mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Deb Fischer (Republican, NE) \u2014 2023-9-19

when it comes to the economy, we hear a lot of statistics. Since President took office and put his omics plan into action, prices have risen by 17.37 percent. Rent is up by 17 percent, grocery prices by 25 percent, and energy costs by 43 percent. Gas prices have risen by an unbelievable 65 percent. prgtoken As alarming as those percentages are, I am most concerned about the individuals who are hurting because of these increases. That is why I was struck by new numbers I saw last week from the Census Bureau. omics is making life harder for children in Nebraska. prgtoken The number of children living in poverty in my home State increased by almost 5,000 from 2021 to 2022--5,000 more kids living in poverty. That is thousands more families who are living below the poverty line, thousands of families who are struggling to pay bills, to buy food, to afford a place to sleep. Some of these 5,000 children are from families who cannot afford any of these things. They are going hungry. They are couch surfing--or worse. That is omics in Nebraska. prgtoken omics is making life harder for the more rural parts of Nebraska. Soaring prices caused by inflation are especially affecting those areas in my State. They are especially affecting kids in more rural areas. According to an analysis by an Omaha nonprofit, from 2021 to 2022, there was a 25-percent increase in the number of kids below the poverty line who are located in nonmetro areas of Nebraska. A quarter more kids living outside urban areas come from families that are barely getting by. prgtoken Some of these children live in sparsely populated areas where it can really take hours to get to the grocery store, the pharmacy, or to a hospital. When gas is 65 percent more expensive and groceries will break the bank, families are going to struggle with those long trips. They are in dire need of resources. But inflation is ripping away their ability to access those resources. That is omics in Nebraska. prgtoken omics is making life harder for anyone who pays rent, mortgage, or utilities in Nebraska. The most basic of necessities--affording a place to live--is now a huge financial strain. Close to half of the renters in Nebraska are spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Almost 20,000 more renting households are considered ``financially burdened.'' That is 20,000 more in just 1 year. That is omics in Nebraska. prgtoken omics is making life harder for businesses and their employees. As rent encroaches on a larger percentage of people's incomes, the incomes themselves are getting smaller. Nebraska's median income declined by 3.6 percent in 2022. Businesses can't pay their employees as much when all of their money is being spent on rising utility and rent prices. Rising inflation means higher costs, lower salaries, and a harder time earning a living. That is omics in Nebraska. prgtoken
HONORING THE VALIANT MILITARY SERVICE OF ELECTRICIAN'S MATE 3RD CLASS ALAN DANCULOVICH
Diana Harshbarger (Republican, TN) \u2014 2023-9-19

I rise today to honor Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Richard Alan Danculovich of Jefferson City for his valiant military service during the Vietnam War. Following in his WWII veteran father's footsteps, EM3 Danculovich's dedicated service in the United States Navy began on November 29, 1965, at the RTC Great Lakes for Bootcamp and later EM-A School for electrician training. prgtoken Upon completion of his naval training, EM3 Danculovich served aboard the U.S.S. Piedmont (AD-17), ported out of San Diego, where he was assigned to the Electrical Repair Division. The U.S.S. Piedmont (AD-17) was a Dixie-class destroyer tender that served and maintained all ships engaged in combat operations during naval battles. While aboard the U.S.S. Piedmont, EM3 Danculovich conducted electrical repairs on ships in the Western Pacific region, including Pearl Harbor, the Subic Bay in the Philippines and Kaohsiung, Taiwan; and many of these ships previously spent months in service off the coast of Vietnam. prgtoken After 3 years of distinguished military service, he was discharged from Active Duty in November of 1968. He is proud to share that his grandson continues the family tradition of military service in support of our country. prgtoken Please join me in celebrating Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Alan Danculovich for his distinguished military service to the United States of America.
TRIBUTE TO PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS DUANE B. PEARSON
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2023-9-19

