mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SCORCHED EARTH TO MISSISSIPPI BURNING
James E. Clyburn (Democrat, SC) \u2014 2021-3-19

. Madam , last March, as the tragic failure of the administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic was becoming very apparent, the House ic Caucus held a conference call to discuss the crisis. Recalling the lessons of history, like the aftermath of World War I, the Spanish Flu, the Great Depression, and World War II, that it is usually the least of these among us that are the hardest hit during the crises and the last to recover after these crises are over, if they are able to recover at all; I expressed at that time to the Caucus that the legislation before us offered a tremendous opportunity to restructure things in our vision. I was referring then, as I often do, to the vision expressed in our Pledge of Allegiance to our Nation's flag of liberty and justice for all. prgtoken Shortly after the media reported these comments, Senator McConnell, the majority leader of the Senate, derided them on the Senate floor. Referring to me by position, he declared: ``This is not a political opportunity. It is a national emergency.'' prgtoken I wholeheartedly agree with the now-minority leader of the Senate that the coronavirus pandemic was and remains a national emergency. But because the previous administration and Senate s failed to address it with appropriate urgency and a vision of liberty and justice for all, the American people, through the political process last November, entrusted with an opportunity to build back with a better and more equitable vision for the future of our great country. prgtoken The American Rescue Plan has begun that process, and it is enjoying widespread, bipartisan support across the entire spectrum of the country. It did not get a single vote in the House or the Senate. Because of the use of the budget process commonly called reconciliation, s were not able to block by filibuster the American Rescue Plan, and that is proving to be a good thing. prgtoken But the Senate minority leader and several of his colleagues seem to be hellbent on using archaic Senate procedural rules to allow the minority in the Senate to block any legislation designed to protect the voting and civil rights of our country's minority citizens as we continue our pursuit toward the fulfillment of liberty and justice for all. prgtoken We have been here before. During the 1940s and 1950s, the Senate filibuster was used to kill civil rights legislation and protect Jim Crow laws. Today, Senate leaders are employing the same tactics to obstruct voting rights and civil rights legislation. Their efforts are designed to gain power for their party by suppressing political participation by minorities. prgtoken The minority leader has threatened that if Senate modify the filibuster rules to do to him as he did to President , he will resort to scorched-earth tactics. This threat of scorched-earth tactics by the Senate minority leader in defianc
CONDEMNING MILITARY COUP IN BURMA
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-3-19

. Madam , on Friday, March 19, 2021, I could not be present for rollcall vote 97, due to a previous commitment to serve as a panelist during the United Nations 65th Commission on the Status of Women parallel event titled ``Women's Full and Effective Participation and Decision-Making in Public Life, as well as the Elimination of Violence, for Achieving Gender Equality and the Empowerment of All Women and Girls.'' prgtoken Had I been present, I would have cast the following vote: ``yes'' on rollcall vote 97. members recorded pursuant to house resolution 8, 117th congress Allred (Davids (KS)) Axne (Stevens) Barragan (Beyer) Bera (Aguilar) Bishop (GA) (Butterfield) Blumenauer (Beyer) Bourdeaux (Clark (MA)) Boyle, Brendan F. (Jeffries) Buchanan (Gimenez) Bucshon (Walorski) (Clark (MA)) Cardenas (Gomez) Cleaver (Davids (KS)) DeSaulnier (Matsui) DesJarlais (Fleischmann) Gaetz (Waltz) Garbarino (Joyce (OH)) Gonzalez, Vicente (Gomez) Grijalva (Garcia (IL)) Hastings (Butterfield) Kahele (Mrvan) Kim (NJ) (Davids (KS)) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Langevin (Lynch) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Lieu (Beyer) Lowenthal (Beyer) McEachin (Wexton) Meng (Clark (MA)) Mfume (Brown) Moore (WI) (Beyer) Moulton (Underwood) Napolitano (Correa) Payne (Pallone) Peters (Kildee) Pingree (Cicilline) Porter (Wexton) Rodgers (WA) (Joyce (PA)) Rush (Underwood) Schneider (Aguilar) Sherrill (Pallone) Sires (Pallone) Slotkin (Stevens) Smith (WA) (Courtney) Timmons (Steube) Vargas (Correa) Wasserman Schultz (Soto) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Williams (GA) (Jacobs (CA)) Wilson (FL) (Hayes)
HATE CRIMES MUST STOP
Al Green (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-3-19

