mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CORONAVIRUS
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-12-3

it might be hard to believe it is actually December. In normal times, a lot of families in Michigan would be focused on getting ready for the holidays, and while Michigan children might still be counting down the days until Santa arrives, their parents have a lot bigger issues weighing on their minds. prgtoken A Michigan dad has been out of work for months and is wondering how long his family will be able to keep scraping by in the new year after his unemployment runs out. prgtoken A Michigan single mom whose hours have been cut and who has been unable to pay the rent for months is wondering just how long it will be until her family will be out on the street. prgtoken The owner of a Michigan small business is wondering if he will see enough of a holiday boost to keep the doors open and his three employees on the payroll. prgtoken A Michigan retiree who struggles to buy enough groceries is wondering if it is safe to wait in a long line at her local food bank or if that is where she will get sick. prgtoken Michigan families who have seen almost 9,300 of their grandparents and neighbors and uncles and cousins and friends and community leaders get sick and die from this horrible virus are wondering who is going to be next. prgtoken The truth is that we are not just facing a health crisis right now-- we are facing an economic crisis; we are facing a housing crisis; and we are facing a hunger crisis all at the same time. Coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and deaths keep rising, and we haven't even seen the effects of Thanksgiving gatherings yet. We are seeing unemployment claims tick up, and those are expected to get worse after seasonal jobs will be cut in January. prgtoken Some studies have estimated that about 40 million renters in the United States are at risk of losing their homes. There are already 10,000 eviction actions that have been filed in a number of States. Those are 10,000 families who need to find new places to live right now, in the winter, in the middle of a health pandemic. prgtoken We have all seen the massive lines of cars at food banks across the country. In a normal year, the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan helps about 14 percent of the population in 22 counties get enough food to eat. This year, it is helping 40 percent to put food on the table. Before COVID-19, the South Michigan Food Bank provided food to about 80 families a week. Now it is helping more than 500 families a week. This is an emergency. These families, businesses, community organizations, and seniors can't just wait around, hoping for a Christmas miracle. They need help now, and it is our responsibility to do it now. prgtoken That is why I am so pleased that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been working to come together on additional help. There are still a lot of details to work out, but I am hopeful, in being part of the process on the workings of the details, that we are going to be able to come togeth
ADDRESS THE COVID ISSUE NOW
Tom O’Halleran (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2020-12-3

I also want to talk a little bit about Arizona's First Congressional District and our country, on the need to extend the Tribal deadline from December 31 for another year to make sure they have the opportunity to use the funds that were given to them. prgtoken There is an assumption that you can, over a 6-month period, put millions of dollars out there and get something done right away. I know that; I am a former project manager. I know to build a building it takes 2 to 3 years to get the planning done and get the work done. prgtoken And here, the CARES Act clearly indicated a need for COVID relief for the Tribal Nations, not just because they have not been able to address the issue, but they need to address the issue. prgtoken , I say one more time, let's get this COVID thing done.
Coronavirus (Executive Session)
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2020-12-3

I rise today to talk a little bit about what is happening in Nevada. Last week, I had the opportunity to be home, and I went to one of our mobile food banks in East Las Vegas just before Thanksgiving. The mobile food bank is one of our food pantries throughout the State of Nevada, and this particular one is run by Three Square. I arrived around 8 a.m. in the morning to a line of cars waiting at the site. That line sometimes gets so long, police have to direct traffic around it. Literally, they lined up at 3 a.m. The food pantry doesn't even open until 7 or 8 in the morning, but they were there at 3 a.m around the block, in their cars to stay safe from the COVID-19 pandemic. There were over 350 of them throughout that morning. That is not unusual with what is happening in Nevada right now. That is not unusual, and it should be, but because this pandemic has hit Nevada and so many States so hard, we are seeing the consequences of inaction by this body in the Senate. prgtoken As I got there that morning, I imagined those people in the middle of the night with their lights and power off in their cars to save fuel in the cold desert night. And they waited patiently. They were quiet because they knew assistance would be there when morning came. And sometimes that food runs out for those many people who are waiting, and then they have to come the next day. But because of the inaction in this Chamber, most Nevadans who are hurting don't have that reassurance that there will be immediate, swift relief for them because they don't know when Federal help will come. Lifeline organizations like Three Square, which are working tirelessly to help families fill the gaps, are running out of resources. prgtoken It has been 223 days since the Senate last approved funds to help all Americans endure this once-in-a-lifetime catastrophe. Meanwhile, too many people in Nevada are languishing in the dark, hoping for economic assistance that still hasn't arrived prgtoken In Nevada, we continue to have the second highest unemployment rate in the country at 12 percent. That is almost twice the national rate. Unemployment is so high in Nevada because of the coronavirus pandemic. It has stopped conventions, entertainment, hospitality, and travel operations in the Silver State and across the country. In August, in Nevada, employment in travel and tourism was down 25 percent over last year. Nationwide, spending on travel has declined by 42 percent compared to 2019. As a result, there are 60 percent fewer travelers to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas and 50 percent fewer travelers to Las Vegas itself. The American Hotel and Lodging Association estimates that without more funding, nearly 70 percent of hotels may close by the end of this year. prgtoken Because of the devastation to what had been a thriving hospitality industry in Nevada, many of the jobs aren't there right now, and too many workers in Nevada can't
LAND GRANT-MERCEDES TRADITIONAL USE RECOGNITION AND CONSULTATION ACT
Ben Ray Luján (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2020-12-3