I rise today to honor Navy Petty Officer First Class Duane B. Pearson. HM1 Duane Pearson originally hailed from the Bronx, NY, and as an Army family, he moved throughout the Nation; in Lawton, OK, he decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy and follow his family history of military service. prgtoken His initial oath was in November 2001 in Oklahoma City, OK; he completed Navy boot camp and Hospital Corps School in Great Lakes, IL, and went on to Expeditionary Medical Facility Training, Cherry Point, NC, and Physical Therapy Technician School, San Antonio, TX, where he was also promoted to third class petty officer. prgtoken His enlisted assignments include Naval Hospital Cherry Point, NC; National Naval Medical Center Bethesda, MD, where he was deployed to Camp Lemonnier to Djibouti, Africa; Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan; and the Office of Attending Physician, Washington, DC. prgtoken While at the Office of Attending Physician, he continued providing expert physical therapy services, but also managed an emergency response medical call center, and provided advanced cardiac life support response to multiple Nation special security events, including three Presidential inaugurations, nine State of the Union Addresses, seven Peace Officers Memorials, and scores of gold medal ceremonies and summer concerts. Additionally, he was instrumental in administering over 30,000 Covid vaccines in direct support of both the Supreme Court of the United States, and U.S. Congress. prgtoken His military decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and various other personal and unit awards. prgtoken His military career has been successful because of the support and confidence of Jasmine, his wife and best friend of 18 years. He also has two supportive children, who are both talented athletes--Micah and Imani. prgtoken In May 2019, he received his bachelor of arts Degree, with honors, from Southern Illinois University in healthcare management and will complete his master's in healthcare administration from the University of Baltimore this December.
ELEVEN DAYS AWAY FROM A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2023-9-19

we are 11 days--11 days--away from a government shutdown and the rightwing of the Party is busy fighting with the far rightwing. The sham plan s have cobbled together this week gets us nowhere closer to funding the government. It goes back on the bipartisan deal struck earlier this year and is dead on arrival in the Senate, prgtoken and it shows where priorities are. prgtoken By imposing draconian cuts on domestic programs, their sham CR means massive cuts to programs for people living in poverty and everything from housing support to heating assistance to WIC benefits. prgtoken Make no mistake: If we don't reject these cuts and if we don't fully fund the administration's $1.4 billion supplemental WIC request, eligible low-income people, primarily toddlers, preschoolers, and postpartum moms could be turned away from food. I can't for the life of me think of a more rotten thing to do. prgtoken Pregnant moms and their young families are counting on you, so let's drop the theatrics, come together, fully fund WIC, and work toward ending hunger now.
CONGRATULATING PRESIDENT CHRIS BAILEY ON HIS RETIREMENT
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2023-9-19

I rise today to recognize Mallonee Farms, a family-owned dairy farm in my district. A few weeks ago, I was able to visit the farm in Curtis, Washington, where I met the farm's owner, Maynard Mallonee. Maynard is a third-generation dairy farmer and a member of the Organic Valley co-op. prgtoken During my visit, I toured their farm, saw their new robotic milkers, and heard how Congress can support small, organic farms. Maynard is passionate about working for something bigger than himself. He works to be a good steward of his land, and he is already taking steps with his son, Jack, to ensure that the family farm continues for generations to come. prgtoken Everyone at Mallonee Farms is fighting hard for their farm, and I am grateful to be in this fight with them. My focus is to ensure that Federal policy supports small, family farms like theirs. Cowlitz Complex Fires in Gifford Pinchot National Forest
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM FOR SERVICEWOMEN
Lois Frankel (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2023-9-19

. Madam , my, my, my. prgtoken The attacks on reproductive freedom never end. The latest target: our servicewomen in the military. Many of our over 500 military bases are located in States that now ban or severely restrict abortion. That is why the Department of Defense established a travel allowance for servicemembers and dependents who need to go to another State to access an abortion. prgtoken Now, shamelessly, the s are seeking to block that effort. These military women leave their homes, families, and friends. They train hard. They have dreams and goals. prgtoken We trust them with Black Hawks and Special Ops. We should trust them with the very personal decision of whether or when to start a family. They stand for our freedom. It is time for us to stand for theirs.
COMMEMORATING 50 YEARS SINCE THE COUP IN CHILE
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-9-19

this month we observe the 50th anniversary of the coup in Chile. It is important to note the role that the House played in declassifying documents relating to the United States' role in the coup of Allende and the Presidency of Pinochet. prgtoken I rise to pay tribute to our former colleague, Maurice Hinchey, who in 1999 introduced legislation to declassify documents related to the coup in Chile. Following his leadership, I took his legislation to the House Intelligence Committee conference. prgtoken In our markup of the conference report of the Intelligence Authorization Act for fiscal year 2000, I was successful in getting an amendment passed in committee that mirrored the Hinchey legislation. This language was sustained on the floor and when the FY 2000 Intelligence bill was signed by President Clinton, it became law. prgtoken The legislation stated that no longer than 270 days following enactment--we wanted a shorter period of time, they wanted a longer period of time. This was the compromise--270 days following the enactment, the CIA had to submit a report on all of its activities in various events in Chile in three categories: the assassination of President Salvador Allende; the ascension of Pinochet to the Presidency; and the violation of human rights committed by the henchman of President Pinochet. prgtoken In 2001, therefore, the CIA prepared 16,000 documents for declassification. Since then, thousands more documents--maybe up around 23,000 documents--have been declassified. prgtoken During the debate on the FY 2000 legislation, it was argued that the search for documents related to human rights violations in Chile--now, we are talking about murder, disappearances, imprisonment, torture; that is what we are talking about--directed by the National Security Council was sufficient. They said we did that. It is sufficient. They said nothing further was needed and raised the question of how much money will this cost and how much time will it take for the Director of Central Intelligence to produce an adequate report. prgtoken However, Maurice Hinchey argued, in these words: ``It is time that the Central Intelligence Agency accounted for its role in the military coup that toppled the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende and led to his death. The American people need to know how our government supported the rise of Augusto Pinochet, a ruthless dictator who systematically murdered and tortured his enemies.'' prgtoken In May 2016, I had the privilege of leading a strongly bipartisan congressional delegation to Chile. When we visited the Museum of Memory and Human Rights--and I would recommend that if you get to Chile you certainly see that--it was emotional and gratifying for some of us to see the documents that we had declassified under Maurice Hinchey's leadership helping bring the truth to light. prgtoken To this day in Chile there is still great sadness about the loss of life and other cri
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2023-9-19

