mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STANDING WITH RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN INDIA
Jamie Raskin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2018-9-17

I rise today in solidarity with members of minority groups in India who are facing persecution because of their faith or class standing. I recently met with Teesta Setalvad, a prominent civil rights lawyer in India. She updated me on the increasing religious violence being committed by extremist groups against religious minority communities in India including Muslims, Christians, and Hindu Dalits, also known as ``untouchables.'' Although this violence is not new, the United States Commission on International Religious freedom has noted a substantial deterioration in conditions for minority groups since 2014, when the ruling Bharati Jayanti Party (BJP) rose to power on a Hindu nationalist political platform. prgtoken Intensifying religious-based violence has swept 10-of-29 states in India, including Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, which are controlled by the BJP, and which have begun enforcing anti-cow slaughtering and anti- conversion laws. While attacks on minorities are not always directly instigated by the government, a cloak of impunity covers mob violence that targets these communities. Human rights groups have criticized the pervasive police and judicial bias apparently backed by BJP and affiliated groups such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Singh (RSS) and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). prgtoken The aggressive enforcement of anti-cow slaughter laws is being used to persecute and intimidate Muslims and Dalits whose families have engaged in dairy, leather or beef trades for generations. Mob violence is common against people suspected of harming cows. In 2017, there were at least 10 public lynchings conducted by ``cow protection'' mobs. One prgtoken such attack occurred when a 55-year-old man, Pehlu Khan, was set-upon by a mob and beaten to death while transporting a cow home that he had bought at a fair. prgtoken Most appalling are the cases of sexual assault against minorities for political purposes. In January of this year, eight Hindu men kidnapped and raped an eight-year-old Muslim girl in a Hindu temple before killing her. Her murder served the purpose of driving her nomadic community from the area. After the perpetrators were arrested, a mob of Hindu lawyers surrounded the police in an attempt to bar them from entering the courthouse to file charges against the perpetrators. prgtoken Christians, like Muslims, have been targeted because of the paranoid suspicion that proselytizing could convert people away from Hinduism. Nuns and members of the clergy have suffered attacks for preaching Christian values. Just last month, the home of a pastor in Manipur was burned down and Chadarajupalli Subbaravamma, a woman in her mid-60s in Andhra Pradesh, reportedly was murdered because she converted to Christianity 10 years ago. prgtoken Likewise, Dalits have been victim to structural violence. They face everyday humiliation as they are blocked from areas of worship and are denied the most basic of human rights, such as acce
REMEMBERING AUBREY McGINNIS
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2018-9-17

today I wish to honor the life of Aubrey McGinnis. prgtoken Aubrey was born on December 26, 1960, and passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2017. prgtoken Aubrey joined the U.S. Army in 1981, serving the Illinois Army National Guard for 22 years and retiring as a chief warrant officer 4 pilot. prgtoken During his service, Aubrey graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he earned a bachelor's of science degree in electrical engineering in 1986. After working for a few years at Amoco, he earned an additional degree in aviation technology at Vincennes University on a Tuskegee Airman Scholarship. Aubrey then pursued his lifelong passion to fly commercially with, first, Comair, Inc and later with United Airlines as an airline pilot. prgtoken As a loving husband to Ericka McGinnis and devoted father, Aubrey enjoyed being a provider and spiritual guide to his beautiful family. prgtoken Aubrey was a dear friend to many, and he left a profound mark on the lives of all those he loved and met. He was a quiet voice of reason and wisdom, and I am proud to stand here today and honor his legacy.
NOMINATION OF JUDGE KAVANAUGH
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2018-9-17

