``The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason.'' I wish you had commended the Negro sit inners and demonstrators of Birmingham for their sublime courage, their willingness to suffer and their amazing dis
Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson (Executive Calendar)
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2022-4-6

I am here to voice my very strong, enthusiastic support for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination and to urge all of our colleagues in joining me to vote to confirm her. prgtoken Judge Jackson is one of the most exceptional Supreme Court nominees I have met, and I am so excited she is on her way to the Supreme Court. It is incredibly well deserved and incredibly good news for our country. prgtoken The bottom line for me is always, can I tell my constituents back home in Washington State that if they ever have a case before this judge, this is someone who will listen, who will understand, and someone who will make a thoughtful, fair decision for them based on the laws of our Nation? And the answer with Judge Jackson is a resounding yes. prgtoken It is clear from her record she has the experience. It was clear from her hearing that she has a masterful understanding of the law and a seemingly endless supply of perhaps unwarranted patience. prgtoken And I think it is clear to anyone, after a few minutes with her, she has heart, compassion, and a commitment to justice. prgtoken So it should be no surprise her nomination was met with wide acclaim, including from prominent lawyers and retired judges appointed by Presidents. prgtoken As a professional, Judge Jackson's record doesn't merely check the boxes we have come to expect from our Supreme Court nominees: a clerkship for Justice Breyer, experience as a district court judge and a circuit court judge. She also has experience that is less common to the highest Court in the land, and for that reason, all the more important--like her experience on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, a perspective only the retiring Justice Breyer brought to the Supreme Court or her experience as a public defender, something no other Supreme Court Justice has ever had. This is so important and so long overdue. prgtoken Being a public defender means developing an in-depth understanding of the legal needs of everyday people. Judges from these kinds of legal backgrounds can be better equipped to understand the experiences of each person before them to recognize the burden laws often place on people who are living with low income or otherwise marginalized, and ultimately to render more informed, more just decisions. prgtoken And Judge Jackson's background is more than simply a resume. It is her perspective growing up as the daughter of two public school teachers, her perspective as a working mother with two daughters of her own, and her perspective as a Black woman working in a profession where stories like hers were few and far between. prgtoken I have no doubt that perspective will serve her and the people who come before her well as a Supreme Court Justice. prgtoken And while her personal story tells us a lot, the way she gracefully and knowledgeably handled her confirmation hearings shows us even more. During a confirmation process that a few s