mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO LUCIE GIKOVICH
Ken Calvert (Republican, CA) \u2014 2020-4-7

. Madam , I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an outstanding individual and my dear friend, Lucie Yvonne Gikovich, who lost her hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 70 on March 11, 2020. Lucie was a lover of life, a caring friend and she will be deeply missed. prgtoken In all Lucie did, every role she played, and every job title she held, she had a lasting impact on those around her. She began her career as an integral part of Jerry Brown's team, both throughout his gubernatorial campaign and during his first eight years in the California Governor's office. She worked behind the scenes, often running the day-to-day operations of the office as Brown's executive assistant. She went on to also serve as his scheduler, as a cabinet secretary, and as the campaign press secretary during his run for the U.S. Senate. prgtoken Lucie received her undergraduate degree from Immaculate Heart College and pursued a graduate degree from the University of San Francisco before joining Brown's campaign in 1974. After serving in the Governor's office, Lucie began a successful career in public affairs and lobbying. She was an integral player in the organization of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and subsequently managed public affairs for Major League Baseball. Later, she joined the Crane Group and went on to have a successful career in government relations in both Sacramento and Washington D.C. prgtoken Beyond her long list of career accolades, Lucie will be remembered for love of her Croatian heritage. Lucie's father immigrated to the United States from Croatia and her mother was also of Croatian descent and to honor that legacy she helped to establish the Croatian Congressional Caucus. She will also be remembered as a fighter, as prior to her battle with pancreatic cancer, Lucie beat breast cancer twice. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Gikovich family, and although Lucie may be gone, the impact she made on her community will be long lasting.
EXPRESSING THE UNITED STATES' SOLIDARITY WITH FRIENDS AND ALLIES IN EUROPE
Richard Hudson (Republican, NC) \u2014 2020-4-7

. Madam , I rise to report discussions I had last week during a video conference with members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, and their response to COVID-19. prgtoken Let me stress at the outset that our country has not only treaty- bound allies in Europe, but genuine friends. Our friends and colleagues abroad welcomed Senator Roger Wicker and my participation on behalf of the United States to discuss how we will continue our important duties amidst the dire situation facing the globe. I reported on the increasingly dire situation here in the United States and the efforts of the U.S. Congress to provide relief to our citizens. We all expressed solidarity with each other and a determination to move forward. prgtoken Every country in Europe is affected by this pandemic, Madam , just as every state in the United States is affected. The President of the Lombardy in Italy spoke about the particularly critical situation his region is facing. In a crisis like this, while we have our primary responsibilities here at home, it is imperative we continue to help our international friends and partners. I assured our partners that the United States will continue to support our allies and provide considerable assistance to public health worldwide. prgtoken Such expressions of transatlantic unity, in my view, are important in times like these. They give our European friends and allies the confidence they need to move forward. It also helps to counter the considerable amount of misinformation and misperception currently spreading and dispel the malign influence attached to offers of help and friendship from elsewhere around the globe. We cannot let ulterior motives divide and weaken our ties at this time of vulnerability. prgtoken In spite of this crisis, other threats to European security have not gone away. Russian aggression against its neighbors, terrorist threats, and protracted conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus all still exist, requiring our continued attention. Much of our parliamentary conversation focused on how we can address these continual challenges we face while we are unable to meet and deliberate in person as scheduled. Despite the uncertainty, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will find a way and with a little creativity, will continue having these important discussions. prgtoken A final point made in the video conference is the need to defend our democratic principles and human rights in a time where restrictions and limits are imposed that could be abused. Our country defended Europe from tyranny last century, so it is rewarding to see our friends and allies determined to preserve those gains moving forward into this century. prgtoken Madam , we have the capacity to address the ongoing threats to our security even as we address this unprecedented public health crisis amidst an economic downturn. The bicameral group of legislators who ser
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE CARES ACT
Andy Biggs (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2020-4-7