I come to the floor to speak about the opioid legislation. I will get to that; however, I do wish to briefly comment on another critical issue. prgtoken Once again, I want to thank Professor Ford for her bravery. This is not easy for anyone. Nobody asks for this to happen to them, and I can only imagine the trauma and heartache involved in sharing and reliving a sexual assault like this. But she should know that I and millions of people are standing by her side and stand ready to help however we can. prgtoken I want to make three points. prgtoken First, this nomination needs to be delayed. The idea that this nomination could be jammed through given what we know now is almost unthinkable and would be shameful and wrong. Whatever one may think about the timing of this new information and the process that has taken us to this point, the fact is that Senators now have new information about a potential crime committed by a nominee for the highest Court in the land and an individual who has come forward with details of the alleged criminal act, and we can't simply ignore it. prgtoken There is no urgency to fill this seat before October. s held a Supreme Court seat open for more than a year in order to prevent President from fulfilling his constitutional role, so surely we can take the time we need now in order to fulfill our constitutional role. To be very clear, we should have nine Justices on the Supreme Court, but it is more important right now to slow down, make sure we have all of the facts, all the information, and that Senators have a chance to weigh that before casting a vote to a position of such importance. prgtoken Secondly, we need a full, fair, and robust investigation into these allegations, and we need this to happen before anyone is brought in to testify or ``re-testify'' to make sure Senators have the information they need to ask the right questions and to do their jobs. prgtoken We saw what happened in 1991 when an accuser was brought in for questioning before the Senators had access to all of the corroborating information, and we cannot allow that to happen again. We saw the way Senators completely mishandled the questioning of Anita Hill when they didn't have access to the facts, hadn't yet heard from all of the witnesses, and didn't have a grasp of the information and her experience. I am very worried this would happen exactly that way again if we don't take the time to do this right. There is no way a thorough investigation can be completed in time for a hearing on Monday. prgtoken That brings me to my third and most important point. We cannot allow this to turn into another attack on a woman who has come forward to talk about her experience. We just can't. prgtoken The Senate needs to be better than that. And I am going to do everything I can with anyone who is willing to join me to make sure we are. prgtoken I joined millions of women in 1991 in watching as Anita Hil
IN RECOGNITION OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, SCRANTON CITY CHAPTER
Matt Cartwright (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2018-9-17

I rise today to honor the Daughters of the American Revolution, Scranton City Chapter, which celebrates, along with other DAR chapters, the two hundred thirty-first anniversary of the framing of the United States Constitution during this third week of September. The Constitution was adopted by the American Congress of the Confederation as the foundation for American government on September 17, 1787. prgtoken The National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution was founded on October 11, 1890 by a group of pioneering women who were excluded from men's organizations and felt compelled to express their passion for America. Since its founding, the Daughters of the American Revolution has admitted over 950,000 members who can trace their bloodline to an ancestor who aided America in her fight for independence, and the organization still adheres to the same historical, educational, and patriotic objectives established during its original meeting. prgtoken The Daughters of the American Revolution were instrumental in petitioning Congress for a bill to designate the period between September 17 and September 23 as Constitution Week. That legislation was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on August 2, 1956, and President officially declared the inception of Constitution Week in 2002. The law invites schools, churches, and civic organizations to publicly observe and recognize the profound impact on our nation of our remarkable constitution. prgtoken It is an honor to recognize the Scranton City Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution as they celebrate Constitution Week. I wish them all the best as they continue to promote patriotism and national pride through education and civic engagement.
INTRODUCTION OF THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND IUU FISHING ACT
Madeleine Z. Bordallo (Democrat, GU) \u2014 2018-9-17

