mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING DON CORAM
Scott R. Tipton (Republican, CO) \u2014 2020-9-24

I rise today to honor Don Coram of Montrose, Colorado. prgtoken Don was born in Montrose and raised in a farming and ranching family. He has been married to his wife, Dianna, for 53 years. Together, they have a son, Dee. prgtoken Don's agricultural background provided him with a thorough understanding of the unique needs of the communities on the Western Slope that led him to be a successful businessman and a well-respected elected official. prgtoken Don began his career in public service first as a county commissioner, later serving in the Colorado State House and, most recently, as a Colorado State senator. prgtoken At the Colorado Capitol, he has extensive influence in crafting legislation to preserve and to protect water rights, bringing resources to local agencies to more effectively prevent and combat wildfires and revitalize investment into Main Streets across the State. Don consistently works with his colleagues across the aisle on commonsense policies, which has earned him high remarks from legislators from all four corners of the State. prgtoken Don's leadership, experience, and knowledge of rural interests and needs have helped him to advance legislation that have no doubt improved the lives of thousands of families and businesses and communities throughout western Colorado. prgtoken While he would never admit it, Don is a role model for others. For decades, he has selflessly supported local causes by serving on the school board, the Delta-Montrose Vocational Center, volunteering for nonprofits, and actively participating with several other local organizations. prgtoken Don's efforts to serve his community reach all the way to Washington. He has been a trusted adviser to me on numerous pieces of legislation and always puts thoughtful consideration in any time I ask for his input. Don has been a great leader for the Third District during my tenure in Congress, and he is personally a good and loyal friend. prgtoken , I would like to give my utmost praise to Don for his compassionate service to our great State and the Nation over the years, and I wish him and his wife, Dianna, the best as they continue their work to be able to improve the quality of life in communities throughout the West Slope. Honoring Dianna Coram
IMF IN THE PANDEMIC
J. French Hill (Republican, AR) \u2014 2020-9-24

I was honored to attend the signing of the historic Abraham Accords at the White House, which represents a historic breakthrough for peace in the Middle East. Bahrain and the UAE are the first Arab countries to normalize relations with Israel in two decades. prgtoken I applaud President , Prime Minister Netanyahu, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, and King Hamad Al Khalifa for coming together to achieve this critical milestone and step forward. prgtoken This achievement proves the success of President 's undeniable support for the State of Israel and dedication to U.S. leadership in the region. prgtoken I look forward to continuing to work with the administration and our allies around the world to build upon these agreements, develop deeper diplomatic ties, and strengthen our relationships. Recognizing Candace Franks
MR. NAT O'DAY BIRTHDAY RECOGNITION
Kay Granger (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-9-24

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Mr. Nat O'Day, a North Texan and military veteran, as he celebrates his 90th birthday on September 27, 2020. prgtoken Nat spent 20 years of his life serving in the U.S. Army achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served overseas in South Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and Germany. Nat played a pivotal role in the modernization of our nation's military as he operated a communications system at over 52 sites across the world and tested flight equipment that is now used as today's standard. During his military service, Nat married the love of his life, Lynn, and they enjoyed over 60 years of marriage together. They raised three wonderful children, Robin O'Day Dettmer, Steve Ray O'Day, and Tim James O'Day. prgtoken Nat has dedicated his life to our nation and his community in Fort Worth, Texas. Following his retirement from the Army, Nat worked for the City of Fort Worth for over 25 years. He was a devoted volunteer, spending over 20 years and thousands of hours volunteering at the Fort Worth Symphony, the Van Cliburn Foundation, and Bass Performance Hall, where he and Lynn shared their love of music. He also volunteered every Tuesday for 20 years at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport helping travelers navigate the airport. Nat also dedicated his time to the Cook Children's Hospital, where he was rightfully named Volunteer of the Year. Nat is committed to helping the people of 12th District of Texas, and his business cards that read ``Volunteer Extraordinaire'' sum up his dedication and devotion to North Texas. prgtoken I had the great honor and pleasure of having Nat as an advisor on military affairs and as the Chairman of my military academy nomination board. I could not have done it without Nat's commitment and enthusiasm. I am grateful to know and celebrate Nat O'Day. Our Nation and my district wouldn't be the same without his decades of selflessness and dedication. prgtoken On behalf of the 12th District of Texas, I offer my congratulations and best wishes to Nat on his very special birthday.
HONORING JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG
Anna G. Eshoo (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-9-24

