mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-11-20

today I am introducing the Protecting Critical Services for Mothers and Babies Act, with my colleague Senator Perdue. Enacting this bill will help ensure that mothers and infants across the country continue to receive access to important health programs. prgtoken About 700 women die each year in the United States from complications during or after pregnancy, a problem that disproportionately affects Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native women. In the face of these challenges, organizations like March of Dimes provide services that disseminate health information to pregnant women and mothers and support care for premature and ill infants. prgtoken Inflexible funding rules and historically low interest rates have combined to result in a sharp increase in March of Dimes' pension funding obligations next year. This Act will extend more flexible rules to organizations that have a long track record of serving maternal and infant health needs. These rules, already offered to other organizations, will continue to protect plan participants while also smoothing out pension funding obligations. This change will ensure that resources are not diverted away from important maternal and infant health programs.
Background Checks (Executive Session)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2019-11-20

last week, my colleague Senator Blumenthal stood on the floor of this Chamber to talk about the epidemic of gun violence in our country. Gun violence is an issue that hits close to home for my friend from Connecticut. prgtoken Seven years ago, his home State was the site of one of the most horrific acts of gun violence anyone can imagine. A young man armed with an assault rifle opened fire in Sandy Hook Elementary School, murdering 20 first graders and 6 adults. prgtoken While he spoke on the floor of this Senate, Senator Blumenthal was handed a note informing him that, at that very moment, an active shooter was on the loose at another school--this one in Santa Clarita, CA. This marked the 243rd instance of gun violence at a school in this country since the massacre at Columbine High School in 1999. Sadly, today, school shootings have become almost routine and commonplace. It has gotten to the point that students are fearful but, sadly, not surprised when a shooting occurs at their school. prgtoken Following an attack last year at Santa Fe High School in Texas that killed eight students and two teachers, 17-year-old student Paige Curry was asked whether there was a part of her that couldn't believe this happened at her school. Her response was heartbreaking. She said: There wasn't. prgtoken She said: It's been happening everywhere. I've always felt it would eventually happen here too. prgtoken This is the country we now live in: a country where we have more guns than we have people; a country where a mass shooting--that is a shooting involving the death or injury of four or more victims--occurs, on average, more than once every day; a country where school shootings occur frequently enough that students feel it will eventually happen at their own school. prgtoken This is not the country any of us should want to live in. Yet the U.S. Senate--one of the few institutions prgtoken that can actually do something to help prevent gun violence--does nothing. Gun violence kills 100 people in our country every day--every day. That is 3,000 people a month and 36,000 people a year. prgtoken This is a crisis, but my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are not treating it like one. Perhaps looking at the numbers--100 people dying every day--is just way too abstract. prgtoken How would the majority leader react if the entire population of Sparta, KY--all 231 residents--disappeared in less than 3 days? prgtoken How would the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee react if all 128 residents of Livingston, SC, disappeared in a little over a day? prgtoken How would my colleagues from Texas react if Bartlett's 2,600 residents were killed in just under a month? prgtoken This is the scale of what is happening in our country every single day, week, and year. This is a crisis, and it is past time Senate s start treating it like one. prgtoken Here is what we can do right now. We can join the
SHARK FIN SALES ELIMINATION ACT OF 2019
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (Democrat, MP) \u2014 2019-11-20

