mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act (Executive Session)
Mike Rounds (Republican, SD) \u2014 2020-7-30

I rise today to urge the Senate to include the New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act in a COVID-19 response legislation that we are considering during this work period. prgtoken This is legislation I have worked on with my colleague Senator Angus King of Maine for several years, long before COVID-19 disrupted the safety and security of the American food supply. It has bipartisan support. prgtoken COVID-19 revealed the cracks in multiple industries--our food supply, pharmaceuticals, defense, and manufacturing in general. Every American pays the price for foreign reliance--every American. This is a moment in history when we can rebuild what ``American made'' and what ``made America great'' really means in the first place. That, of course, is American production and innovation across all industries. prgtoken As consumers of food--and that is everybody, and alike, Independents included--we should demand that we have this production capacity in the United States. Heavy reliance on foreign production and manufacturing is a mistake, and America needs to see a renaissance of American production and ingenuity. prgtoken Just as an example, on July 29 of this year, it was announced that JBS, a Brazilian-owned company, intends to acquire the Mountain States Rosen lamb plant in Greeley, CO. It has been reported that JBS will grind hamburger and cut steaks, which, unfortunately, will eliminate the ability of this plant to process nearly 350,000 lambs within the United States. This is yet another example of a foreign company working to consolidate and to integrate the American food supply system to the detriment of U.S. ag producers. We just simply can't sit here and watch this occur on our watch. We are already paying the price of foreign ownership in our food supply system today. prgtoken The time is now to aggressively pursue American options for production and processing in order to protect American consumers and our entire economy. prgtoken Right now, we are actually giving an unfair and unnecessary advantage to the large, sometimes foreign-owned, meat processing facilities. prgtoken These large facilities typically pursue licensing through the USDA Federal meat inspection process, which gives them a certification allowing them to sell across all State lines. However, smaller processors that are trying to inject competition into a market which is dominated by primarily big players, typically pursue State-inspected certifications, which, unfortunately, today, do not allow them to sell meat across State lines. The irony is that the State processors that are out there also need to be federally approved to meet or exceed these Federal inspection standards. So our smaller meat processors are achieving a certification of equal or higher standards but are given a license with less ability to market their product. They have to stay within the boundaries of the State in which they
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2020-7-31

I rise today in support of three amendments to H.R. 7617. prgtoken My amendment, offered with Mr. Wittman, Ms. Luria, and Mr. Beyer, reflects the need to adequately fund the important work done at Jefferson Lab. JLab, in my district in Newport News, is home to the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility, also known as CEBAF, the primary research tool in the U.S. for enabling basic research on the quark and gluon structure of protons and neutrons. Worldwide, a community of more than 1,700 scientists from over 275 institutions depend on this facility for their research. prgtoken The City of Newport News has agreed to transfer ownership of a building to the Lab to support its work, but the $2 million included in this year's appropriations bills fall short of the $9 million needed to transfer that building and move forward with the renovation and expansion of CEBAF, for which the Department of Energy has already approved Critical Decision 0. prgtoken I also rise today in support of the amendment offered with my colleagues, Mr. Wittman, Mr. McEachin, Ms. Luria, Ms. Spanberger, and Ms. Wexton, in regard to the urgent need for robust funding to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for coastal construction projects. The Army Corps has worked to keep America's waterways and ports open to trade, while working with our communities to ensure that they can continue to live with the water that surrounds Hampton Roads. prgtoken My district is home to the Port of Virginia which is one of the largest and busiest ports on the eastern seaboard. With 95 percent of our nation's trade moving by water, it is essential that the port is able to maintain operations. The Port of Virginia is responsible for nearly $40 billion in economic activity in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is critical to our financial well-being that we ensure that the Port is able to handle to the increased number and size of containers. The Port and the Army Corps of Engineers have undertaken the dredging and widening and deepening of the Norfolk Harbor to enable safe and efficient two-way passage of the new larger container ships. The project will require a New Start designation to keep the projected time line intact. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting additional funding to support our National Labs and the construction at the Norfolk Harbor to keep both of these essential projects moving forward. prgtoken I also rise in support of Rep. Murphy's amendment which I was proud to cosponsor, as co-chair of the Modeling and Simulation Caucus, along with Rep. Bergman, an active caucus member. This amendment emphasizes the importance of funding for the Synthetic Training Environment (STE) account. Funding for the Synthetic Training Environment program is an investment in simulation technology to help service members train virtually for their missions. Advancing modeling and simulation technology is a long-term investment that enables us to r
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021
Bradley Scott Schneider (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-7-31