today I introduce the Human Trafficking and IUU Fishing Act. s, Congressman Grijalva (D-AZ) and Congresswomen Radewagen (R-AS) and Bonamici (D-OR), for their support as original cosponsors. prgtoken Increasingly, we are seeing foreign fishing fleets forcing vulnerable people--migrant workers taken or smuggled out of their home countries and coerced into taking illegal narcotics as stimulants--to fish around the clock without rest, out of fear for their very lives. prgtoken Human trafficking and forced labor in the global seafood industry is, very simply, a form of modern slavery. prgtoken The United Nations' International Labor Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the International Organization for Migration all recognize human trafficking, forced labor, and related transnational organized crime in the seafood industry to be pressing global problems. prgtoken In June 2018, the U.S. State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report identified more than 40 countries with substantial human trafficking and forced labor across their seafood industries and supply chains. prgtoken This is especially true in southeast Asia and the south Pacific, where IUU fishing dominates much of the seafood industry. prgtoken Right now, trafficked persons who were forced into the IUU fishing industry remain marooned on sparse islands in the South China Sea, waiting to be rescued. prgtoken Seafood products harvested with slave labor are largely untraceable and could end up in our grocery store aisles, on the menu at our restaurants, or on our family dinner tables. prgtoken Last year, the United States imported some $21.5 billion in seafood products from abroad. prgtoken Congress and the Executive Branch have a responsibility to ensure that the United States does not import any seafood associated with human trafficking, forced labor, or other human rights abuses. prgtoken To address this problem, our Human Trafficking and IUU Fishing Act would add the Secretary of Commerce (NOAA Fisheries) to the President's existing Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, chaired by the Secretary of State. prgtoken Human trafficking and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing rank among the top global crimes. prgtoken These criminal activities generate billions in illicit profits each year for transnational criminal organizations and other groups responsible for human rights abuses. prgtoken Since 2016, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has detained 15 shipments of seafood processed illegally in mainland China by North Korean workers under forced labor. prgtoken With poor traceability and a lack of accountability in the global seafood supply chain, we simply do not know where our seafood products come from or the conditions under which they are harvested and processed. prgtoken We must ensure that American fishermen are never expected to compete against foreign seafood imports harv
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE LATE CONGRESSMAN MAURICE HINCHEY
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2018-9-17

I rise today to honor the memory of the late Congressman Maurice Hinchey, our beloved colleague. He departed this life on November 22, 2017 after honorably serving two decades in the United States House of Representatives from 1993 to 2013, and serving in the New York State Assembly from 1975 to 1992. He was a Navy veteran, an honorable and dedicated public servant, and stalwart for the working class people of New York. Of Ukrainian-American heritage, he was a founding member of the House Ukrainian Caucus. prgtoken Recently, we were reminded of Congressman Hinchey's contributions to his people and our country. On Tuesday, July 24, 2018, President signed into law H.R. 4722-A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 111 Market Street in Saugerties, New York, as the ``Maurice D. Hinchey Post Office Building''. With the naming of this USPS office building, Maurice's family and his grateful constituency will proudly honor and remember a treasured son of Saugerties. prgtoken I had the distinct honor and privilege of working alongside Maurice on the House Appropriations Committee. Through the Committee, he fought to protect student aid by supporting higher education for all worthy students and championed Pell Grants. He secured funding that would help art revitalization for the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz. He understood governing started at the local level, and did all he could to direct federal support for a more prosperous life for his people. prgtoken A fierce and notable environmental advocate, Maurice was dedicated to protecting his area's powerful and precious natural resource, the Hudson River. Through his dedicated work on the Appropriations Committee, he secured funds to modernize and develop environmental science laboratories at his district's local colleges. He also fought against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's lax initiative on cleaning up polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) pollution in the Hudson River. As a member of the House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee, and having my own congressional district surrounded by the Great Lakes, I found his leadership on renewable energy and cleaning up water ways both exemplary and inspiring. We are in his debt for his tireless environmental advocacy as he moved America along the path of progress. prgtoken A man to stand up for blue collar workers, Maurice was very loyal and adored by the labor community. Having worked as a toll collector to pay his college tuition, and then a cement plant worker, he understood the economic difficulties of the working class people in his district. In the 106th Congress he introduced H.R. 2759, the Older Workers Pension Protection Act of 1999. This bill would have helped safeguard employees from age discrimination against their benefits. He also fought against funding cuts to Job Corps, a vital entity for young people in his area who need skill and job as
SUBSTANCE USE-DISORDER PREVENTION THAT PROMOTES OPIOID RECOVERY AND TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS AND COMMUNITIES ACT
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2018-9-17

