mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Martin Heinrich (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2021-3-22

the tragic passing of Dr. Karen Trujillo, a devoted mother and compassionate leader who dedicated her life to New Mexico's students and teachers, is a tremendous loss for the entire State of New Mexico. prgtoken Like so many in New Mexico, I will be forever grateful for the opportunities I had to spend time with Dr. Trujillo and learn from her. She was a tireless advocate for education whose enthusiasm for learning was truly infectious. I am especially appreciative for how much she advocated for all students to have access to outstanding education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. prgtoken Dr. Trujillo served for more than 25 years as an educator. She began her career in the classroom as a math teacher at Las Cruces High School and went on to teach at Cobre High School in Bayard, Hot Springs High School in Truth or Consequences, and at Alma d'Arte Charter High School in Las Cruces. She also served in many education leadership roles, including principal at Las Cruces Catholic School, associate dean of research at New Mexico State University's School of Education, New Mexico secretary of public education, and superintendent of Las Cruces Public Schools. prgtoken Dr. Trujillo's legacy will be felt for years not only in all the students she inspired but in classrooms across our State led by educators whom she mentored and led. At NMSU, she directed K-12 outreach for the Alliance for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and started the Southwest Outreach Academic Research Lab and Educators Rising NM, an organization that recruits high school students for careers in teaching. prgtoken Dr. Trujillo was proud of her deep New Mexico roots and her close- knit family. After early years growing up in Santa Fe, she and her family resettled in Las Cruces, where she graduated from Mayfield High School and received her bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees from New Mexico State University. Her father Gilbert set a positive example of public service for her as a longtime Dona Ana County commissioner. prgtoken Even while she took on leadership roles throughout the State, Karen could often be found with her family at the Hatch Valley High School gymnasium, where her husband Ben is the athletic director, her older daughter is a basketball coach, and her younger daughter played for the team. She often took on duties as the basketball announcer. prgtoken I am keeping Ben, their kids, Taralyn, Tim and Tavyn, the Trujillo and Apodaca families, as well as all of the New Mexicans who are grieving this devastating loss, in my thoughts.
TRIBUTE TO JOHN GOODROW
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2021-3-22

all of us have been sent here by the people of our States to represent them. I have always felt a true measure of the quality of our service is reflected in the kind of people we hire to help us do these awesome jobs. The people in our State offices, on our frontlines, are critical in this effort. prgtoken John Goodrow is one such public servant. I hired him in 1987 from his job at a local radio station. John brought his radio voice and Vermont sensibility. He has a great sense of humor and could see the challenges, frustrations, and occasional absurdities of everyday life in a Senate office. This was coupled with a determination to serve all Vermonters. prgtoken On March 4 of this year, John Goodrow marked 34 years as a loyal and dedicated service. With deep appreciation and respect and more than a little bit of sadness, I recently informed my staff that John has decided to retire on March 31. prgtoken At the age of 25, John came to my office scheduling appointments and events, and serving as my on-the-ground Vermont press secretary. He clipped news items in a time when they were actually cut and copied from newspapers, and John loved his typewriter. It was just a few years ago that he reluctantly let go of the typewriter in his office. Staff may have even spirited it away when he wasn't there. prgtoken He understood the importance of my travel throughout our State to meet with Vermonters, and in his bones, he knew it how meaningful it was for Marcelle and me to be home at our farmhouse in Middlesex. prgtoken He fielded the scores of scheduling requests that came to my office. And later, as my deputy State director, he has helped in overseeing an exceptionally skilled and dedicated staff. prgtoken What I also treasured was how direct John could be with me. When something was wrong, he let me know. If I was reluctant to do something he deemed important, he made his case. In our jobs, we are frequently surrounded by people who are too quick to flatter. That was never a problem with John and something I always valued. prgtoken John has been a valuable resource and coach to countless staff members and interns over the years. His institutional memory, his good judgment and steadiness of purpose, and his connections to Vermonters across our State are unmatched. His droll sense of humor, including practical jokes, and his gifted storytelling can take you back many years, including back to every one of my campaigns. And his empathy and compassion for others is a gift. prgtoken Marcelle and I value John's friendship, his loyalty, and his dedication to helping those in need. We have watched his family grow and prosper as he and Mary Ellen raised their two boys, Joe and Jamie. prgtoken While we will miss his booming voice when we walk down the hall of the Burlington office, we will take comfort in knowing that voice will continue to be heard at Centennial Field as baseball season begins anew. prgtoken Marcelle
Immigration (Executive Session)
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-3-22