I rise today in support of my two amendments, Amendment No. 137 and Amendment No. 138, both which work to address the incidents of domestic terror that are increasing across the country. prgtoken According to the Anti-Defamation League, in 2019, domestic extremists killed at least 42 people in the United States in 17 separate incidents. This number makes 2019 the sixth deadliest year on record for domestic extremist-related killings. Last year, a Administration Department of Justice official wrote in a New York Times op-ed that ``white supremacy and far-right extremism are among the greatest domestic-security threats facing the United States.'' Regrettably, over the past 25 years, law enforcement, at both the Federal and State levels, has been slow to respond. prgtoken It is not enough to just condemn hate; we need to equip law enforcement with the tools needed to identify threats and prevent violent acts of domestic terrorism. prgtoken I am pleased that these two amendments are included in H.R. 7617 to help address this urgent need to keep Americans safe from these heinous acts of discrimination. prgtoken The first, Amendment No. 137 allocates $1 million to direct the FBI to track and report to Congress every year on extremist activity in law enforcement agencies. It is critical that our law enforcement agencies are held to the highest standards. My amendment allocates these funds for the FBI to combat white supremacist infiltration of the uniformed services and federal law enforcement. prgtoken The second, Amendment No. 138, allocates $10 million in funds so that the FBI can assign a special agent or hate crimes liaison to each field office of the FBI to investigate hate crime incidents with a nexus to domestic terrorism, so that the agency has the resources in place to address this national issue. prgtoken I thank the Committee for including both of these important amendments in En Bloc 2. prgtoken The time is now to take the grave threat of domestic terrorism seriously. That means not only speaking out but giving our agencies the tools to combat it immediately. I believe these amendments are an important first step to effectively monitoring and putting a stop to extremist violence in America.
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AGGRESSION
Frank Pallone, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-7-31

I rise to condemn action taken by the People's Republic of China, or PRC, in the Ladakh region of India that led to deadly clashes between the two countries on June 15. prgtoken Since the truce in 1962, the PRC and India have been divided by a 2,100-mile-long Line of Actual Control. In the months leading up to this clash, the PRC military reportedly amassed about 5,000 soldiers along this boundary, and that clearly meant to redraw longstanding settled borders by force and aggression. prgtoken A skirmish, unsurprisingly, broke out on June 15 as a direct result of these troop movements, leaving at least 20 Indian soldiers and an unconfirmed number of Chinese soldiers dead. prgtoken This intentional encroachment and escalatory tactics used by the PRC are consistent with other provocative actions its forces have taken throughout South and Southeast Asia. To counter this aggression, I am glad that the House of Representatives passed an amendment that I cosponsored with Congressman Krishnamoorthi that calls on China to cease its military aggression and urges immediate diplomatic action to prevent any further escalation of conflict. prgtoken I will continue to work with my colleagues here in Congress to find ways to help bolster our vital relationship with India.
HONORING UTAH FIREFIGHTERS' BATTLE AGAINST KNOLLS FIRE
Ben McAdams (Democrat, UT) \u2014 2020-7-31

. Madam , Utah's hot, dry summers bring with them risks to lives and property due to wildfires. prgtoken Our first and last line of defense against this risk is the skill, dedication, and courage of firefighters from across our State. Sometimes we may take their efforts for granted until we hear about a particular act of valor, as in Utah's firefighters' recent battle against the Knolls fire in Saratoga Springs. prgtoken So far this season, Utah communities have seen 650 fires, which have forced evacuations across the State. The city of Saratoga Springs and other surrounding communities faced some of the worst of it so far, with 13,000 residents forced to evacuate their homes due to the Knolls fire. prgtoken For 7 days and nights, in extreme temperatures and erratic winds, 200 firefighters worked tirelessly to protect the community and our residents. The fire consumed over 13,000 acres of land, but due to their extraordinary efforts, only one home was lost to the flames. prgtoken Wildfire season continues, but what we have shown with the Knolls fire is that local, State, and Federal resources in coordination can minimize damage and save lives. prgtoken I am grateful to the brave men and women who suit up for these dangerous prgtoken scenarios and never quit until the job is done.
AND STILL I RISE
Al Green (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-7-31

