mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Remembering Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson (Executive Calendar)
Doug Jones (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2020-12-7

1 year ago yesterday, on December 6, 2019, a terrorist attack on the Naval Air Station Pensacola killed three American servicemen. prgtoken While it is appropriate and it has been done to honor each of these men, I rise today with a solemn purpose of honoring and commemorating the life, service, and patriotism of one in particular: Navy ENS Joshua Kaleb Watson of Enterprise, AL, whose promising life and career were tragically cut short in the terrorist attack a year and 1 day ago yesterday. prgtoken Kaleb was posthumously honored last Friday, receiving the Purple Heart in a ceremony in Pensacola. I really regret that I could not go and that I was unable to join his family, but there was also a wreath- laying ceremony at Building 633 where Kaleb was shot and a candlelight vigil there last night. I know that all were solemn occasions for the Navy, for the family, and for America. prgtoken Kaleb was a rising star. A recent graduate of the Naval Academy, Kaleb had dreamed of becoming a Navy pilot and had reported to Pensacola for flight training the week of Veterans Day. Kaleb was described as a natural leader, a person who put others first and strived to bring out the best in them. prgtoken At the Naval Academy, Kaleb was a small arms instructor, wrestling coach, prgtoken and captain of the rifle team. In fact, under his leadership, much to the chagrin of a couple folks in this body, like Senator Reed, the Academy's rifle team beat Army for the first time in a decade. prgtoken Ben Watson, Kaleb's father, said to me once that Kaleb's mission was to confront evil, to bring the fight to them wherever it took him. He was willing to risk his life for his country. Kaleb did confront evil that day, and he made the ultimate sacrifice. prgtoken Unfortunately, that was not how Kaleb intended to serve his country. It was not what Kaleb's parents expected when he joined the Navy. Kaleb's father put it rather bluntly: We never thought he would die in Florida. prgtoken Kaleb Watson was the officer on deck at the Naval Air Station Pensacola on the morning of December 6, 2019. Consequently, he was one of the first people the shooter encountered. Kaleb was shot at least five times that day. Heavily wounded, he made his way out to flag down first responders, gave them an accurate description of the shooter that ultimately led to the shooter being killed. Unfortunately, later that day, Kaleb died of his wounds while in the hospital. prgtoken The Navy conducted an investigation into the incident and concluded the primary cause of the attack was the Saudi shooter's self- radicalization. However, the report also goes on to note numerous deficiencies in many areas, some of which contributed to the attack and others which could have deterred the attack or mitigated the consequences. In other words, things could have been different that day. Things should have been different that day. prgtoken We lost two other young men,
HONORING ELLEN DUNLAP
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2020-12-7

. Madam , it is a great honor to rise today in recognition of Ellen Dunlap of West Boylston, Massachusetts, who is stepping down as President of the American Antiquarian Society after 28 extraordinary years in that position. prgtoken America's history, Madam , is our greatest natural resource. It speaks to us across the years and serves as a source of great inspiration and hope for people across this country. It is an acknowledgement of America's triumphs and our imperfections; a reminder of who we are and who we're called to be. prgtoken Ellen is the President of the American Antiquarian Society--a remarkable institution in Worcester, Massachusetts founded by Revolutionary War patriot and printer Isaiah Thomas in 1812 and dedicated to preserving our treasured history. The Society serves as an incomparable resource for scholars and historians and a preeminent and comprehensive depository of American history and culture that is unparalleled in size and scope. prgtoken As President--the first woman to hold that post, by the way--Ellen has spent her career not only preserving our past but bringing it to life in a way that truly excites others. Ellen's work and leadership are extraordinary, she has the incredible talent and vision to clarify and animate history so that all of us can better understand and learn from our collective past. She has worked tirelessly to open up the Society's extraordinary archives to a wider audience, including teachers, scholars, artists, and writers. Under her leadership, the Society undertook a massive effort to digitizing their collections. Ellen also spearheaded the construction of a major expansion and renovation of the Society's home at Antiquarian Hall and has sought to engage the Worcester community in new and exciting ways like free public programs and partnerships with cultural groups. prgtoken Ellen has chaired the board of the Worcester Cultural Coalition and the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, and she has advised many prestigious institutions such as the Library of Congress and George Washington's Mount Vernon. Ellen's vision and leadership earned the American Antiquarian Society a National Humanities Medal from President in 2013. prgtoken Madam , there is so much more I could say about how grateful I am that Ellen has devoted her life to preserving our American story and how lucky we are that the American Antiquarian Society calls Worcester home. But let me end on a personal note to say that Ellen is a treasured friend and a wonderful person, I'm grateful that I've had the privilege of getting to know and work with her, and I know she will continue to give back to our community in the years ahead. prgtoken On behalf of the United States Congress, the people of Massachusetts' Second Congressional District, and all the people who will benefit from her incredible work for generations to come, it is my great honor and privilege to recognize Ellen D
STOP STUDENT DEBT RELIEF SCAMS ACT OF 2019
Haley M. Stevens (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-12-7