I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 737, the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act. prgtoken The act bans the buying and selling of shark fins in the United States, and this widely supported bipartisan bill has gathered 287 cosponsors. A companion bill, S. 877, has been introduced in the Senate as well. prgtoken Now, , this is the largest number of cosponsors for any ocean conservation bill so far in this Congress, and I want to thank my good friend and the distinguished Member from Texas, the Honorable Michael McCaul who has worked tirelessly with me on the bill and brings with him the support of 68 Members from his side of the aisle. prgtoken This bill has such strong support because it represents an effective way to remove the United States from the devastating global trade in shark fins at zero cost, and because it does so without stopping those who want to fish for sharks and use them for their meat. prgtoken , sharks are absolutely critical to life in the ocean. As apex predators, they help maintain balance by keeping prey populations in check. They are also critical to the tourism economy off our coastal communities. prgtoken In Florida alone, tourists who go diving to see sharks generate more than 200 times the value of the trade in shark fins for our entire country, 200 times the value. prgtoken Despite their importance ecologically and economically, sharks are in serious trouble. Each year fins from up to 73 million sharks are sliced off and sold in a global marketplace. And largely due to this demand for fins, some shark species in the population have now declined by more than 90 percent. prgtoken Our Nation has wisely banned the inhumane practice of finning sharks and throwing them back into the ocean to drown and die, yet we still allow fins to be bought and sold here. And many of the fins we are buying and selling come from countries that simply do not have the same level of protection the United States gives sharks. prgtoken Now is the time for us to take the next step. Only by banning the shark fin trade once and for all within our borders can we ensure we are no longer supporting an unsustainable use of ocean resources. Recognizing this unsustainability, The Northern Mariana Islands, my home, was the first U.S. insular area to ban the trade of shark fins in 2011. prgtoken As an island culture 3,000-plus years old, the people of the Marianas understand and respect the important role that sharks play in maintaining the life of our oceans. And we are not alone. Twelve U.S. states and two territories have also passed their own shark fin bans. prgtoken But this patchwork of State laws can be challenging to enforce, and so this is why we need a Federal ban on the shark fin trade in the United States, and that is why I am asking for your support today. prgtoken A ban on the shark fin trade is supported by 45 domestic and international airlines, by 21 shipping companies, seven major corporations and more tha
RECOGNIZING THE GARY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S 12TH ANNUAL LAKESHORE CLASSIC
Peter J. Visclosky (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2019-11-20

. Madam , it is with great admiration that I recognize the Gary Chamber of Commerce as the organization celebrates the 12th annual Lakeshore Classic basketball invitational. In observance of this special event, the Gary Chamber of Commerce will host a celebratory corporate luncheon at the Majestic Star Casino Event Center in Gary, Indiana, on Tuesday, November 26, 2019, followed by the basketball invitational at West Side Leadership Academy on Friday, November 29, 2019, and Saturday, November 30, 2019. The Lakeshore Classic aims to support the education and guidance of the youth of our communities to positive paths, actions, and endeavors. The Gary Chamber of Commerce has invited Mr. Kenny Lofton, an East Chicago native and retired Major League Baseball (MLB) player, to be the keynote speaker for the event. Born and raised in East Chicago, Mr. Lofton graduated from Washington High School and was an all-state basketball player. Following high school, Kenny accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of Arizona, where his unprecedented skills led his teammates and coaches to believe that he was able to play any professional sport. During Mr. Lofton's junior year, he joined the University of Arizona baseball team. Kenny's speed and potential were widely recognized by baseball scouts, and he was soon drafted in the 17th round of the 1988 MLB draft. During his outstanding major league career, he played on several different teams and was a six-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner. Mr. Lofton was also inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame and the Negro League Baseball Museum Hall of Game. In addition, he is one of only two men that played in a college basketball Final Four and an MLB World Series. In 2007, Mr. Lofton retired from his seventeen-year MLB career, and for his hard work and determination, he is to be commended. Upon retirement, Mr. Lofton created his own film company, FilmPool, Inc a full-service production company with a mission to bring diversity to the screen. He is also a board member for the Still Got Game Foundation, a not-for-profit organization for former professional athletes and philanthropic individuals that provides charitable resources in promotion of social change in our local communities and throughout the world. Recently, Mr. Lofton presented the Cleveland schools with $15,000 from the foundation and his celebrity poker tournament. Kenny Lofton's contributions to the youth of our communities and his support for positive social reform will have an unforgettable impact for generations to come. At this time, I would like to recognize the schools participating in the Lakeshore Classic basketball tournament. These schools are dedicated to positively impacting Northwest Indiana through academic excellence and sportsmanship, and they are successful in their efforts. The participating schools include West Side Leadership Academy of Gary, John Ma
Internet Exchange Act (Executive Session)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2019-11-20