. And still I rise, . prgtoken It is my honor to stand here in the House of Representatives. It is my honor to be a Member of this Congress, and I am grateful to the many persons who made great sacrifices so that I would have this opportunity. prgtoken Today I would like to use this opportunity to make an appeal to my colleagues, to my friends, and to people who are within the sound of my voice. I want to make an appeal to persons to please take the coronavirus seriously. I ask that you take it seriously because it is not a joke. It is not a laughing matter. People are dying. We have had over 150,000 deaths in this country. It is not a laughing matter. We have had over 4 million cases in this country. It is not a hoax. It is real. prgtoken I am asking my friends, my colleagues, and those who are within the sound of my voice, please, let's do what we can to protect ourselves and others. I beg that we would please wear the face mask. Let us wash our hands. Let us maintain the distancing. prgtoken I know that it won't happen all of the time. We can have a memory lapse. We might just rush out of the house and not have our mask on. But let's not, with intentionality, leave home without it. Let's not, with intentionality, mix and mingle with the persons around us without a mask on. Let us, with intentionality, do all that we can to protect ourselves and others. prgtoken This virus is not relenting at this time. It is relentless. Hospital ICU beds in many places in hot spots around the country are at capacity. prgtoken We see evidence that this virus is going to continue for a while longer. I don't know how long. I am not sure anybody does. But I do know that we ought not take it lightly, that we ought not allow persons who are within our space, our personal space, if you will, to catch it from us. I don't want to give it to someone, and I would trust that no one would want to give it to me. prgtoken So let's be sensible. Let's be responsible. Let's honor the protocols that we have set here in the House of Representatives. Let's honor the protocols to social distance. prgtoken I know it is difficult. I won't pretend that I keep the social distancing as properly as I should. I understand. I make mistakes. But I don't do it intentionally. I am not going to intentionally take off my mask and communicate with persons. prgtoken I am not going to try in any way to demonstrate that somehow I am invulnerable, I am invincible, this is a joke, this is a hoax, and that we need not try to protect ourselves from this virus. I am not going to do it, and I am going to ask that others would not do it. prgtoken Let's love each other and protect each other. This is a matter of life and death. prgtoken Finally, on this topic of the virus, we have had some persons who contract the virus who are associated with the House. I want you to know, , that I care about them. I pray for them. And I want you to know that I am asking that we all make sur
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021
John B. Larson (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2020-7-31

I rise in support of H.R. 7617, the Defense, Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2021. prgtoken This defense funding package continues to make strong investments in our nation's national security and in turn Connecticut's robust defense manufacturing base. It also includes a needed pay raise for our troops. Thousands of Connecticut residents work on programs supporting our military and many more benefit prgtoken from economic activity these contributions bring to our state. This funding will help spur Connecticut's economy during these difficult times and secure thousands of jobs at larger employers like Pratt & Whitney and hundreds of smaller suppliers across the First District and the state. prgtoken Throughout the years, the Connecticut delegation has worked hand in glove with suppliers, companies, and educators to bring Connecticut to the forefront of advanced manufacturing. The Delegation, led by Joe Courtney and Rosa DeLauro, have worked hard to ensure not only the manufacturing base, but the supply chain remain on top. This was recently demonstrated in the Hartford Courant, which cited a Pew Charitable Trusts Study that said: `Pentagon contract spending powers Connecticut to No. 1 in US.' This builds on the work of the F-35 Joint Strike fighter caucus which I'm proud to co-chair. This is good news for our supply chain and economy during a time when commercial spending is down. These military contracts will keep these jobs going. prgtoken In addition to the vital funding that directly contributes to our state, this package fights back against the President's ill-conceived border wall, by preventing the use of Defense funds being used for the wall. It also ensures that the President cannot go to war without Congress's authorization by prohibiting funds from being used in contravention of the War Powers Resolution. It specifically prohibits funds for any use of military force in or against Iran and repeals both the 2001 and the 2002 war authorizations. The power to go to war lies with Congress, not the President. These are important provisions to ensure the Executive Branch does not overstep its authority. prgtoken The passage of the FY 2021 Labor-HHS Appropriations package is a win for millions of Social Security beneficiaries. It blocks a proposed rule that would dramatically increase the frequency of continuing disability reviews. These reviews can be extremely difficult for individuals with severe disabilities to navigate and can lead to wrongful loss of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits when they are unable to complete the complex process. This rule was an attempt to throw beneficiaries off the rolls. The bill also blocks a Administration proposed rule to deny individuals their right to
IN THE MATTER OF REPRESENTATIVE DAVID SCHWEIKERT OF ARIZONA
Theodore E. Deutch (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2020-7-31