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in strong support of S. 1153, the Stop Student Debt Relief Scams Act, today. prgtoken I would like to thank my colleague, Congressman Smucker, for cointroducing this bill with me and for his efforts to end these debt relief scams. We all know that our country faces a mounting student debt crisis, with Americans now holding more than $1.5 trillion in student loan debt. prgtoken Predatory scammers are increasingly taking advantage of student loan borrowers, who face a complicated loan repayment process. These unscrupulous scams defraud student borrowers by providing deceptive information to mislead them into paying thousands of dollars for services that the Federal Government already provides for free. prgtoken These scams come by way of robocalls. They are harassing and menacing, and the victims of these schemes are not only defrauded but, unknowingly, become delinquent on their payments and default on their loans, falling even deeper into debt. prgtoken We hear this time and time again because these phone calls come to your personal cell phone even if you don't have a student loan. prgtoken In 2007, I took out $9,000 of student loans to finish my last semester of graduate school. I was able to repay that loan within 6 years. Years later, I still receive these very types of menacing phone calls, to my personal cell phone, of scams asking me to go through these programs. prgtoken These are individuals who receive information through the Department of Education. This is what we are trying to stop. They are accessing your personal information to scam you. prgtoken This is what we are here today to stop. This problem, unfortunately, during COVID-19 has only exacerbated. During this pandemic, the relief that was provided to help Federal student loan borrowers under the CARES Act has created additional opportunities for scammers to target desperate Americans. prgtoken This bill will ensure that the Department of Education and law enforcement agencies have the tools they need to crack down on these predatory fraudsters. It will also empower student borrowers by providing counseling and resources to make sure that all borrowers are aware of these potential scams and receive accurate information about the repayment options. prgtoken Knowledge is power here. It is time to stop these scammers from jeopardizing the financial future of student borrowers, and I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this bill. prgtoken , .
RECOGNIZING 155TH ANNIVERSARY OF 13TH AMENDMENT
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2020-12-7

I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield) for allowing me to share in this commemoration. prgtoken I rise to commemorate the 155th anniversary of the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution. prgtoken 155 years ago, slavery was abolished in the United States after Georgia's State legislature ratified the Thirteenth Amendment, pushing it over the prgtoken three-fourths requirement. This was a monumental step for civil rights in America, the first of three constitutional amendments during the Reconstruction period that sought equality for the former slaves and their descendants, Black Americans. prgtoken Unfortunately, we know that these amendments did not achieve equality, and in fact outraged many of the former slaveholders. prgtoken Slavery was the backbone of the southern economy and way of life. Systems like that do not disappear overnight. prgtoken After slavery was abolished, sharecropping came in its place; in theory, free and fair, but in practice, anything but. prgtoken The Ku Klux Klan was organized by former Confederate officers to violently keep Black people in their places. prgtoken The exception written into the Thirteenth Amendment that allowed involuntary servitude as a punishment upon conviction of a crime gave rise to what was known as the chain gang: free prison labor, which still exists in many places today. prgtoken Although the Thirteenth Amendment passed, southern legislatures enacted Black Codes and Jim Crow laws, legislation that technically abided by the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments, but still allowed discrimination against Black Americans, maintaining white supremacy and still giving White Americans preferential treatment. prgtoken This persisted up through the second half of the 20th century and persisted until the blood, sweat, and tears of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. John Lewis, Jim Clyburn, Bennie Thompson, Hosea Williams, Joe Lowery, Medgar Evers put their lives on the line to stand up for the humanity of Black Americans. prgtoken We often hear that slavery has been over for a long time, 155 years. It may be long for an individual, but not for a nation. But we should make clear and make no mistake about it that the legacy of slavery still haunts America and it still handicaps our ability to realize the noble principles that this country stands for, that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, keeping in mind that we have made a lot of progress, but we are not where we need to go. There is still much work to do. prgtoken , I challenge my colleagues in this body to keep in mind and ask themselves a question: What are we doing today to make America a more perfect union for the next 155 years?
IN HONOR OF DENNIS McBRIDE
Jackie Speier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-12-7