I rise to support the nomination of Marty Walsh to be our Nation's next Secretary of Labor. Mr. Walsh is an experienced leader who has always been a fighter for working families as the mayor of Boston, a State legislator, and as a union president. We need a Secretary of Labor who will make workplaces safer and prevent the spread of COVID-19 on the job, ensure that unemployed workers get the benefits they need and deserve, and support workers exercising their rights to form a union and bargain collectively. prgtoken Only 11.6 percent of workers were represented by a union in 2019, down from 27 percent in 1979. The decline in unionization has coincided with a marked divergence between overall productivity growth in our economy and paychecks for workers. While productivity has grown significantly, hourly compensation for rank-and-file workers has been nearly stagnant once inflation is taken into account. prgtoken In a January 22 Executive order on protecting the Federal workforce which faced especially harsh attacks from the administration, President reaffirmed that it is ``the policy of the United States to encourage union organizing and collective bargaining.'' Strengthening and enforcing the laws that enable workers to do so must be at the core of our efforts to build an economy that works for all Americans, and Marty Walsh is the right person for the job.
Nomination of Martin Joseph Walsh (Executive Session)
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2021-3-22

this pandemic has made it clearer than ever: It is not corporations that drive our economy; it is American workers. prgtoken With Marty Walsh, for whom we will vote in a moment on confirmation for the Department of Labor, workers will finally have someone on their side, as the Department that is supposed to look out for them. The Department of Labor is supposed to be the voice for workers in our government. It is their job to make sure workers' rights are protected, that people are safe on the job, that everyone can organize a union and get the overtime pay they have earned. prgtoken For 4 years, we have had a Department of Labor full of corporate lawyers. In fact, the Secretary of Labor was a corporate lawyer who made millions of dollars in court attacking labor unions and getting very well paid for it. That Department was full of people who made their careers fighting for corporate boards and CEOs, trying to squeeze every last penny out of workers and skirting labor laws. prgtoken And we saw the results. The DOL stopped fighting to raise the overtime pay threshold. In my State, tens of thousands of workers and, nationally, hundreds and hundreds of thousands of workers failed to get a raise as a result. prgtoken A year into the pandemic, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, still has not issued an emergency temporary standard to protect workers from coronavirus. When 1,300 workers last year got sick at a Smithfield meatpacking plant, they fined the company a pathetic $10 per worker. prgtoken With Marty Walsh, that corporate infiltration of the Department of Labor ends now. Mayor Walsh will put the focus back where it should be: fighting for the people who make this country work. prgtoken We know that for far too many Americans, hard work doesn't pay off. They have seen corporate profits go up. They have seen executive compensation skyrocket. They have become prgtoken more productive in the workplace, and yet their wages are flat. prgtoken Hard work has never paid off for many Americans like it should. That is why voters sent a clear message in last year's election: They are tired of corporations running our economy. prgtoken Corporations have had their chance. They failed. If corporations won't deliver for their workers and create an economy where everyone's hard work pays off, with a middle class that is growing instead of shrinking, then we have to step in and fight for workers. prgtoken That is what Marty Walsh will do as the Secretary of Labor. He can work with OSHA to finally issue the emergency temporary standard, forcing corporations to take critical steps to protect their workers on the job. He can crack down on corporations that use subcontracting and independent contractors and other tricks to pay workers less and to deny them benefits. prgtoken He can get to work on a new overtime rule so that hundreds of thousands more workers will finally get the overtime pay that the
For the People Act (Executive Calendar)
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-3-23

first, s who have gathered here on the floor to help pass and urge the passage of this very important piece of legislation, the For the People Act. prgtoken Our Constitution begins with three words that ring in the minds of each and every American, ``We the People.'' prgtoken Seventy-six years after those words were written, President Lincoln resolved, in 1863, that those who had lost their lives on the battlefield at Gettysburg ``shall not have died in vain and that the government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the Earth.'' prgtoken One hundred two years after Gettysburg, our beloved former colleague, Congressman John Lewis--then a civil rights activist and leader-- together with nonviolent marchers, was beaten bloody by Alabama State Troopers in 1965 as they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge while demanding voting rights. Later that year in 1965, Congress acted and did pass the Voting Rights Act, and it was reauthorized regularly thereafter, most recently in 2006 by a vote of 90 to 0 here in the U.S. Senate prgtoken and 390 to 33 in the House, where I served at that time. prgtoken Then, in 2013, in the case of Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court, in a notorious 5-to-4 decision, stripped away a key enforcement provision from the Voting Rights Act: the requirement that the Department of Justice approve changes to voting rights laws in States that had histories of discriminating against African-American voters and others in their past laws. prgtoken Almost immediately, like within 24 hours, you saw States that had been covered by that act begin to move to erect barriers to the ballot box, making it more difficult for people of color to vote. Indeed, in the case of the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP v. McCrory, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit said that the voting provisions passed by the North Carolina legislature, in the aftermath of the rollback of the Voting Rights Act, were designed to ``target African-Americans with almost surgical precision.'' prgtoken Now we come to 2021. On January 6, we witnessed a violent mob, incited by the former President of the United States, attack this Capitol in order to overturn the results of a democratic election. The mob came because of the big lie--the big lie told by and fueled by some of his allies here on Capitol Hill--that he had been cheated out of an election victory. It is a pernicious and insidious lie that has caused State legislatures across the country to try to build up barriers to voting: limiting vote-by-mail, reducing the number of days for early voting, even making it illegal in Georgia for anyone to provide water to someone who is waiting in line to vote--a real provision that has already passed the Georgia House and that is on its way to the Senate. These are all measures designed to make it harder for American citizens to e
RECOGNIZING THE SIGNING OF A DECLARATION OF INTENT BETWEEN THE JEWISH ADOPTION AND FAMILY CARE OPTIONS AND THE STATE OF ISRAEL MINISTRY OF LABOR, SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Theodore E. Deutch (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2021-3-23