. Madam , when you are a son of the segregated south, when you have heard your mother called girl, and your father called boy, when you have had to go to the back door, when you have had the Klan burn a cross on your property, you know hate when you see it. You know what a hate crime is when it takes place. prgtoken What happened in Georgia was hate personified, it was a hate crime. I will march with the people who will be opposed to this. I will stand with them. We cannot allow this kind of injustice to go unchallenged. It is better to stand alone than not stand at all. This is a hate crime and we must--we must seek justice for those victims, and we must demand that these persons who are calling these viruses by names associated with people, that they ought to stop, and we ought to demand it. I do so. I demand that they stop.
PREVENTING PAYGO SEQUESTRATION
John A. Yarmuth (Democrat, KY) \u2014 2021-3-19

I would like to remind the gentleman from Virginia that in 2017 when s passed an almost identical amount of tax cuts, 83 percent of which went to the top 1 percent and major corporations, Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor: Sequestration has never happened, will not happen now, and will never happen. His words were prophetic because it is not going to happen today. prgtoken , I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), the distinguished chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
PREVENTING PAYGO SEQUESTRATION
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-3-19

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken , they will get $3,000 for children above 9 years old. There will be enhanced unemployment for the young people in their lives who have been unemployed. And then, of course, that local restaurant will be able--and I fought for this--to be open again with $28 billion. prgtoken The issue of public assistance or local government assistance was something I was allowed to offer a motion to instruct on. It was something that I thought we could not abandon. We will not abandon seniors. We will not let them touch one dime of Medicare, as our friends on the other side have. prgtoken Vote for this legislation because we are seniors first. prgtoken , as a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary, on Homeland Security, on the Budget, and as the Member of Congress for a congressional district that has experience the worst of the COVID-19 as a public health emergency and economic catastrophe, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1868, which excludes the budgetary effects of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, from the scorecards established by the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Act of 2010, preventing across-the- board cuts to numerous direct spending programs. prgtoken The legislation also excludes the budgetary effects of this Act from the Senate PAYGO scorecards. prgtoken This legislation is necessary to ensure that that Medicare and other programs are protected from PAYGO sequestration. prgtoken The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act requires across-the-board cuts, known as ``sequestration,'' to a defined set of programs if certain legislation affecting mandatory spending or revenues increases net deficits. prgtoken Although legislation that Congress designates as an emergency or otherwise excludes from the PAYGO scorecard does not trigger sequestration, this action is necessary because restrictions on the content of reconciliation bills prevented the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 from including a provision to avert sequestration. prgtoken The bill before also extends a separate Medicare sequester relief provision, first enacted in the CARES Act, that expires March 31, prgtoken , Congress has never permitted sequestration to affect the Medicare trust fund and it certainly will not allow it now, just when help is arriving under the American Rescue Plan Act to put shots in arms, money in pockets, kids in school, and workers back on the job. prgtoken It is worthwhile to explain why the American Rescue Plan Act is the most transformative legislation in more than a half century and easily justifies exclusion from sequestration. prgtoken H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act, is a landmark, life-saving legislation that will provide urgently-needed resources to defeat the virus, put vaccines in people's arms, money into families' pockets, children safely back into classrooms, and people back to work. prgtoken With tens of millions of Americans infected, more than half a million lives
PREVENTING PAYGO SEQUESTRATION
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2021-3-19