I come to the floor this morning on behalf of the people of California's 18th Congressional District to pay tribute to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. prgtoken Inscribed on the front of the building of the Supreme Court are the words: ``Equal justice under the law.'' And that is what Justice Ginsburg did. She brought equality relative to voting rights, to gender equity, to civil rights. That was her work. She took it seriously using her extraordinary intelligence, her faith, her belief in a more perfect union. prgtoken We pay tribute to her in a unique way. In history, there are very few individuals that are known by their initials: FDR, LBJ, JFK, and now RBG. prgtoken As the poet wrote: And so she passed and all the trumpets sounded on the other side. prgtoken Thank you, Justice Ginsburg, may you rest in peace.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2020-9-24

I appreciate that question, because the process by which we find ourselves considering this legislation began on August 25, 2016, when the Air Force published a notice in the Federal Register to notify the public that it would begin preparing a legislative environmental impact statement related to the NTTR. This process, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, kicked off public, Native American, and government agency engagement on any potential expansion of the NTTR. prgtoken The outreach and scoping process on the proposed update to the legislative environmental impact statement was flawed from the beginning. For instance, in a letter dated March 8, 2018, Nevada's former Governor Brian Sandoval, a , wrote to the Air Force that ``during the preparation of the legislative environmental impact statement, there was little interaction with our state agencies'' and that ``better coordination with the Nevada Department of Wildlife would have led to a more complete analysis and an opportunity to develop a compromise alternative that would both enhance training opportunities for the Air Force and continue to provide essential protections for Nevada's wildlife and outdoor recreational experiences.'' Unfortunately, the process for incorporating concerns expressed with the Air Force's plans for the NTTR have not improved over time. All told, more than 30,000 comments were submitted to the Air Force during their consideration of the legislative environmental impact statement, but these concerns were largely ignored by the Air Force and left unaddressed in the final documents released by the Air Force in October 2018. prgtoken The issue was considered by the 80th session of the Nevada Legislature which, on a nearly unanimous basis, passed Assembly Joint Resolution 2--AJR 2. AJR2 strongly urged Congress to ``reject any proposal by the United States Air Force to expand its use of land or exercise of jurisdiction within the Desert National Wildlife Refuge beyond that which it currently possesses and to limit any proposal to extend the Air Force's authority over the Nevada Test and Training Range to not more than 20 years.'' The legislature further urged Congress ``to work collaboratively with all interested parties to develop a compromise alternative that would both enhance training opportunities for the United States Air Force and continue to provide essential protections for Nevada's wildlife and outdoor recreational experiences for Nevadans and visitors.'' prgtoken The inability for the legislative environmental impact statement to yield a consensus, compromise proposal was a major factor in my decision to begin developing my own legislation on this subject with my colleagues in the Nevada congressional delegation. My goal was to find a solution that would allow the Air Force to modernize its training while also respecting and preserving one of the country's largest wildlife refug
EXTENDING THE UNDERTAKING SPAM, SPYWARE, AND FRAUD ENFORCEMENT WITH ENFORCERS BEYOND BORDERS ACT OF 2006
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-9-24