. Madam , I rise today in support of the Jewish Adoption and Family Care Center's declaration of intent agreement with the State of Israel. JAFCO continues to provide support to children affected by disabilities at risk of abuse or neglect in the United States. prgtoken JAFCO was established as a non-profit in 1992. The JAFCO Children's Village is among the rarest programs of its kind around the country. The partnership with the Israel Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Social Services, or MOLSA, will help both entities refer requests for foster care, consultation, support services and more. prgtoken JAFCO and MOLSA have seen their efforts overlap over the past 25 years, making this partnership all the more important towards providing help for children in need. Both have done phenomenal work servicing special needs kids. This partnership can help mend any unmet necessities for children in the Jewish community. prgtoken I ask that my colleagues join me in supporting this partnership and commending the invaluable work JAFCO and MOLSA have done over the years to bring help to children and families in need.
IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BENGALI HINDU GENOCIDE
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-3-23

. Madam , I rise in sad remembrance of the 50th anniversary of the Bengali Hindu Genocide, and celebrate and honor the lives of the more than two million Bengali Hindu persons who were systematically killed by the Pakistani Army when it launched an offensive into East Pakistan, present-day Bangladesh, thus beginning the 10-month reign of terror known as ``Operation Searchlight.'' prgtoken Over that time, approximately 2 to 3 million people were killed, over 200,000 women were raped in organized rape camps, and over 10 million people were displaced, most finding refuge in India. prgtoken I offer my prayers and condolences to the victims and their families who still feel the very real effects of this heinous crime against humanity. prgtoken March 25th officially marks the beginning of the genocide in Bangladesh. prgtoken The brutality unleashed by the Pakistani army and the targeting of Bengali Hindus simply because of their religion must be strongly condemned as religious freedom is one of the most sacred of human rights. prgtoken It has been 50 years since the genocide in Bangladesh, and the survivors and their descendants are still fighting for recognition; they are still fighting for an apology from Pakistan, as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh formerly asked her Pakistani counterpart as recently as January of 2021; and they are still fighting for justice and for closure. prgtoken On March 28, 1971, Archer K. Blood, U.S. Consul General stationed in Dhaka, East Pakistan, present-day Bangladesh, during the genocide, sent a cable back to Foggy Bottom with the subject reading ``Selective Genocide.'' prgtoken In his cable, the Consul General informs his superiors at the State Department that ``Here in Dacca we are mute and horrified witnesses to a reign of terror by the Pak military,'' and that the full horror of its atrocities ``will come to light sooner or later.'' prgtoken That is why I rise; to remember and acknowledge that history so that victims and survivors of the Bengali Hindu Genocide know that the people of the United States stand in solidarity with them.
HONORING THE WOMEN OF STEEL AS WE CELEBRATE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
Frank J. Mrvan (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2021-3-23