let me say that I agree with my colleague that we need more transparency in healthcare pricing. I would argue that one of the places we most need that transparency is when it comes to the price of prescription drugs. prgtoken As I am sure my colleague knows, the cost of prescription drugs is probably the biggest cost driver right now in increases in healthcare. Yet we in Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid are stymied because they can't negotiate with the big drug companies to lower the prices of prescription drugs and to make that more transparent to consumers. prgtoken The Veterans' Administration can negotiate for the cost of prescription drugs. If you talk to any veteran about the cost of their prescription drugs and compare them to what people are paying in the marketplace, there is a huge difference because they have that ability to negotiate. prgtoken I am sure that at some point we could probably find some agreement on transparency that would make sense. I think what my colleague is proposing is not something that has had a chance to go through the HELP Committee and, therefore, would need a further look. I would want to know what hospitals in New Hampshire, the doctors, consumers, and the insurance department in my State would have to say about that. Until I find that out, I would have to object to what my colleague is proposing, but I hope we could work together to address the challenges that my constituents--and I am sure his constituents--are facing because of the cost of healthcare. prgtoken He talked about the failure of the Affordable Care Act. Actually, in New Hampshire, we have over 90,000 people who have now gotten coverage for health insurance because of the Affordable Care Act. Through the expansion of Medicaid, we have reduced the number of uninsured in New Hampshire to half the number we had before we passed the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken What my legislation would do is help people understand what the filing period is and how to sign up for the Affordable Care Act and health insurance. prgtoken In fact, under the Affordable Care Act as it exists now, according to estimates from the administration, approximately 54 percent of Granite Staters who are shopping for coverage on healthcare.gov are eligible for a plan with net monthly premiums of less than $75, after accounting for tax credits, and nearly 40 percent of Granite Staters shopping on healthcare.gov can find a plan with net monthly premiums under $10. prgtoken Now, the cautionary note is that when constituents of mine or in Indiana or anywhere else in the country are shopping for plans, they need to watch out for those short-term, limited-duration insurance plans--what are commonly called junk plans--because they are not required to cover preexisting conditions. I was pleased to hear my colleague from Indiana say that for existing conditions, coverage is important. prgtoken Those junk
NATIONAL TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
Al Green (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-11-20

. Madam , and still I rise. And I rise tonight with a degree of sadness because we have this day, this national Transgender Day of Remembrance. prgtoken It is a sad thing such that you have to have an occasion such as this. You should never have to set aside time annually to remember those who have lost their lives to violence. But because it happens, we must be here. prgtoken What Dr. King reminds us was right then and is right now: ``Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.'' Injustice against the trans community is a threat to every community. prgtoken It seems that murder of Black transgender women is becoming almost a crisis in this country. Fatal antitransgender violence in the United States is on the rise, and most of the victims are Black transgender women: the largest number of transgender homicides, a record number in 2017, 29 killed; last year, 26 killed, most of them Black. prgtoken Why is this happening? Well, one reason might be because this administration tends to promote a narrative that marginalizes people who are already being marginalized. Such a narrative has a means of trickling down. prgtoken The tone and tenor of society is set by those at the top. Those at the top have to be mindful of the messages that they send. prgtoken So I am honored to observe this day, and I would like to speak very tersely about someone whose story cannot be told in 5 minutes. prgtoken Itali Marlowe was my constituent. She was found in the driveway of a local residence, shot multiple times, the 19th trans person to die by violence in our Nation this year. All but one of these victims has been a trans woman of color. prgtoken This day allows us to memorialize those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia. But I pray for a day when this day will no longer exist, when all people will be accepted in a society that proclaims liberty and justice for all. Income Inequality and Collective Bargaining Rights
Pensions (Executive Session)
Christopher A. Coons (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2019-11-20