. Madam , The vote we took on March 27, 2020, may be the most monumental vote during our tenure in Congress. The amount of money we committed our nation to is, in itself, epic. The causes of this legislation--the coronavirus and government reaction to the threat, which has placed our economy into a recession--are equally momentous. prgtoken The President has wisely acted to limit the spread of the outbreak, and he and Senate Majority Leader McConnell tried to negotiate in good faith with House . Unfortunately, Pelosi and Minority Leader Schumer chose instead to derail the process. As a result, we have a bill before us that is loaded down with more negative provisions than positive ones. prgtoken I have spent the past few days imagining what could have been, had the decided to act as honest brokers. prgtoken Could we have provided the liquidity and necessary interim relief for the families and businesses of Main Street USA for less than $2 trillion? prgtoken Most certainly. And we should have found ways to help them because these businesses needed our support, because state and local governments have shuttered them and placed many Americans in economic peril. prgtoken Could we have acted more swiftly? prgtoken Without a doubt. prgtoken Could we have taken the time to repair the unemployment compensation portion of the bill that Senators Scott, Sasse, and Graham noted will incentivize people not to work, because the compensation for unemployment will be superior to their wages? prgtoken Might we have produced a bill that didn't spend millions of dollars for non-essential, non-emergency-related funding to institutions such as the Kennedy Center, NPR, Smithsonian, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities? prgtoken Could we have done this without strengthening the hands of unions in the private sector? prgtoken These are all painful hypotheticals to think about as we look at the enormous sums of unnecessary spending in this bill. prgtoken To offer merely a few examples, we gave $88 million to the Peace Corps, which fired over seven thousand volunteers in March. We spent millions more for refugee assistance, election security, and the Department of Education. Some of these efforts may be worth funding, but they certainly have no place in an economic relief package. prgtoken We currently have a structural deficit of approximately $1.2 trillion--which, coincidentally, is about equal to the discretionary spending of Congress. This proposal dwarfs in spending, in one day, what we spend on discretionary projects in one year. prgtoken Some economists forecast tough times ahead for GDP growth. If our amazing economy, structurally sound just a few weeks ago, has slower growth while we are more than doubling our structural deficit for the current fiscal year--not counting the input of the Phase 1 and 2 relief packages, and excluding the proposed Phase 4 an
REMEMBERING OFFICER KAIA GRANT
Brad R. Wenstrup (Republican, OH) \u2014 2020-4-7

. Madam , I rise to honor fallen Springdale police officer and hero Kaia Grant, who gave her life in the line of duty. prgtoken Growing up in Wyoming, Ohio, friends, family, and peers knew Officer Grant was destined for greatness. Officer Grant exemplified the best of what our nation has to offer--commitment to fighting for justice and protecting our people. She was a dedicated public servant who lost her life trying to help others. prgtoken The loss of Officer Grant is deeply felt in Wyoming, in Springdale, and across Hamilton County. Community members have displayed blue hearts on their front doors in memory of her and in solidarity with the Springdale Police Department. prgtoken I pray that God will bring comfort to Officer Grant's family, to the law enforcement community, and to all those in the Hamilton County community grieving her loss. While God has called Kaia Grant away from us, the positive impact of her service shall never die. prgtoken God bless.
MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019
Neal P. Dunn (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-4-7