. Madam , it is with great respect and admiration that I rise today in observance of Women's History Month and its 2021 theme--Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to be Silenced. Each year, the National Women's History Project selects a unifying theme to recognize and promote Women's History Month. This year's theme recognizes the passage of the 19th Amendment and honors the stories of those women who have fought for equal rights in the workplace. prgtoken Prior to the right to vote, women were instrumental in organizing workplaces, most famously during the Bread and Roses Strike of 1912. Tens of thousands of women fought for more than wages and working conditions; they fought to be respected in the workplace. For generations since, women have contributed to resolving conflicts and have persevered tirelessly to promote equality in the workplace. Women have insisted upon and continue to fight for respect, justice, and equality. Today, I would like to take a moment to honor Women of Steel, an advocacy-arm of the United Steelworkers, which evolved from the early women's caucuses that demanded women have their rightful place in the workplace. Throughout the years, women from diverse backgrounds have played an instrumental role in paving the way for women in the steel industry. prgtoken Among these remarkable leaders was Ola Kennedy. Ola was a resident of Gary, Indiana, who passed away in 2009. Ola worked for 28 years at Hammond Valve. A devoted community leader, she was involved in many union and civic organizations and was one of the founding members of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists in addition to being a member of the NAACP and holding various positions at Local Union 1273, District 31 United Steelworkers, District 31 Women's Caucus, and Steelworkers Fightback Organization. prgtoken We also celebrate Roberta Wood. In the 1970s, Roberta Wood went to work in the male-dominated mill in the union's former District 31 in Gary, Indiana. Along with Ola, Roberta co-founded the steelworker women's caucus in the Chicago/Gary district of the Steelworkers union. In 1976, she was elected the first female member of USWA Local 65's Executive Board and is currently a member of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees where she continues to advocate for future generations. prgtoken I would also like to take a moment to recognize those women who have recently celebrated more than five decades at ArcelorMittal, which is now Cleveland-Cliffs: Gail Richardson, a native of East Chicago and a safety advocate at Indiana Harbor; Judith Studer, a senior clerical technician in the maintenance, environmental and utilities department at Burns Harbor; and Maria Garcia, a materials management coordinator in the logistics department at Indiana Harbor. prgtoken Today, the Women of Steel continue to advocate for more women in leadership and carry on the march to fight for full gender equality in the workplace. I commend these
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2021-3-23

today I am reintroducing the Rhode Island Fishermen's Fairness Act along with my colleague Senator Whitehouse. This legislation seeks to address a longstanding inequity in our nation's fisheries management system that denies Rhode Island a voice in the management of many stocks that our fishing industry relies on. prgtoken Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Rhode Island has voting membership on the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) since NEFMC-managed stocks represent a significant percentage of landings and revenue for our state. However, Rhode Island has an even larger stake in Mid- Atlantic fisheries. Yet, it does not have voting representation on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC), which currently consists of representatives from New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. prgtoken According to data provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), between 2015 and prgtoken 2019, Rhode Island accounted for approximately a quarter of the commercial landings from stocks under MAFMC's sole jurisdiction, both by weight and value. The significance of commercial landings from stocks managed by MAFMC is growing every year for Rhode Island, accounting for 58% of Rhode Island's federally managed commercial fisheries landings in 2019. prgtoken After making an appearance during last summer's ic National Convention, Rhode Island calamari quickly became a social media sensation, and for good reason. Calamari (or squid) is by far the most important commercial species in the Ocean State. In 2019 alone, Rhode Island landed over 5.5 million more pounds of squid than any other state on the East Coast. But, Rhode Island does not have a formal say in how this species is managed because it does not have representation on the MAFMC. prgtoken The legislation we are introducing offers a simple solution with a sound precedent. North Carolina was added to the MAFMC as part of the Sustainable Fisheries Act in 1996. Like Rhode Island, a significant portion of North Carolina's landed fish species were managed by the MAFMC, yet the state was not represented on the council. prgtoken Just like the 1996 law that added North Carolina, the Rhode Island Fishermen's Fairness Act would create two seats for our state on the MAFMC. One seat would be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce based on recommendations from the Governor of Rhode Island, and a second seat would be filled by Rhode Island's principal state official with marine fishery management responsibility. To accommodate these new members, the bill would increase the MAFMC from 21 to 23 voting members. This would guarantee Rhode Island the same minimum representation as other states currently on the council, without altering their status. prgtoken With mounting economic, ecological, and regulatory challenges, it is more important than ever that Rhode Island fishermen have a
IN RECOGNITION OF ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL'S CELEBRATION OF THE BICENTENNIAL OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE
Richard E. Neal (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2021-3-23

. Madam , I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral on their celebration of this, the Bicentennial of Greek Independence. Their continued efforts to support, preserve and promote their Greek culture, as well as honor the heroes of 1821 and the sacrifices they made in pursuit of Greek independence, are truly remarkable and deserving of the highest praise. prgtoken The parishioners of St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral are stewards of their culture's rich history, celebrating and honoring the sacrifices made by their forefathers during their fight for freedom. With the signing of the Treaty of Edirne in 1829, eight years after the inception of the War of Greek Independence, the independent state of Greece was finally established. St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral has been a vital member of the Greater Springfield community since 1907, and generations of parishioners have faithfully commemorated Greek independence for more than a century. prgtoken Madam , I would like to once again acknowledge St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral for their extraordinary efforts and superb achievement. Their dedication to preserving the traditions of their religion and their culture is admirable, and I wish them many more years of health and prosperity.