mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2020-6-3

I am so pleased to be able to join Leader Schumer and my colleague and ranking member of the small business committee, Senator Cardin. I am grateful for his leadership and for the partnership that we had back in March with Senators Rubio and Collins. It truly was a bipartisan partnership to try and address the challenges that small businesses are facing across this country. prgtoken In New Hampshire small businesses are our lifeblood. They were going prgtoken under because of this pandemic, so the Paycheck Protection Program has been a lifesaver. But we know there are things that need to change about it in order for it to continue to help those businesses. prgtoken In New Hampshire we have 22,000 small businesses and nonprofits that have received over $2.5 billion in forgivable loans under the program. prgtoken But we have also heard from many of those businesses that there are improvements and fixes that are necessary, businesses like The Little Grille, a New Hampshire restaurant with locations in Littleton and Woodsville. They said that PPP has been a lifesaver. But they have only 2 weeks remaining on their forgivable term, and if the terms of the loan are not addressed, the owners of The Little Grille told us that they will be back in the same position they were at the start of the pandemic, and they may be forced to lay off staff. prgtoken We have heard from the Portsmouth Brewery, which received their PPP loan, and they want to rehire their 28 employees but they need more flexibility and extensions to the program to resume operations. prgtoken Then, of course, we have heard from Big Dave's Bagels & Deli in North Conway. His 32-year-old bakery was predominantly takeout before the pandemic, but he was able to keep his employees on and offer hazard pay because his approval for the PPP loan came through at the very end of April. Now he needs flexibility and loan terms if he is going to keep his employees on the payroll. prgtoken I could go on and on with example after example, but the important thing is, as Senators Schumer and Cardin have said so eloquently, those first loans are about to end, and if we don't do something to help those businesses, they are going to be back in the same place that they were in in March when the shelter-at-home and the stay-at-home orders began in New Hampshire and across this country. prgtoken So we need to do something. This legislation addresses the concerns that people have expressed. I think we also need to provide additional funding or additional help over the next month until things open back up in the economy. prgtoken But, in the short term, the legislation addresses the concerns that we have been hearing from small businesses, and I hope we are going to see our colleagues pass it by unanimous consent so that there is some certainty for those businesses as they try and open back up in this very difficult environment.
VOTE EXPLANATION
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2020-6-3

I was absent when the Senate voted on vote No. 104 to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 655. Victor G. Mercado, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense, vote No. 105 to confirm Mr. Mercado, vote No. 106 to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 652, Brian D. Miller, of Virginia, to be Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, and vote No. 107 to confirm Mr. Miller. On votes Nos. 104 and 105, had I been present, I would have voted yea on the motion to invoke cloture and confirm Mr. Mercado. On votes Nos. 106 and 107, had I present, I would have voted no on the motion to invoke cloture and confirm Mr. Miller. prgtoken , I was absent when the Senate voted on vote No. 108 to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 656, James H. Anderson, of Virginia, to be a Deputy Under Secretary of Defense. On vote No. 108, had I been present, I would have voted yea on the motion to invoke cloture on Mr. Anderson. prgtoken , I was absent when the Senate voted on vote No. 109 to confirm Executive Calendar No. 656, James H. Anderson, of Virginia, to be a Deputy Under Secretary of Defense. On vote No. 109, had I been present, I would have voted yea on the motion to confirm Mr. Anderson. prgtoken , I was absent when the Senate voted on vote No. 110 to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 644, Drew B. Tipton, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas. On vote No. 110, had I been present, I would have voted no on the motion to invoke cloture on Mr. Tipton. prgtoken , I was absent when the Senate voted on vote No. 111 to confirm Executive Calendar No. 644, Drew B. Tipton, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas. On vote No. 111, had I been present, I would have voted no on the motion to confirm Mr. Tipton.
Nomination of Michael Pack (Executive Session)
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-6-3