oftentimes, when both sides of the aisle acknowledge that a bill is not perfect, it ultimately means it is actually quite good. With that said, I do want to highlight some specific concerns that I have with provisions in this bill, both in their direct effects, and also the future precedent that they may set. prgtoken Historically there is little evidence that direct to consumers stimulus checks have a significant impact on the economy or that they lead to the kind of spending necessary to counteract an economic downturn. The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 (signed February 13, 2008) provided $600 checks to individuals and cost $168 Billion. A study by the Bureau of Labor statistics later showed that, ultimately, nearly 70 percent of recipients either used the money to pay off existing debt, or simply put it into savings. Those are not activities that stimulate the economy, and unsurprisingly that effort failed to stop a four percent contraction in GDP, the loss of over eight million jobs, and the worst overall economic disaster since the great depression. Overall, I believe that this bill will help us to avoid the same fate, but that will be due to other more robust provisions that acknowledge the importance of our small businesses and job creators in the private sector. prgtoken The incentive and ability for anyone, regardless of their circumstances, to work hard and improve their life is a fundamental tenet of the American dream. It is essential that we do not allow this stimulus payment to serve as a pilot program for a Universal Basic Income, as some have suggested. Furthermore, it is true that this bill will at times create a situation where some people could actually earn more money by filing for unemployment if furloughed than they would by staying in the workforce. We must acknowledge the potential for this to set a damaging precedent. prgtoken This bill provides robust funding for our nation's hospitals and some needed flexibility in the telehealth space to ensure Americans, particularly seniors, are able to visit with their doctors in the lowest risk setting possible. I was disappointed however in the lack of a prgtoken specific carve out that acknowledges the unique challenges faced by our rural hospitals, like the many that serve Florida's second district. I was also disappointed that the bill does not provide statutory relief for those who may not have video phone capabilities required to meet reimbursement criteria for telehealth visits. It is my understanding and hope however, that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid services will be able to provide adequate guidance to allow for ``audio only'' visits. prgtoken I believe that the $9.7 Billion provided to Secretary Sonny Perdue to aid our agriculture industry is a good first start, but ultimately more resources will need to be made available in the near future. Recent volatility in the global trade markets and natural disasters, combined w
MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019
Brad Sherman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-4-7

over 122,000 cases of coronavirus, otherwise referred to as COVID-19, have been confirmed in the United States since the inception of the outbreak, including more than 5,000 confirmed cases in my home state of California alone. More than two thousand Americans have died as a result of the virus, and many more stand to do so if we do not act quickly to mitigate its spread and address the myriad of medical challenges. prgtoken While Congress has passed several measures to provide significant amounts of money for research activities at federal agencies, this is not enough. I am disappointed that H.R. 748 does not adequately fund nor provide incentives for, research and development into treatments and vaccines that leverage the expertise of the public and private sectors. Chiefly, the CARES Act fails to adequately support research on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus and at clinical research institutions across the country to pursue all reasonable avenues to develop treatments for the coronavirus, including diagnostic tests, therapies and vaccines. The NIH should have significantly more than $945 million to carry out COVID-19 related research and should also be directed to focus primarily on those possible treatments that are not subject to a patent and thus are not the focus of U.S. pharmaceutical companies. prgtoken Finally, the administration uses this must-pass relief bill to advance their anti-reproduction rights agenda. The bill gives the Small Business Administration broad discretion to exclude Planned Parenthood affiliates and other non-profits serving people with low incomes and deny them benefits under the new small business loan program. Additionally, the bill attaches a harmful Hyde Amendment provision to a state stabilization fund for state, local, and tribal governments providing coronavirus relief. Reproductive health care is essential health care, and Planned Parenthood health centers are a critical component of the health care system. Attempting to limit access to reproductive health care services during a pandemic will only worsen the public health care crisis.
INTRODUCTION OF THE IMPROVING ACCESS TO JOBS ACT
Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-4-7

. Madam , I rise to introduce the Improving Access to Jobs Act along with my colleagues Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Congressman Mark Takano. prgtoken Americans are stuck in congestion, on crumbling roadways and transit systems, and are too often forced to travel further and further for jobs because our system fails to provide safe and convenient choices other than a car trip. prgtoken The Improving Access to Jobs Act requires that `safe and convenient access to employment' is an added condition for States' minimum standards for public roads--for both new construction and roadway improvement projects. prgtoken States and metropolitan planning organizations will assess how the transportation system connects people to jobs by auto, transit, bike, and pedestrian investments, and ensures new investments do not degrade transit, bike, and pedestrian access. prgtoken The Improving Access to Jobs Act will also adjust the definition of access to incorporate a measurement of travel times, travel stress for active travel (bike and pedestrian), and cost for low-income travelers. prgtoken I am glad that the Improving Access to Jobs Act is endorsed by Transportation for America (T4A), Sierra Club, National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC), Rails- to-Trails Conservancy. prgtoken The Improving Access to Jobs Act will reconnect our communities, enabling people to take shorter, more convenient trips, reducing congestion and emissions, and improving access to jobs for all. prgtoken I urge this body to swiftly pass this legislation.
THANK YOU TO WASHINGTON STATE'S EDUCATORS
Rick Larsen (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2020-4-7