I rise in support of H.R. 1868. prgtoken Since the start of the pandemic, Congress has passed several emergency COVID-19 response packages to help our communities get back on their feet. Unfortunately, as the chairman mentioned, due to technicalities in the reconciliation process, some of that progress will be wiped away unless we pass this legislation. prgtoken So H.R. 1868 is necessary to prevent the automatic, across-the-board funding cuts that will undermine our recovery. Just as the ranking member mentioned, that will happen unless we pass this bill. Many of those cuts will occur within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Education and Labor. prgtoken For example, the legislation before us protects student borrowers from automatic increases and loan origination fees and would increase the cost of taking out a student loan. prgtoken The bill protects TEACH Grants, which help recruit talented individuals into the classroom. prgtoken The proposal preserves funding for many of our colleges struggling to survive during the pandemic. prgtoken Passing this legislation will prevent cuts to grants that go to students whose parents made the ultimate sacrifice serving our Nation in Iraq and Afghanistan. prgtoken Finally, this bill protects Americans' access to affordable healthcare during the global health emergency. prgtoken , Congress took bold action to get our country through the pandemic by enacting the American Rescue Plan. Now we must take this final step in the reconciliation process to ensure that we do not undermine critical programs that students and families urgently need. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.
PENNSYLVANIA BENEFITING FROM AID
Madeleine Dean (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2021-3-19

last week, President signed the American Rescue Plan. Although the bill received no votes, it has bipartisan support and will have a long-lasting bipartisan impact. prgtoken Many constituents in my district have already received relief checks, with as many as 90 million stimulus checks out this week. prgtoken Yet, this transformative legislation goes even further. It expands funding to get shots in arms and kids safely in school, and it cuts child poverty in half with an expanded child tax credit. prgtoken Additionally, we finally targeted relief to our local restaurants and eateries that have been devastated by the pandemic. prgtoken Let's not forget about our State and local governments. We will finally be sending them much-needed aid. prgtoken My home State of Pennsylvania will receive more than $13 billion. Montgomery and Berks Counties, where my district resides, will receive a combined $242 million. prgtoken The American Rescue Plan, and all it provides, is the responsible way to fully reopen all of our communities and Build Back Better.
PREVENTING PAYGO SEQUESTRATION
Cheri Bustos (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-3-19

I rise today to support H.R. 1868. I know we prgtoken have talked this morning about the importance of the bill protecting Medicare. I want to talk with you for a couple of minutes here about its protection of farm supports and other direct spending as it pertains to our family farmers. prgtoken As chair of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, this bill will protect critical resources like the Commodity Credit Corporation, resources that our family farmers depend on now more than ever. prgtoken There are nearly 2 million farmers across our Nation. In the district that I serve, we have close to 10,000 family farms. But throughout our Nation, there is no farm that isn't touched by the Commodity Credit Corporation, not one American farmer who wouldn't be impacted by these cuts. In the district I serve, those close to 10,000 family farmers would have fewer resources if this were to happen and would face challenges as they try to pay their bills and put food on the table. prgtoken The truth is, our family farmers have seen an onslaught of challenges for years, each year worse than the one before it: extreme weather conditions; devastated crops; unstable and uncertain trade markets that held back exports and economic growth; and throughout the past year, a global pandemic that has left many of our farmers ravaged, even as they kept fighting for fellow Americans, to keep them fed. prgtoken COVID-19 has impacted all of us. But, thankfully, we have never truly seen empty store shelves. We have our American farmers to thank for that. We have our American farmers to thank for the stable food supply and for the certainty that, even after years of challenges, even at the height of this worldwide crisis, our American farmers have had our backs. Now, it is time for us to have theirs. prgtoken A vote against this bill is a vote to cut farm funding. I urge my colleagues to vote to protect our family farmers and vote ``yes'' on this critical bill.
VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS IS UN-AMERICAN
Sylvia R. Garcia (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-3-19