I want to, first of all, thank Senator Merkley for his leadership on the resolution and for his thoughtful and substantive contributions as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and to express our deep disappointment that our colleagues are blocking his resolution, which basically says that we should not move forward on a nominee--in this case, this nominee--when there are false statements to the IRS and to the Foreign Relations Committee for which he refuses to correct the record, which would have consequences. Those are indisputable. prgtoken It is abundantly clear that we need to formalize some standards that apply equally to all nominees, and alike, and we should think of it as a floor beneath which the Senate should not fall. prgtoken Now, it is amazing to me that I know my colleagues used to care about tax issues. As a matter of fact, they denied a previous distinguished majority leader of the Senate--on some arcane issue--the opportunity to become the Secretary of Health and Human Services. They have done it a bunch of times. prgtoken This issue is a $4 million tax issue in which Mr. Pack took his nonprofit, totally controlled by him--totally controlled by him--and had all the moneys that were solicited to the nonprofit then sent to his for-profit company, totally controlled by him--totally controlled by him. And no other disbursements were made from the nonprofit for anyone else, for any other entity. prgtoken I didn't hear until now that the Justice Department and the IRS has reviewed this. It should be forthcoming, then, that they have cleared this, that this is now in the course of business. We can create a nonprofit; go ahead and get moneys from people; they will get their deductions; and then we can send it to ourselves for profit. That is one heck of a process. prgtoken Now, the chairman continues to say ``2 years.'' Well, 2 years ago there was a chairman of the committee--our colleague Bob Corker. He prgtoken did not move this nomination 2 years ago. So with this constant refrain of 2 years, I guess you want to blame former Senator Corker for not moving it during that period of time. prgtoken At the chairman's request, I met with Mr. Pack. While he may not have been my nominee, I agreed to have a hearing, which is one of the standards we have in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. There is an agreement between the chair and ranking. That has been violated for Mr. Pack. He actually went to a vote before the committee without my agreement, so that comity has been violated for the future. prgtoken At the end of the day, we have someone who will not ultimately--he says: Yes, I made a ``mistake''--it is a $4 million mistake--and, yes, I should have answered differently. prgtoken Well, why not correct it? If it is so simple, if it is so benign, why not correct it? The reason you don't want to correct it is that there are
DEFENSE NOMINATIONS
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-6-3

after Monday's shameful display by the Secretary of Defense, I voted against the President's nominees to be Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities. prgtoken The language of war has no place on American streets in the face of peaceful protests. Secretary Esper's dangerous comment that the military needs to ``dominate the battlespace''--referring to American cities--threatened the lives of American citizens exercising their constitutional rights. His willingness to accompany the President to a photo-op after gassing peaceful protesters underscores the moral rot in the Department's leadership. prgtoken At this time, I have lost confidence that any nominee can be trusted to stand up to the President's attempts to weaponize the Defense Department for his personal and political ends. For that reason, I voted against his nominees in the Department.
PROTESTS
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2020-6-3

for the past week, our Nation has been engulfed by protests in dozens of cities over the senseless murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police officers. Americans are angry, frustrated, and grieving, not just for Mr. Floyd's and Ms. Taylor's deaths but for centuries of injustice and brutality against African Americans. The instances are too numerous to count. Yet these instances of violence keep happening while meaningful reforms have not taken place. prgtoken The protests are set against the backdrop of the deadly novel coronavirus pandemic. As our country copes with this crisis, African- American communities have suffered disproportionately high infection and death rates. Compounding this tragedy, we are in the midst of an economic downturn that rivals the Great Depression, with communities of color bearing the brunt of the economic fallout. Millions of hard- working Americans have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. They are struggling to provide for their families, put food on their table, and keep a roof over their head. prgtoken These protests are not isolated. They are taking place in every State in the Nation and in many other countries. Protesters are of every race and ethnicity and run the gamut in age from high school and college students to parents and grandparents. The people participating in these protests represent the diversity that is the strength of America. prgtoken The overwhelming majority of these protests are emotional but nonviolent. They embrace a fundamental tenant of civil engagement, which is the American right and tradition of peacefully protesting to make their voices heard and to rectify injustice. prgtoken On the fringes of these peaceful protests, there are opportunists who are sowing mistrust and division. Their primary goal is to loot and destroy property, that cause chaos that puts innocent lives in harm's way. Let me state clearly, theft and looting are a crime. They are unacceptable and undermine the powerful message of thousands demanding justice and change. They offer an easy way out to those who would rather turn away from this challenge of justice and simply indulge in their own petty objectives of violence, diversion, and destruction. prgtoken Our Nation is in pain. We need leaders who bring calm, unity, empathy, and aid. Instead, our Nation has a President who treats it as a field of war. He does not even attempt to bring people together, to listen to others, or to accept the reality that leaders in a democracy are neither infallible nor omnipotent. prgtoken In a tweet on May 30, President said: Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis will never be mistaken for the late, great Douglas McArthur or great fighter General George Patton. . . . Get tough and fight. prgtoken In a call with our Nation's Governors, Secretary of Defense Esper said: ``I think the sooner that you mass and dominate the battlespace, the
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-6-3