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Dennis McBride as he leaves the Board of Education of the Redwood City Elementary School District after serving 17 years. This brief introduction of Dennis does not begin to do him justice. prgtoken Let me offer you the image of the Energizer Bunny, unceasingly banging on a drum and looking a bit cool at the same time. This is Dennis. Let me also acknowledge that this might be the only time that comments in the Congressional Record refer to a Certified Public Accountant as ``cool.'' The word fits Dennis. prgtoken He began his love affair with education as a parent volunteer with the cooperative preschools in which his two children were students. He then hopped to the nearby elementary school where he became active in the site council and organized field trips, such as when he took a class to visit a leading computer manufacturer. He served on the site councils of every school attended by his two children. While some parents coach soccer, Dennis coached other parents and teachers in how to solve problems, raise funds, helped teachers, and did so much more. That's a drum-banging, cool dad. prgtoken As a CPA, Dennis volunteered his professional talents for numerous parcel tax and bond measures. The funds raised built classrooms throughout the elementary and high school districts and sustained the curriculum to the best degree possible despite economic circumstances. It is estimated that over 25,000 pre-K through eighth grade students, and additional high school and community college students, were benefitted by Dennis' work. In the buildings created, in the music programs sustained, in the special education students aided, and in dozens of other ways large and small, Dennis created a legacy that will last for at least two generations. prgtoken Dennis has always been unassuming in his collaborative ventures with other school district trustees from around the county, but many eventually made their way to Dennis as they sought answers to tough financial and personnel issues. For years he's been a leader within the San Mateo County School Boards Association, going so far as to find new leaders for recognition through the association's annual Kent Award. prgtoken How much energy does this man exude? Well, ask yourself, how many school district trustees visit nighttime staff to see how they are holding up? How many trustees show up in the morning at dangerous intersections to witness what parents are worried about? How many trustees visit every school in the district, check out cafeterias, write handwritten thank you notes to teachers, staff and parents? Many would show up at school events when invited, but how many are known on campuses where middle schoolers call out their names? This is Redwood City's public servant, Dennis McBride. prgtoken Not content to contribute to his community solely through its schools, Dennis served as the treasurer or board member or both for multiple co
RECOGNIZING IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINED UNITED STATES LEADERSHIP TO ACCELERATING GLOBAL PROGRESS AGAINST MATERNAL AND CHILD MALNUTRITION
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-12-7

as a senior Member of the House of Representatives and the founding chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I rise in strong support of this bipartisan resolution, H. Res. 189, ``Recognizing the importance of sustained United States leadership to accelerating global progress against maternal and child malnutrition and supporting United States Agency for International Development's commitment to global nutrition through its multisectoral nutrition strategy.'' prgtoken First and foremost, I would like to recognize and thank Congressmen Roger Marshall and Jim McGovern for their leadership on this vital resolution. prgtoken By passing H. Res. 189 today, we are committing ourselves to improving the health of women and children in impoverished areas, helping prevent illness, and improving economic conditions in poorer countries. prgtoken With that in mind, I wish to commend the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) maternal and child nutrition programs that seek to improve health outcomes by implementing nutrition-specific interventions, or those that address the immediate, health-related determinants of undernutrition. prgtoken These critical investments are closely coordinated with USAID's nutrition-sensitive interventions that address underlying or systemic causes of inadequate nutrition, such as education, water, sanitation, and hygiene, agriculture, as well as the healthy timing and spacing of pregnancy. prgtoken It is no secret that poverty amplifies the risk of, and risks from, malnutrition. prgtoken People who are poor are more likely to be affected by different forms of malnutrition. prgtoken Furthermore, malnutrition increases health care costs, reduces productivity, and slows economic growth, which can perpetuate a cycle of poverty and ill-health. prgtoken Malnutrition can have several negative and deadly effects such as decreased cognitive development in newborns, greater vulnerability to disease and other issues. prgtoken Women, infants, children, and adolescents are at particular risk of malnutrition. prgtoken Optimizing nutrition early in life, especially from the 1,000 days from conception to a child's second birthday ensures the best possible start in life, with long-term benefits. prgtoken For example, adults who were not malnourished as children earn nearly 46 percent more than their counterparts, as stated in the resolution. prgtoken According to UNICEF, nearly half of all deaths in children under 5 are attributable to undernutrition. prgtoken , I would be remiss if I stood here today without addressing the global impact of COVID-19 on malnutrition. prgtoken Today, the significant and life-altering shocks created by the pandemic and the necessary containment measures have meant that more vulnerable children are facing malnourishment, as efforts to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 have resulted in the disruption of food systems, thereby upending health and nutrition services, de
PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-12-7