I rise today to speak on the horrific anti-Asian American sentiment that has been brewing in our country. prgtoken Like all of you, I was heartbroken by this week's shooting in Georgia. This violent act of hate has no place in our country. While this tragedy deserves all our outrage and attention, it is important to remember that this was not an isolated incident. prgtoken COVID-19 has worsened the racism and xenophobia our AAPI brothers and sisters face. Many elected officials have used the pandemic to fan the flames of hate, and now they refuse to accept the consequences of their actions. prgtoken My district is home to over 10,000 Asian Americans. They make our community whole, and they do not deserve to live in fear because of hateful rhetoric that has spread across America. prgtoken As President has said, violence against Asian Americans is un- American, and it must stop.
PREVENTING PAYGO SEQUESTRATION
Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-3-19

today, I rise in support of H.R. 1868 to prevent these harmful budget cuts to vital agricultural programs that are relied on by farmers, farmworkers, and food-insecure families in all of our districts. prgtoken If we don't pass this bill today, $29 billion in agricultural funding would be subject to these sequester cuts. Those types of cuts would zero out funding for such crucial agricultural programs like EQIP, the Conservation Stewardship Program, and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. prgtoken In my district on the mid-central coast of California, many farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners rely on those types of helpful programs not just to survive, , but to succeed. They use those programs to harvest their products and to be part of the climate solution. prgtoken The producers in my district understand and appreciate the old adage called usufruct, which basically says the land they use now must be kept fresh and fertile, not just for them, but for future generations. It is these programs that contribute to their current product and, yes, that type of forward thinking. prgtoken Sequester cuts would also prevent the Federal Government from purchasing and donating food to food banks through section 32 purchases. After the year we had, in which food banks contributed so much to the food security of so many of my constituents, we should be doing everything we can to protect and bolster our food programs. prgtoken We should also be doing everything we can to protect the production of food, but sequestration cuts would compromise many parts of the farm bill, like the specialty crop block grants or the agricultural research extension programs at public universities. prgtoken As the co-chair of the Congressional Agriculture Research Caucus, I know that these types of ag research programs help our farmers meet the challenges of 2021 and will allow them to prepare for challenges of the 21st century. prgtoken , as the Representative from the salad bowl of the world, it is my job to ensure that my farmers, farmworkers, and food-insecure families have all the tools that they need to live and lead healthy and productive lives.
AMERICA'S KIDS DESERVE BETTER
Sara Jacobs (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-3-19

. Madam , before COVID-19 more than 40 percent of San Diego kids were already living in families experiencing poverty. prgtoken Childhood poverty was a problem before COVID-19, and we know it has only worsened through this pandemic. America's kids deserve better. prgtoken That is why I was so proud to fight for them through the American Rescue Plan and so proud to see the bill signed into law last week. prgtoken The American Rescue Plan makes historic investments to increase the child tax credit and support our childcare infrastructure to help working families and our care workers. These investments will be transformational, cutting childhood poverty in half and lifting a heavy burden off the shoulders of so many parents. prgtoken Today, I celebrate this progress. And, today, I commit myself to working to support the 5 million American children who will still experience poverty. Let's make the child tax credit increases permanent. Let's revitalize our childcare infrastructure, and let's do right by America's kids.
PREVENTING PAYGO SEQUESTRATION
Lloyd Doggett (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-3-19

what our colleagues should be doing is coming together to work with us to ensure the permanent security of Medicare. prgtoken Medicare works, but after 55 years, it needs some updates. It has not provided adequate protection against pharmaceutical price gouging; it does not cover most of dental, hearing, and vision care; and, of course, too many Americans are just too young to benefit from Medicare. prgtoken I believe we need to be working together to make Medicare better and more widely available to more Americans, because health security is American security.
PREVENTING PAYGO SEQUESTRATION
David Scott (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2021-3-19