I would like to thank my colleague from our home State of Delaware. I come to the floor to join a number of my colleagues who are speaking on a pressing issue, the critical lapse in funding for hundreds of colleges and universities across our Nation. prgtoken On September 30, $255 million in annual Federal funding for historically black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions expired. prgtoken Since this fund was first created, it has supported 400 HBCUs and MSIs, historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions, across our country, including 97 HBCUs last year. This lapse has created real uncertainty and harm to these organizations and these universities, their students, their employees, and the public. prgtoken I just wanted to join my colleagues in highlighting the importance of this funding. I want to speak specifically to the HBCU of which Delaware is so proud--Delaware State University. prgtoken Delaware State is an engine for educational equity and access, for innovation and for leadership in our State, our region, and our Nation. prgtoken Delaware State University is one of the country's top public HBCUs. Its graduates go on to successful careers in all sorts of industries. Graduates from Delaware State have become some of our State's best nurses, teachers, business leaders, social workers, and Senate staff. prgtoken DSU's research programs are important drivers for innovation in a State with a proud history of invention and innovation. It is home to the Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research, a partnership of institutions across our State working to advance our understanding of how our brains form thoughts and memories and feelings, and how they change over time as we age. prgtoken It is also home to OSCAR, the Optical Science Center for Applied Research, where research that is in part federally funded is helping to speed early detection of disease, supporting our soldiers in better deterring and detecting threats, and equipping NASA missions, including the Mars Rover, with improved sensors. prgtoken To put it simply, we are very proud of Delaware State, and there is a lot of which to be proud. DSU grads are so impressive that I have asked several of them to join my staff here in Washington. Their commitment to equity and excellence is why we can't allow HBCUs around the country, such as Delaware State, to lose out on vitally needed Federal funding. prgtoken Last year, this program provided nearly $1 million--$887,000--to Delaware State, which is about 20 percent of their title III funding. These funds have a direct impact on students and funds critical science, math, and educator preparation programs. prgtoken There is no good reason for the Senate to ignore our HBCUs and MSIs and deny them the funding they deserve. In September, the House passed a bipartisan, budget-neutral, 2-year extension of this critical funding, which is known as th
SHARK FIN SALES ELIMINATION ACT OF 2019
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-11-20

I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy and his leadership and our friend from the Northern Mariana Islands for moving this legislation forward. prgtoken This is about leadership in terms of ending the global practice. My colleague from Louisiana understates the power that the United States has in terms of getting our policies right. Yes, we have outlawed shark finning in 2010, but the international traffic continues, and we need to take this next step. prgtoken This is a progression of efforts to try to deal with animal welfare. This is one of the first arguments we hear whether it is illegal poaching, the ivory trade, or other endangered species, we have been able to set the table on a global stage to be able to change the dynamics, to change the economics, and to change public perception. prgtoken Sharks are declining globally. There may be a species or two here or there, but, overall, this apex predator species--so important for the health of the ecosystem--is in peril, and the practice of shark finning is part of this. prgtoken , you have heard about de-finning while they are still alive and discarding them back in the water which is a very common practice. We know that my State of Oregon is one where people stepped up and ended this barbaric practice. We have mobilized voting initiatives where we deal with problems of trafficking with exotic species. It has proven that our action in 2010 prohibiting the taking of fins was not enough as long as this global trade continues unchecked. There still is a market for the fins in the United States and around the world, and it is fueled by imports sourced from all over the world, including locations with no ban. We are one of the top 15 shark fin importing nations. prgtoken Who knew? prgtoken As a result, it is highly likely that shark fins sold in the United States came from sharks that have been brutally finned. prgtoken I am pleased that we are taking action to do the right thing and ban the trade of shark fins. I hope the Senate takes this bill up quickly and passes it so we can get it enacted into law. This is one of the things we could actually agree with you have heard the bipartisan support evidenced here today. prgtoken But I hope that we can continue forward with an animal welfare agenda. There is a series of bills on a bipartisan basis, for example, the PREPARED Act, to help animals during natural disasters, the Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Act to combat wildlife trafficking, and the SAFE Act to prevent horse slaughter. prgtoken We have these bipartisan pieces of legislation with major sources of cosponsors. They are teed up and ready to go. I hope this passes today with overwhelming support, and it is one more step as we implement an animal welfare agenda that is one of the areas where we can work together on a bipartisan basis to make the world a little better.
RECOGNIZING HEATHER GLEN FIRE FIRST RESPONDERS
Susan Wild (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-11-20

at around 3 a.m. on Sunday, September 22, a fire broke out and punctured the calm of an assisted living facility in my community, Pennsylvania Seven, at Heather Glen Senior Living in Allentown, Pennsylvania. prgtoken Firefighters answered the call, rushing into the building as flames gained force and tore through the roof. With extraordinary skill, they got to work saving the 82 elderly residents as the fire raged, carrying these men and women on their shoulders out of windows on to ladders. They brought all of the residents, as well as the five staff members working that night, to safety swiftly, while containing and ultimately defeating the fire. prgtoken In total, 45 agencies across four counties participated in this operation, coming together as a single unit in complete dedication to the mission at hand. In their example we see the best of the Greater Lehigh Valley and of our Nation. prgtoken Today, I ask my colleagues from across our country to join me in recognizing and honoring the service, sacrifices, and everyday heroism of these first responders. prgtoken , before our Nation, I want to thank them for everything they have done. They are the pride of our community.