. Madam , as a proud New Mexican, I rise in support of the Land Grant-Mercedes Traditional Use Recognition and Consultation Act that I introduced to ensure that the Federal Government recognizes the historical and cultural significance of New Mexico's land grants and acequias. prgtoken Growing up on a small farm in Nambe, New Mexico, I would wake up before dawn to feed the livestock, to open the ``compuertas'' or the headgates to allow the waters of the acequia to flow to our land and irrigate our crops. These chores and responsibilities, preserving our acequias and communal lands, are part of our way of life in New Mexico. prgtoken Land grants and acequias have been around for generations, hundreds of prgtoken years, and they deserve recognition from the Federal Government. Traditional communities face a growing number of challenges, such as the climate crisis, which impacts the local watersheds and forested areas. Without improved consultation and cooperation between the Federal Government and traditional communities, these communities may not have access to the resources they need to survive. prgtoken This legislation offers land grants the opportunity to be more involved in the issues that impact their community by requiring that future Federal land management planning consider historical and traditional uses. prgtoken It directs the Federal Government to issue guidance on permit requirements for qualified traditional use communities and helps New Mexicans who have stewarded these lands for generations maintain precious infrastructure like acequias. prgtoken This legislation recognizes the importance of protecting culturally important sites and communities and ensures that the impact of Federal actions on historical-traditional uses is evaluated and considered during the land management planning processes. prgtoken To ensure that acequia associations have a strong voice in advocating for their right to maintain their infrastructure, this legislation requires the Forest Service to work directly with acequia associations to develop a proposed rule on special use permits. prgtoken Addressing these challenges faced by land grant and acequia communities, including their interactions with the Federal Government, has been a priority of mine since I was elected to Congress. prgtoken I am proud and honored to have worked with the New Mexico Land Grant Council and the New Mexico Acequia Association to move this legislation forward. prgtoken I am grateful to Chairman Grijalva, Ranking Member Bishop, Subcommittee Chair Haaland, and Ranking Member Young, and Representative Case for their support in bringing this important legislation to the House floor. prgtoken Today, with the support of New Mexico's traditional communities, I urge the House to pass my legislation and ensure a victory for our land grants and acequias.
INDIAN COMMUNITY ECONOMIC ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2020
Ed Case (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2020-12-3

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , S. 212, the Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act, amends current laws to provide industry and economic development opportunities to Indian communities. prgtoken Indian Tribes face many unique obstacles in their mission to bring industry and economic development to Indian Country. This includes geographic isolation, lack of infrastructure, and lack of sufficient collateral and capital. The end result is an increased cost of doing business in Indian Country, which stifles outside investment. prgtoken S. 212 seeks to address these issues by amending three existing Federal laws, the Native American Business Development, Trade Promotion, and Tourism Act of 2000, the Buy Indian Act, and the Native American Programs Act of 1974. prgtoken These laws have been supporting Native businesses and economic development for years. However, they need to be updated to reflect the 21st century economy, as well as the realities in Indian Country today. prgtoken To that end, enactment of S. 212 will increase access to capital for Indian Tribes and businesses, increase opportunities for Indian business promotion, and create mechanisms and tools to address investments in Indian communities. prgtoken At the request of the Appropriations Committee, we are making some small changes to the current bill to update the fiscal year authorization language for some of the programs. This means that the bill will have to go back to the Senate, where I hope and believe they will move swiftly to enact it, as amended, before the end of this Congress. prgtoken I commend the sponsor of the bill, the chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Senator Hoeven from North Dakota, for his work on this legislation. prgtoken I also recognize our own colleague, Representative Norma Torres from California for her work on the bill and for carrying the House companion, H.R. 1937. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support S. 212, and I ask for its adoption. prgtoken , . Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, November 30, 2020. Hon. Raul M. Grijalva, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Grijalva: I write concerning S. 212, the Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act of 2019. This bill was primarily referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and additionally to the Committee on Education and Labor. As a result of Leadership and the Committee on Natural Resources having consulted with me concerning this bill generally, I agree to forgo formal consideration of the bill so the bill may proceed expeditiously to the House floor. The Committee on Education and Labor takes this action with our mutual under
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-12-3