right after workers for Stellantis--the old name of Stellantis was Chrysler, DaimlerChrysler. Their plant is in Toledo. They make the Jeep Cherokee. It prgtoken is made by union workers in Toledo, OH, my State. My wife and I each drive Jeep Cherokees. One of those cars once saved my life when a young high school kid, at 40 miles an hour in the middle of the day, ran a stop sign and hit the side of the car where I was sitting. There were essentially no injuries because these are well-made American cars by union labor. prgtoken I was over to the picket line Friday morning. I talked with a lot of workers. I know many of them. There are 6,000 at this plant. And 1,000--actually, 1,100 of these workers are at this Chrysler plant, this Stellantis plant in Toledo. Those 1,100 workers at the Jeep plant are on what is called a tiered wage system where they make fewer than $19-and-something an hour. They have been at this Jeep plant, some of them for 1 year, some of them 3 years, some of them 5 or 6 years, yet they make less than $40,000 a year as union workers. prgtoken The reason for that is some years ago, when Chrysler--then Chrysler-- and GM were in real serious economic trouble, the union--the government helped, but the union, in order to save these plants, in order to save, essentially, the American automobile industry--they did major givebacks of their wages and their benefits. prgtoken They set up--management insisted and the workers went along because they wanted to save these companies--they took major pay cuts and set up a tiered wage system. So new workers, hundreds and hundreds--over 1,000 from this plant of 6,000 union workers--were making substandard wages. prgtoken That is troubling enough that those workers, years later, are still making those substandard wages. In some cases, you can't support a family on these wages. Yet that is when Chrysler and GM were in such economic trouble. prgtoken Since then, we know how well Chrysler--Stellantis now--and GM are doing. We know how well they are doing by a number of measurements. No. 1, Chrysler--sorry, Stellantis; I always think of them as Chrysler and Jeep in my State. Stellantis made $12 billion just in this calendar alone. This company made $12 billion. When they were in trouble, the workers, by giving up a lot and making sacrifices, saved them. Now these companies are so profitable--$12 billion just this year alone, Stellantis--they have essentially given nothing back to the workers, and they are unwilling to provide the workers a decent benefit-- benefits, wages, all of those things. prgtoken At the same time, I met an entry-level worker there. She just started. The CEO of Stellantis makes 850 times what this worker makes-- 850 times what this worker makes. The CEO of Stellantis makes 365 times what the average worker in Chrysler--the average worker in Stellantis makes in that plant and other plants around the country. prgtoken The fact is, thes
RECOGNIZING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2023-9-19