. Madam , I rise today to sincerely thank the teachers, paraeducators, food service workers, bus drivers, custodial staff and others keeping the education of kids on track in Washington state during the COVID-19 pandemic. prgtoken Schools are always adapting to suit the needs of their students. When Washington state closed schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19, education professionals rapidly adjusted to on line education, ensuring students would not fall behind. prgtoken Distance learning has forced schools to tackle serious student equity issues, including access to technology and broadband, and making sure thousands of students who rely on school meals do not go hungry. These educators need Congress to step up to help address these issues. prgtoken Madam , I rise to recognize the sacrifices teachers and school employees of all kinds across Washington state are making to provide for their students amid this public health crisis. And I call on Congress to provide necessary tools for school districts to ensure equitable online learning and sufficient resources for students during this pandemic and beyond.
MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2020-4-7

H.R. 748 contains a critical provision that will be used to assist state and local governments in their response to the crisis engulfing our nation. Indeed, local governments are bearing the heavy burden of response with dwindling resources while helping terrified Americans manage as best they can. As the entities closest to the ground, these local governments are on the front line of the fight, and we must ensure they have adequate funding. prgtoken This provision, Section 5001 of the CARES Act, provides that Treasury will provide assistance directly, and not through the State intermediary to units of local government with more than 500,000 people. The provision, allows for a significantly broad definition of local governments and specifies that ``[t]he term `unit of local government' [includes] . . . other unit of general government below the State level with a population that exceeds 500,000.'' Section 5001 explicitly allows any government that represents more than 500,000 and includes regional councils of government which are chartered under state law. prgtoken In Ohio, Chapter 167 of the revised code provides broad authority for a regional council of government to act as a local unit of government, to plan, enter cooperative agreements related ``to matters affecting health, safety, welfare, education, economic conditions, and regional development.'' See Ohio Revised Code, Sec. 167.03. prgtoken In drafting and approving H.R. 748, the House and Senate intended section 5001 to be administered liberally, and for Treasury and the Courts to construe the statute broadly so as to encompass all local government entities with more than 500,000 citizens to act directly, and not through the intermediary of a state government. In fact, the State of Ohio has specifically devolved local authority to the regional council of governments to act in the general welfare interests of their citizens as a unit of general government. prgtoken As Treasury promulgates regulations to implement this statute, the law intends for these regional councils of government to act as a general unit of local government, and envisions them to be eligible to certify and receive the state stabilization dollars.
TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT MAJOR RALPH SARGENT
Seth Moulton (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2020-4-7

. Madam , I rise to commemorate the service of an American patriot and decorated Marine, Sergeant Major Ralph Sargent. Sargent took part in some of the most intense fighting of the Vietnam War, including the Battle of Khe Sanh, when the hilltop outpost of 6,000 Marines was surrounded by 34,000 North Vietnamese troops. Despite heavy artillery bombardment and the constant threat of being overrun, the Marines, of course, held their ground. Later while on patrol, his company got into an extended firefight that would claim the lives of 35 Marines, but it would have been far worse if not for Sergeant Major Sargent's actions that earned him the Bronze Star with a ``Combat V'' for extraordinary heroism, in addition to his Navy Commendation Medal. prgtoken But one of the greatest stories of his service was when he saved the life of another Marine decades after Vietnam. That Marine is his grandson, whom I was privileged to serve with in Iraq. The salty Marine sergeant major recognized what was wrong with his grandson when this great Marine returned from the war and, like so many of us, had trouble finding meaning in life back home. So one day the sergeant major asked his grandson to drive him to the VA for an appointment, but when they arrived, he told his grandson that the appointment was actually for him. His grandson, my friend, followed the sergeant major's orders and started going regularly to the VA. I'm not sure he would be alive today if he hadn't. And months later, after Sergeant Major Sargent saw what a difference the VA had made in his grandson's life, he decided, for the first time, to go himself. prgtoken Madam , Sergeant Major Sargent lived a life of service. Many Marines made it through Vietnam thanks to their sergeant major, and one of my great Marine friends is alive today because of his grandfather. What an American hero.