if my friend from Wisconsin is willing to delay the other changes he wants and try to work those out, it would make eminent sense to delay this one, as well, and try to work that out and pass this bill. You never know what happens. prgtoken We should pass it today, not wait for tomorrow. We should pass it now, not wait a few hours. Lord knows what can happen. Businesses are crying out. prgtoken I think our moving here will move the process forward. It wouldn't have moved as quickly as if we didn't move the bill, but it is still a better bet to help small businesses, even with the concern my colleague has, to pass this bill now. prgtoken I would make one final plea: Let's pass it now. If not, we should pass it today.
Unanimous Consent Request (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-6-3

I have respect for my colleague and thank him for his positive statement about the work to be done in the Foreign Relations Committee. There is nothing in this resolution that preempts or tries to impact on anything he mentioned. The operative language is a few words, ``urging renewed United States leadership and participation in any global efforts on therapeutics and vaccine development and delivery to address COVID-19 and prevent further death.'' prgtoken How we do that, whether we create an agency or not, this is simply an expression of policy that I hope we can embrace. I will be back if we don't move forward with alternatives. Lives are at stake, and we should be part of the international conversation to avoid it.
Nomination of Michael Pack (Executive Session)
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-6-3

this week our majority leader is asking the Senate to vote on the nomination of Michael Pack to serve as Chief Executive of the U.S. Agency for Global Media. prgtoken Mr. Pack's nomination should trouble all of us in this Chamber. It raises the question of whether the U.S. Senate is committed to being the check and balance on the qualifications of those potentially vested with substantial responsibility into positions in our executive branch. prgtoken His nomination draws into question the challenge we have, the responsibility we have to ensure that only individuals of talent, experience, and of integrity serve America in the executive branch. Hamilton commented on this in the Federalist Papers. He said: To what purpose then require the co-operation of the Senate? I answer, that the necessity of [the Senate's] concurrence would have a powerful though, in general, silent operation. It would be an excellent check upon the spirit of favoritism in the President, and tend greatly to prevent the appointment of unfit characters. prgtoken Those words should resonate in this Chamber now. The individual who will come before us, Michael Pack, set up a nonprofit called Public Media Lab, or PML, apparently for the sole purpose to channel contracts to his for-profit operation known as Manifold Productions. Over a period exceeding a decade, he channeled $4 million from the nonprofit to the for-profit. Not a single contract went anywhere else--no other contracts. prgtoken Utilizing a nonprofit to launder for-profit contracts, in the process of which providing tax subsidies to your customers and advantage over your competitors, raises both ethical and legal issues. The legal issues, including potential criminal conduct, have not been resolved. Mr. Pack is, at this moment, under investigation by the attorney general of the District of Columbia. prgtoken Mr. Pack, in tax filings to the IRS in 2011 through 2018, did not accurately disclose a relationship between his nonprofit and his for- profit. When he was asked if, in fact, there were common officers between the two, he answered no when the answer was clearly yes. He did not disclose that his for-profit benefited from the setup of the nonprofit. prgtoken Mr. Pack did admit to the Committee on Foreign Relations that he made oversights; that is the term he used--``oversights.'' But he has refused to correct his tax filings. prgtoken Mr. Pack, when he was renominated in 2020, inaccurately stated in the records to the committee that his tax returns were complete and accurate. He has refused to provide critical documents to the committee and, in that sense, to the Senate to examine these significant issues. He has refused to provide the agreements between PML and Manifold, his nonprofit and his for-profit, to examine the propriety of the relationship. He has said simply that those documents are confidential and proprietary. prgtoken But
INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA AND BIPHOBIA
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-6-3