I rise today to acknowledge that 20 years ago, on September 4, 2003, President signed the Prison Rape Elimination Act, or PREA, into law. This law recognized the difficult truth of rampant and completely unacceptable sexual abuse of people in our jails, prisons, and juvenile detention facilities, and endeavored to address it. PREA sought to end these abuses by creating research mandates, promulgating National standards, and providing grant funding to meet those standards. prgtoken Ending prisoner rape remains one of the increasingly rare topics on which people on both sides of the aisle can continue to agree. I joined forces with my Virginia colleague, Congressman Frank Wolf, to sponsor the bill in this chamber, and Senators Ted Kennedy and Jeff Sessions sponsored PREA in the Senate. PREA passed with unanimous support in both the House and Senate. Fighting against institutional abuse and protecting those who cannot advocate for themselves should never be a partisan issue, and I have been gratified by the coalition of support PREA has inspired over the years. prgtoken Since PREA's passage, we've seen dramatic improvements in how adults and children in detention are treated. Thousands of corrections professionals have been hired and trained to ensure the safety of people in their custody through the implementation of PREA's National standards. The U.S. Department of Justice is now required to gather data on sexual abuse in custody that provides corrections facilities, advocates and policymakers with invaluable information on the dynamics of sexual abuse in detention, and how it can be stopped. prgtoken Hundreds of thousands of incarcerated people are educated every year about their right prgtoken to be safe and respected, and how to speak out if they are not. Incarcerated people, their families, and advocates now have more effective methods of reporting sexual abuse, as evidenced by the dramatic increase in the number of reports we have seen since PREA's enactment. This is a clear sign that incarcerated survivors understand that people care about their experiences, that they have mechanisms to advocate for themselves, and that their voices should no longer go unheard. Through these efforts and sustained support for survivors, the stigma of reporting abuse has been steadily eroding since PREA's passage. prgtoken I also want to acknowledge the broad-based coalition of advocates and civil rights groups that fought to pass PREA, encourage corrections facilities to implement PREA's National standards, and continue to ensure that the law lives up to its intended purpose and promise. Specifically, people who have endured this abuse have been on the front lines of the effort to make our prisons and jails places where people are free of sexual abuse. Just Detention International's Survivor Council deserves special mention. These courageous survivors have fought tirelessly to ensure that no one ever h
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2023-9-19

reserving the right to object, I heard a very similar speech last week when Senator Paul came to the floor to offer this exact same resolution, and I came to the floor to offer the exact same objection. I guess we are going to be here next week and the week after having this same back-and-forth on the Senate floor. prgtoken I don't know that this is the most important problem facing the country today, the question of whether a small number of Senate pages has a vaccine or not. I think Senator Paul's obsession with the page vaccine policy is a little weird and not squared with the actual priorities of the American public. But I will continue to come down here and object because it is important to know that there is no legal mandate that pages be vaccinated. It is a policy, not a mandate. Senator Paul is proposing a mandate--a mandate--through this resolution that under no circumstances can pages be required to have a vaccination as a condition of their employment here. prgtoken I find Senator Paul's recitation of his body of evidence interesting. I don't dispute the fact that the vaccine today is much more efficacious on preventing serious illness and is not, like prior vaccines, effective at preventing transmission. But here are two things to say about that. Senator Paul says over and over again that if you are a healthy kid, you have nothing to worry about, that no healthy kids are dying. OK, that is broadly true. It is true that healthy children have very little risk of dying of COVID. But the assumption, then, is that every single page that is part of this program has no preexisting conditions, that every single page comes here with a clean bill of health. That is not true. prgtoken There are pages here--just like our employees--who have preexisting conditions, and we have a responsibility for the young people who work for us. We have a long history in this country of requiring vaccinations for young people. Senator Paul objects to that policy, but it is long accepted that young people, during their school-age years, should have a set of vaccinations to keep them healthy. And if you have a preexisting condition, even as a child, you have a potential of dying from COVID. prgtoken Guess what. COVID is the eighth leading cause of death for young people today. That is not insignificant. And so it is perfectly consistent with the general policy we have in this country of requiring students to get vaccines to require the same of the page population-- who, by the way, are students. prgtoken The second thing to say about this resolution is this: Even if Senator Paul is correct--and I broadly would submit that he is--that this vaccine is really about preventing serious illness, not about preventing transmission, this resolution is permanent. This says that under no circumstances should a Senate page be required to have a vaccination. prgtoken But what if a follow-on vaccine is more effective at preve
Nomination of Vernon D. Oliver (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-9-19

today, the Senate will vote to confirm Judge Vernon Oliver to the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. Judge Oliver's long career on the bench and in public service make him an outstanding nominee to the Federal bench. prgtoken Born and raised in Connecticut, Judge Oliver received his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Connecticut. After spending approximately 3 years in private practice, Judge Oliver devoted the rest of his legal career to public service, serving as an Assistant State's Attorney in the division of criminal justice and as an Assistant Attorney General in the child protection unit of the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General. prgtoken In 2009, Judge Oliver was appointed to be a judge on the Connecticut Superior Court, presiding over criminal, civil, habeas corpus, and housing matters. On the bench, he has presided over more than 320 trials that have gone to verdict or judgment. He has also sat by designation on the Connecticut Appellate Court in three matters. prgtoken Judge Oliver has strong support from his home State Senators, Mr. Blumenthal and Mr. Murphy. In addition, he was unanimously rated ``well qualified'' by the American Bar Association. Judge Oliver's deep ties to Connecticut and significant courtroom experience, as a longtime litigator and on the bench, make him well-positioned to serve the District of Connecticut with distinction. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support Judge Oliver's nomination.