today on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, veterans and their families will participate in remembrance events at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. prgtoken The attack on December 7, 1941, killed 2,403 and injured 1,178. This date of infamy as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt described it, was one of America's most consequential. It launched the United States into World War II and unleashed the courage, bravery, and resolve of thousands of servicemembers who changed the course of history. prgtoken In Europe and Asia, they crushed the forces of fascism, Nazism, and oppression and brought freedom to much of the world. The price they paid was immense. Many made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Those who returned built the world we know today. prgtoken We call them the Greatest Generation. Now in the twilight of their lives, we have a chance to say, thank you, once more. prgtoken I have introduced S. 3812, the WWII Veterans Hospital and Medical Eligibility Act, and I am pleased to have the bipartisan support of Senators Cramer, Daines, Booker, Tester, Coons, Collins, Young, Rubio, Sinema, Rounds, Wicker, Hassan, and Klobuchar, and Tillis. prgtoken In 1996, the Veterans Health Care Eligibility Act opened the VA healthcare system to all veterans of the Spanish-American War and World War I. My bill will provide the same benefits for World War II veterans. It will exempt World War II veterans who are not enrolled in VA healthcare from means testing requirements. This is one final opportunity to honor their heroism and afford them with dignity in their final years. prgtoken I have been honored to work with the American Legion on this legislation. I thank the Legion for its tireless advocacy on behalf of our Nation's veterans. On October 31, 2019, the American Legion National Commander, Bill Oxford called on the Veterans Administration to expand the Veterans Health Care Eligibility Act of 1996 for World War II veterans. This bill does just that. prgtoken As we reflect on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, it is time for us to answer the call and provide VA healthcare to all those who answered the call of our Nation during its hour of need in World War II.
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OF GEORGIA'S FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Kwanza Hall (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2020-12-7

I rise today to draw the Chamber's attention to critical needs for Georgia's Fifth Congressional District. prgtoken I know it has been a familiar trope to suggest that this week is going to be the new infrastructure week. The administration has announced several different infrastructure weeks, in fact. But it is not just a talking point in my district. In my district, there are several projects that require the attention of this Chamber. prgtoken They include the Clayton commuter rail, Campbellton Road BRT and rail extension, Bankhead rail to Indian Creek extension, and Clifton Corridor transportation plan. prgtoken Tackling these projects accomplishes many ends. It is an economic revitalization project, as it connects vital American companies like Microsoft to greater Atlanta. It is an environmental imperative, as getting folks out of cars and onto mass transit decreases CO2 levels. It is a jobs imperative, as it creates many well-paying jobs. It is a racial justice imperative, as these projects will service communities historically neglected.
Coronavirus (Executive Session)
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2020-12-7

speaking both as a Senator from Vermont and as vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am speaking with concern about what has been happening in the Senate. prgtoken It has been 321 days since the first COVID-19 case was reported in the United States--321 days. It has been 282 days since the first COVID-19 death was reported in the United States. prgtoken The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the unemployment rate in November was 6.7 percent, nearly double the rate in November of last year. Hundreds of thousands of small businesses across the country have closed permanently, all due to COVID. prgtoken As of today, there are more than 14,800,000 reported cases of COVID- 19 in the United States. To put that in perspective, that is 1 million more than just a week ago. More than 282,000 Americans have died, and it has been 256 days since the Senate passed the CARES Act--256 days since the Senate acted in a comprehensive, meaningful way to address the real and mounting concerns and needs of our constituents. prgtoken My State of Vermont is like everywhere else. Healthcare workers, caregivers, business owners, employees, teachers, and students are all in need of support during these difficult and uncertain times. prgtoken We have families wrestling with heightened food insecurity. People for the first time in their lives cannot feed their children and they cannot feed themselves. They have the threat of eviction from their homes hanging over them. prgtoken We have States that are strapped by budget shortfalls and are forced to lay off thousands of employees, people who have worked so hard for the people of their State. prgtoken It has been 205 days since the House first passed the Heroes Act, and it has been 65 days since they stepped forward to offer a substantial compromise on the Heroes Act and passed it again. And where does it sit? It sits on my friend the leader's desk. It is collecting dust. It is the largest and most significant bill in the McConnell legislative graveyard. prgtoken Why aren't we voting? Look what happens. We can't even bring ourselves to actually vote on something to help Americans, to help the people of our own States. They are being thrown out of their houses, their apartments, and out of their jobs, and we come in for a few days and then get on an airplane and fly back home, and the taxpayers pay for it, taxpayers paying our salaries and all and nothing happens. prgtoken Now, like millions of Americans, I am encouraged by the news of recent weeks that pharmaceutical companies are making significant progress on vaccine development. I am encouraged that some of these vaccines may be available as early as later this month. prgtoken Let's not forget why we were able to develop vaccines so quickly. It is because of longstanding Federal investment in cutting-edge research at the National Institutes of Health--research that has been backed by so many of