I am on the floor today to discuss a question of fundamental fairness to members of our Armed Forces and to Federal employees. prgtoken I think we all may recall a few months ago when President ordered the Department of the Treasury to establish a system to push businesses, companies, and employers around the country to defer the collection of employees' payroll taxes. Those are the taxes that go to Social Security and Medicare. The key word here is ``defer'' because this is really a shell game. prgtoken Any moneys that businesses do not pay into Social Security and Medicare now are going to have to be paid by those Federal employees right after the holidays, starting in January. prgtoken And many employees around the country were at first confused. They thought they were getting a payroll tax holiday, but that is not the case. prgtoken The reality is, whatever they didn't pay in the form of payroll taxes now and in the past couple months they would be required to pay back right after those holidays. prgtoken And when businesses looked at this and when workers and employees around the country looked at this, they overwhelmingly rejected it. They said they didn't want to participate. prgtoken Here is what UPS said about this proposal: ``We recognize that for some, it may have been helpful to have more money in their paychecks in 2020, yet not all employees have professional tax planning needed to prepare effectively for the added obligation they would face in 2021.'' prgtoken So even though this payroll tax deferral proposal got a burst of attention, it turned out to be meaningless for most workers around the country. Most private sector employers didn't participate, and their employees and workers didn't want them to participate. prgtoken Unfortunately, the one big exception to this has been members of our Armed Forces, the folks who every day stand guard to protect our country, and Federal employees who do the Nation's business with respect to important services they provide. prgtoken And as the private sector has rejected this, we have heard from thousands of Federal employees who say: We don't want to participate either. We have heard from members of the Armed Forces that say: We don't want to be used as guinea pigs and be required to participate. prgtoken So I want to be really clear that if we don't correct this, the damage will continue to be done, and these members of our Armed Forces and Federal employees will be forced to pay even more back after the holidays. prgtoken Now, I wrote to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and to OMB Director Vought about this back in September, September 8, just as the deferral was starting, and we were joined in that letter by 22 Senators--Senators from both sides of the aisle. We had a simple bipartisan request. It was: Make this payroll tax deferral optional, make it voluntary. If Federal employees and members of our Armed Forces want to participate in this prop
Coronavirus (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-12-3