as the Senate debates the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act, S. 2554, I rise to offer my views on the need for transparency in drug prices and to offer my strong endorsement of this bill. This legislation that we are voting on today represents a serious, bipartisan effort to lift barriers that prevent pharmacists from informing consumers about how much prescription drugs cost. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation. prgtoken Every day, Americans buy prescription drugs without a true idea of how much those drugs cost. Pharmacists should be able to tell you if there is a cheaper way to buy prescription drugs, and yet they are unable to do so. Due to so-called gag orders, pharmacists can be prevented from providing this information proactively to patients. With prescription drug costs rising, Americans should have access to transparent pricing information, especially when it can lower their costs. prgtoken Today, the Senate takes a significant step toward improving drug price transparency. With the passage of the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act, S. 2554, pharmacists would be able to fully inform patients of the cost of the medications they are purchasing. It is ridiculous for a patient to not be told that their copay is actually more than the full cost of the medicine they need. By banning gag clauses, this bill ensures that customers have a right to know the lowest possible price available for a drug at the pharmacy. This is an important first step in advancing drug cost transparency. prgtoken In addition to price transparency, the actual cost of medicine continues to be a major issue. Pharmaceutical companies often price drugs as high as they believe the market will allow and have no other constraints on how much they charge. We see this happening not only in branded drugs but in price spikes among generics as well. For example, the recent announcement that major hospital systems and philanthropy organizations have banded together to create their own nonprofit generic drug manufacturing company, Civica Rx, shows just how concerning the problem of reasonably priced drugs, as well as drug shortages, has become. I'll watch with great interest as this endeavor moves forward to produce 14 common drugs used by hospitals--with the first due out next year. prgtoken The bill we are voting on today solves just one piece of a very large puzzle, and we must do more. In this distinguished body, we should advance legislation that would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices in Medicare. I am a cosponsor of the Choose Medicare Act, which includes this provision. We should also move legislation that provides real financial protection for consumers and limits their monthly copays for prescriptions. I am a cosponsor of the Consumer Health Insurance Protection Act, which includes a copay cap of $250 per month on prescription drugs. prgtoken Let's dig in t
SUBSTANCE USE-DISORDER PREVENTION THAT PROMOTES OPIOID RECOVERY AND TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS AND COMMUNITIES ACT
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2018-9-17

s Senator King and Senator Markey for their remarks and their work as we all come together to battle this terrible opioid epidemic. prgtoken I rise as the Senate considers bipartisan legislation that marks a critical step forward in the fight against the fentanyl, heroin, and opioid crisis. prgtoken In New Hampshire, and all across our Nation, entire communities are being ravaged by this epidemic. In order to turn the tide, we need to combat the challenges communities are experiencing from all angles; we need to collaborate across traditional boundaries; we need to take a truly all-hands-on-deck approach because the magnitude of this crisis demands it. prgtoken This crisis does not discriminate. I have spoken to so many individuals and families from all walks of life who are heartbroken and reeling. Their loved ones were professionals--students, athletes, parents--and then they fell victim to this illness, and their lives and the lives of those who loved them were never the same. prgtoken Just this morning, I met with a number of grandparents who are now the primary caregivers for their grandchildren--a situation that many of us at first considered a phenomenon and now realize has become commonplace because the children's parents have died or they are in prison or they are simply absent or unable to be a caregiver due to their substance use disorder. prgtoken I spoke this morning with this group of grandparents, two of whom have been raising their grandson for nearly 9 years now, one of whom has seen two grandchildren returned to their parents after their parents recovered from their addiction. In one case, the grandparent whose grandchildren have gone prgtoken back to their parents is, at age 57, starting life completely anew. She had given up her job and gone through her entire retirement savings to keep her children safe while their parents battled their addiction. prgtoken Another set of grandparents, who again have given up everything to keep their grandson safe, are scared of going to court to get permanent custody and adopt their grandchild because they are concerned the child's father will reappear and contest the custody, and the cost of that custody battle will mean they have no money left to care for their grandchild. prgtoken Most heartbreakingly, both sets of grandparents said to me they were worried about what will happen to their grandchildren should they die since the children's parents might not be able to be there for them. prgtoken I was also reminded today that at one of our largest treatment centers in New Hampshire, the providers estimate that 40 percent of those in treatment have children, which means there will be more and more children in our communities who need their grandparents or other caregivers to step forward. prgtoken This crisis is also taking a particular toll on first responders who respond to overdose after overdose, sometimes reviving the same