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , as chairman of the Committee on Ethics, I rise in support of a resolution for Representative David Schweikert of Arizona to be reprimanded by the House of Representatives. prgtoken One of our most basic obligations as Members of Congress is to adhere to the principle that public office is a public trust. To uphold that trust and to maintain civic confidence in the integrity of this body, we, as Members, have bound ourselves by certain standards of official conduct. prgtoken Our Constitution vests the House with the responsibility for self- discipline and self-accountability to those ethical standards. The Committee on Ethics, whose membership is evenly divided between s and and whose work is supported by nonpartisan staff, is charged with: enforcing the laws and rules governing our official conduct; investigating allegations that those laws and rules have been violated; and, where appropriate, making recommendations to the House for the disposition of such investigations. We are here today to fulfill that charge. prgtoken Our committee began reviewing allegations involving Representative Schweikert after public reports detailed potential misconduct by him and his former chief of staff, who is no longer employed by the House. prgtoken In 2018, the Office of Congressional Ethics sent two separate referrals regarding Representative Schweikert to the Ethics Committee for further review. Those referrals included: troubling allegations of systemic campaign finance violations and reporting errors by Representative Schweikert's authorized campaign committees; allegations of misuse of his Members' Representational Allowance, or MRA, for unofficial purposes; and evidence that he pressured his official staff to perform campaign work. prgtoken During the 115th Congress, the committee impaneled an investigative subcommittee to lead a bipartisan review of these allegations. At the start of the 116th Congress, the committee reestablished that evenly divided bipartisan panel and appointed Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota as its chair, along with Representative Bill Flores of Texas, Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, and Representative John Katko of New York. prgtoken The subcommittee, which was capably supported by the committee's professional, nonpartisan investigative staff, took testimony from 18 witnesses and reviewed several hundred thousand pages of documents. The investigative subcommittee also heard from Representative Schweikert himself and considered his views and interpretation of the evidence without prejudgment. prgtoken Upon completing its exhaustive investigation, the subcommittee unanimously concluded that there was substantial reason to believe that Representative Schweikert's conduct violated various House rules, the Code of Ethics for Government service, Federal laws, and other applicable standards. prgtoken
HONORING RICK DOYLE
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-7-31

. Madam , I rise today to recognize and honor Rick Doyle on his retirement. prgtoken In 1979, Mr. Doyle was admitted to the California State Bar, after receiving his law degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. For ten years he specialized in municipal finance and business litigation with the Law Firm of Jensen and Doyle. In 1989, he began working with the City of San Jose as a Senior Deputy Attorney and was later promoted to Chief Deputy Attorney in 1992. He left for five years to work as City Attorney in Concord, but returned to San Jose in 2000, to be City Attorney. In his twenty years of service since then, he has advised three different mayors, 38 councilmembers and six city managers during his tenure. prgtoken Throughout this time, he has dedicated himself to helping San Jose move forward no matter what challenges arose. As City Attorney, Mr. Doyle, worked on a wide array of issues from lawsuits against the city, to bringing initiatives forward, to making sure that the process is fair and followed by everyone. With each day, he would face new and interesting challenges from negotiating with the FAA for a new San Jose Airport curfew, to advising the city during challenges to pension reductions for public employees. While his work was at times in the background to the public, his impact was great on our community. prgtoken Mr. Doyle has helped navigate our city through many obstacles and through many changes. We thank him for his commitment to San Jose and for dedicating his life to public service. I wish him the very best in his retirement and on this exciting next stage of his life.