first, let me thank my colleague and friend, the senior Senator from the great State of Nevada, for her words. They are on point. I hope the leader was listening. I hope our colleagues were listening because her genuine concern for her State, which is suffering just like mine is--both States depend on entertainment and tourism. It is real. We all want to get something done, and we are all willing to give to get something done, but the leader holds the key, and we hope he is open to compromise. I will have more to say on that in a minute, but I thank her for her comments. prgtoken We all know how desperate things are. Yesterday, we were leveled by some of the grimmest statistics of the pandemic. More than 100,000 Americans were hospitalized; more than 2,700 Americans died, the highest recorded number in a single day since the pandemic began; more than 274,000 Americans have died in total. That is the equivalent of a 9/11 attack every day for 92 days in a row. prgtoken Unlike the spring, when the rates of infections and fatalities peaked before steadily declining, the winter months and the hangover from Thanksgiving travel will likely cause these rates to get worse before they get better. prgtoken The steady yet staggering loss of American life is horrific. And because so many of us are isolated, because so many have contracted the disease and have experienced relatively mild symptoms and recovered quickly--thank God--there is a sense that things are not as bad as they seem. But the raw accounting is unavoidable, and it is harrowing. The loss of our friends, our parents, our neighbors, our siblings, our colleagues must be acknowledged and mourned and must inspire us to redouble our efforts to defeat this evil disease. prgtoken As COVID-19 races through much of the country, the economic fallout of the pandemic also broadens. Many family budgets and small businesses are at their breaking point. prgtoken Economists are now warning that the U.S. economy could fall into double-dip recession without additional relief from Congress. Let me say that again. We could have a double-dip recession unless there is relief--good, strong relief from Congress. That is why have been so desperately trying to convince our colleagues and the leader, in particular, to work with us in a bipartisan fashion on another round of emergency Federal relief. prgtoken Pelosi and I made a new offer to Leader McConnell and Leader prgtoken McCarthy on Monday in hopes of jump-starting serious negotiations. Leader McConnell responded by circulating another version of a partisan, -only draft. prgtoken In the spirit of compromise, Pelosi and I believe the bipartisan framework introduced by a group of eight Senators on Tuesday should be used as the basis, the framework, for immediate bipartisan, bicameral negotiations. Of course, we and others will offer improve
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3884, MARIJUANA OPPORTUNITY REINVESTMENT AND EXPUNGEMENT ACT OF 2019
Mary Gay Scanlon (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2020-12-3

like my colleague, the distinguished member of the Committee on Rules from Georgia, I, too, hope that the renewed interest in both Houses in passing COVID relief yields fruit sooner rather than later. It does require that the Senate make it a priority, and I have been advised that the Senate's priority this afternoon once again is confirming another conservative judge. So we will both have to hold out hope as we move forward. prgtoken , I am here today, pleased to rise in support of today's rule and the underlying legislation, the MORE Act. prgtoken It becomes clearer by the day that the time is long overdue for the Federal Government to bring its marijuana policy into the 21st century. prgtoken The current approach has failed our youth, has failed to stem more harmful drug usage, and, most notably, has failed communities of color across the United States. That is because, when it comes to marijuana, there are two justice systems in the United States: a gentler, more understanding system mostly available to White Americans, and a punitive, less-forgiving system primarily enforced against Black and Brown Americans. prgtoken , this isn't justice. This is not who we must be as a nation. prgtoken Thousands of people, mostly younger Black and Brown men, remain incarcerated, while a growing number of States, including Pennsylvania, have decriminalized and legalized marijuana for medicinal and recreational use. prgtoken The question is no longer whether we are living in a world if we will legalize cannabis. States across the country are leading the way and demonstrating how to safely, responsibly, and effectively regulate cannabis for medicinal and recreational use. prgtoken , the MORE Act will decriminalize marijuana by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act and apply retroactively to prior and pending marijuana-related convictions. The bill will also require Federal courts to expunge prior convictions and require courts to consider resentencing hearings for those still under supervision. prgtoken The MORE Act will not fix all of the injustices caused by the obsolete and ineffective approach of the Federal Government towards cannabis, but it is a good and long-overdue start. prgtoken , I urge all of my colleagues to side with justice and side with common sense to support this rule and the underlying legislation.
WELCOMING THE HONORABLE KWANZA HALL TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2020-12-3

. Madam , ladies and gentlemen of the House, the Honorable Kwanza Hall is a native of Atlanta, attended Atlanta public schools, and attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. prgtoken He worked for the Fulton County Government. He was vice president of technology for GoodWorks International, and he is currently director of business development at Mactech Engineering. prgtoken In 2002, he was elected to the Atlanta Board of Education. In 2005, he was elected to the Atlanta City Council, District Two, where he served three consecutive terms. prgtoken Following the death of our beloved colleague, Congressman John Lewis, Kwanza qualified to run in the special election to fill the unexpired term of Congressman Lewis, which was held on November 3. There were several candidates, but none received the required majority under Georgia law. prgtoken On December 1, Kwanza won the runoff special election. His election means that the people of the Fifth Congressional District of Georgia, in Atlanta, will be represented and have a voice during this lameduck session of the 116th Congress as we debate and, hopefully, enact, among other things, the FY 2021 appropriations bill funding the operations of the Federal Government and much-needed COVID-19 relief for America's families, businesses, and our State and local governments. prgtoken He is married to Fulton County Commissioner Natalie Hall, and they have two sons. prgtoken Madam , I yield to my colleague from the Seventh District of Georgia, the Honorable Rob Woodall.