I thank the chairman for yielding. prgtoken , this is an important and urgent activity that we are on this morning. Now, my friends talked about this, but they did the identical, same thing in 2017 with President 's tax cuts. What is good for my friends is also good for us. That is the way the rules are. prgtoken , let me tell you how devastating the damage would be if we do not act. First of all, it will cut $29 billion from badly needed programs, and no entity will be impacted and devastated like agriculture. They will cut $29 billion and cut our programs for energy efficiency and rural development. prgtoken We are working on that together. This bill will save our rural development, research, specialty crop development, and beginning and veteran farmer development. prgtoken Out of the $29 billion, it will take $23 billion out of our Commodity Credit Corporation, limiting our ability to make payments to our farmers and food producers at this critical time when we are in a hunger crisis. prgtoken , you must understand, we and s need to send a powerful message to the Nation on this bill.
HONORING THE LIFE OF NORBERT ``BUD'' FAY
Joe Courtney (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-3-19

. Madam , I rise today to observe and mourn the passing of a talented businessman, veteran, husband, father, and a patriotic Nutmegger through and through--Norbert ``Bud'' Fay, of Groton, Connecticut. A pillar of southeastern CT, Bud passed away at the age of 94 at his residence on January 9, 2021. prgtoken While Bud has moved on--we now cherish his life and the positive impact he had on the lives of others and his hometown of Groton. Born in 1927, Bud was civic minded early in life and was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need. Bud's commitment to his prgtoken community and country translated into his enlistment in the United States NAVY, serving with the greatest generation in World War II as a member of a Gun Crew on Merchant Tankers. During the war, Bud flew for two companies that rebuilt war surplus aircraft. His heroism and iron will during World War II will always be remembered by us here in eastern Connecticut and we cannot thank and appreciate Bud enough for his commitment and sacrifice to our nation. prgtoken Upon his retirement from the military, Bud set his sights on doing business in eastern Connecticut--and the rest is history. With the same vigor and passion he used to serve his country--Bud quickly developed an entrepreneurial flare and started his first business, a car dealership in Waterford. A natural businessman--Bud develop a rapport with the local business community and even helped initiate the Groton Business Association which exists to this day. With his ever-expanding business acumen, Bud found his way into working for Davis Standard in Pawcatuck and joined the team that pioneered the early development of plastic product machinery. Bud hit the ground running as soon as he retired from the NAVY. As testament to his energy and hard work, he was once named National Association of Independent Businessmen's New England's Small Businessman of the Year. Later in life, Bud would go on to open a restaurant, laundromat, and other businesses which he operated on Route 12 in Groton for 22 years. His restaurant ``Pop and Mum's'' was a place where members of the NAVY could grab a bite to eat and have a warm conversation with Bud where he would regale of his experiences in the military and offer a friendly ear. Bud was always there for the local NAVY sailors when they needed him. prgtoken But to his core, Bud was a fighter for his community. This was demonstrated in his fight to save the century old Naval Submarine Base New London, which the Pentagon under the administration added to a list of bases recommended for permanent closure in 2005. A eastern Connecticut with no sub-base would have spelt economic disaster for so many in the Second District, not to mention the thousands of NAVY personnel who were stationed at the base and who's children made up a significant portion of the area's schools. Bud fought like hell to ensure that this would not happen and through his voice and the
INCITING POLITICAL VIOLENCE
Jimmy Gomez (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-3-19

I believe some of my colleagues, and one in particular, wish harm upon this legislative body. I am not saying this for shock value; it is the conclusion I drew after a Member of Congress advocated violence against our peers, the , and our government. prgtoken It is what I believed after this Chamber was turned into a crime scene just 10 weeks ago. It is how many of us felt, sheltering in this room, as the Capitol was breached. prgtoken Some Members called their loved ones to say good-bye. Others prayed to their God. And I asked myself if this would be the day our democracy died. prgtoken I take no joy in introducing this resolution, but any Member who incites political violence and threatens our lives must be expelled, and I will do everything I can in my power to protect our democracy and keep all of my colleagues safe.