today I rise to mark the start of LGBT Pride Month with reflections on the recent International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia--IDAHOBIT. For more than 50 years, Pride Month has been a reminder that, despite recent progress, every day, millions of people around the world face social stigmatization, legal prosecution, and even violence based on their sexual orientation or because of their gender identity. COVID-19 is necessitating adjustments to how this month is celebrated, with organizers moving large-scale parades from the streets of towns and cities to the internet, where a 24-hour online Global Pride celebration is planned for later this month. prgtoken Two short weeks ago was the annual commemoration of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia prgtoken and Biphobia--IDAHOBIT. Started on May 17, 2004, IDAHOBIT was established by LGBTQ activists in 2004 to commemorate the World Health Organization's historic decision in 1990 to remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases. As in the United States, despite the progress we have made since 1990, around the world, homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia continue to flourish in many parts of the world. prgtoken The theme of this year's International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia was ``Breaking the Silence.'' Millions of LGBTQ individuals around the world continue to be forced to hide their identities because of who they are or whom they love. They struggle to achieve the most basic of human rights, let alone respect and visibility. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association--ILGA--lists 70 countries in which same-sex activities are outlawed, and penalties range from 8 years' imprisonment to the death penalty. Even in countries that do not criminalize homosexuality, many still have laws on the books that make living openly next to impossible. Only five countries, of which the United States is not one, ban the damaging practice of conversion therapy. prgtoken This type of discrimination has only been compounded by the global outbreak of COVID-19. In addition to the widespread health and economic hardship that this pandemic is creating, it is producing new risks and forms of persecution for the LGBTQ community. prgtoken In Uganda, security forces stormed an LGBTQ shelter, binding the occupants' hands with rope before marching them to a nearby police station on charges of disobeying social distancing rules. In Latin America, transgender, nonbinary, and queer people who present as gender-nonconforming are being detained or fined for going to the grocery store on days designated by the government as ``men-only'' or ``women-only.'' Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has used the pandemic as an excuse to move legislation that will ban the legal recognition of transgender citizens. Meanwhile, in South Korea, there is a disturbing rise in online hat
Coronavirus (Executive Session)
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2020-6-3

I note with some interest that one colleague after another comes to the floor--their ``protect the President at all costs'' colleagues, no matter what he does, no matter what he says, no matter how he acts, no matter how incompetent, no matter how divisive--and continues to point their fingers at the Chinese for the coronavirus. God knows, China deserves heaps of blame for the outbreak in the early spread of the coronavirus. There is no question they deserve a lot of blame for the outbreak in the early spread, and they are lying about it. But keep in mind that we are 5 percent of the world's population, and 30 percent of the deaths from the coronavirus have been Americans. This President continues to make excuses and point fingers. And the compliant, always obedient, sheeplike Members of the caucus conference of the Senate continue to stay quiet, continue to do nothing about this President's behavior and the 105,000 deaths from coronavirus in this country.
CONGRESSIONAL POWER OF THE PURSE ACT
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2020-6-3

the authors of our Constitution purposefully built checks and balances into the foundation of our democracy, and the power of the purse is a critical part of those checks and balances. Article 1, section 9 of the Constitution states ``No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.'' That means Congress, not the executive branch, is charged with making decisions about how to invest and spend Federal revenue. As the vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I take this responsibility very seriously. prgtoken When Congress appropriates Federal dollars, we expect those dollars to be used as directed. We expect appropriations laws to be upheld, and we expect the administration to be transparent in its actions. prgtoken But for too many years, Presidents of both parties have encroached on the power of the purse as they have tried to expand their budgetary powers and, in some cases, substitute their judgement for that of Congress. This has been acutely true under this administration. No President has pushed the boundaries of and contorted appropriations law more than President . prgtoken When Congress refused to give President the money he requested for a wall on the southern border, he directed his administration to sidestep Congress and take it from funding for our military and their families. He continues to do so to this day. prgtoken The President wanted to pressure the Government of Ukraine into investigating his political rival, so he withheld security money for Ukraine in violation of the Impoundment Control Act. An action that would eventually lead to his impeachment. prgtoken Last year, the administration asserted to Congress that it had the power to propose rescissions in the last quarter of the fiscal year and further asserted it had the power to allow the funds to lapse if Congress did not act on its proposal, essentially claiming the executive branch, not Congress, had the last word on spending. The Government Accountability Office, GAO, thankfully and rightfully, disagreed. Last year, this administration also overturned a long held precedent that the executive branch did not need to respond to findings by GAO of violations of the Anti-Deficiency Act. Finally, this administration has suppressed OMB and executive branch agency cooperation with GAO in investigating the execution of appropriated funds. prgtoken The push and pull over the power of the purse between Congress and the executive branch did not start with President and will not end when he is no longer in office. Administrations of both parties have clashed with Congress over this authority. But the actions of this President make clear that Congress needs to reassert itself and defend its constitutionally granted prerogatives. This should not be a partisan issue. The Founders chose to vest the power of the purse with Congress. It is an important part of our syste