I just want to say in the Senate, in my time in this body, this is one of the most stunning abuses of power I have seen in my time of public service. prgtoken I think my colleague knows that I was sitting until 5 minutes ago in the Ways and Means Committee, where I was invited to testify about Social Security, and I was given a message that the Senator from Missouri was going to stand up and basically try to throw in the garbage can a bipartisan law that I and a conservative , former Congressman Chris Cox--well known to conservatives--wrote because as we thought about the formulation of technology policy, our big concern was for the little guy, for the person who didn't have power, the person who didn't have clout. prgtoken We were picking up accounts that if they were just trying to come out with their invention--might be something they put up on a website or a blog--they could be held personally liable for something that was posted on their sites that they had no idea about. prgtoken So we said: We can't do that to the little guy. We can't strip them of their voice. prgtoken By the way, my concern about the little guy that led to the passage of this law is something I continue to focus on today. prgtoken This law is hugely important to movements like Me Too and Black Lives Matter because it gives Americans the opportunity to see the messages they want to get out. We all see the videos. Frankly, establishment media wouldn't even run a lot of it because they would be sued. prgtoken So the original interest in this was making sure that the little guy had a chance to be heard. That is the interest today. That is what the Senator from Missouri wants to throw in the trash can. That is No. 1. prgtoken No. 2, the effect of what the Senator from Missouri wants to do--and for colleagues who have just come in, I just learned about this 5 minutes before the Senator from Missouri came to the floor. The net effect of this is that can force social media--and he is already working the refs--to print his lies. prgtoken The thing that concerned me right at the outset was the lies about vote-by-mail. He wanted to force Twitter to print his lies about vote- by-mail. That, too, is something that we sought to constrain in the bipartisan law. And many people think the 26 words really began a policy of empowering the little guy to be heard. prgtoken Now, I am going to wrap up with just one point. Colleagues, the Senator from Missouri talks about how he wants to take on Big Tech. That is his concern. Let's take on Big Tech. prgtoken If you want to take on Big Tech, you can go on my privacy bill. It is called the Mind Your Own Business Act. It is the toughest bill on the table with respect to Big Tech. It says that if an executive, a CEO, of one of the big companies, lies and lies repeatedly, they could be held personally liable, including the prospect of prison time prgtoken So if the Senator from Missour
REAFFIRMING THE SENATE'S COMMITMENT TO THE ORDERLY AND PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2020-9-24

I want to rise just briefly to pay tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg. prgtoken I saw a statement about her in the aftermath of her passing that said she will probably go down in history as one of the greatest women lawyers in the history of the United States. I don't think that does her justice. I want to take the floor to say that Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in my view, will probably go down in history as one of the top three judges and lawyers ever in the history of the United States, male or female. I want to describe why. Before I do, I just want to notice the outpouring of support for her. prgtoken In the 4 days after she passed, from Friday night until Tuesday night, my office received 37,000 pieces of correspondence about Justice Ginsburg, praising her, lifting her up as a role model, expressing concern about what the Court would be without her. In my 8 years in the Senate, I have never seen an outpouring of support for an individual like that. That is just an example of how highly we hold her in regard. prgtoken Justice Ginsburg is well known and particularly well known in Virginia. One of the opinions she authored that is one of her real pivotal opinions was an opinion that ruled that a public university-- the Virginia Military Institute--could not deny access to women prgtoken students. That was a very controversial case in Virginia. Justice Ginsburg's opinion was courteous and recognized the great virtue of VMI as an institution but held up its many virtues and values and said women students at this public university should be able to have the same access. prgtoken Justice Ginsburg as a Justice has left her mark on our society in such an amazing way. prgtoken I want to talk about Ruth Bader Ginsburg the lawyer because I assert that if Ruth Bader Ginsburg had never been on the Supreme Court, she still would have earned her way into one of the greatest American lawyers or jurists of all time. Ruth Bader Ginsburg. prgtoken It was a Virginian who wrote into the Declaration of Independence the words that are maybe among some of the most known words in the English language: ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'' Those words are so powerful. They set out a powerful North Star for our country in equality and principle but had ambiguity wrapped up in them. prgtoken Jefferson, although he believed in equality, knew and was deeply troubled by the fact that slaves and other even freed African Americans at the time were not treated equally. Jefferson wasn't particularly troubled by the fact that women were not treated equally at that time. He had an ability to see what the principle should be but not necessarily to apply it to his own life, which is, frankly, a weakness that I think we all have suffered from during our life at times, but at least he set out the right principle and said that it applied to men. prgtoken I think you can look at the history of our country as a No
EXPANDING ACCESS TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ACT OF 2019
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-9-24

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for his leadership on this important issue. He has brought his experience in the private sector, and the nonprofit sector to Congress to effectively address the climate crisis that we are facing. prgtoken Madam , I join the distinguished ranking member of the committee in supporting this en bloc, and remind him that in 2018 we did have the fire budget act that readjusted--enabling us to spend money for fire prevention, and that was bipartisan. prgtoken I welcome your support for the en blocs and work to address this. The description that you make of the fire impacts on the communities is a very, very serious one. We see it in California, but we have seen it a few years ago and before. Unless you have seen it, you cannot really realize how destructive it is. It just obliterates the area. prgtoken And then the smoke from those fires, as we say, the smoke from those fires is not stronger than the love that we have for each other to come back from all of this. But this legislation and these amendments will be helpful, and I thank the gentleman for his strong leadership on this. prgtoken The threat of wildfires in our communities and the ability to create clean energy jobs and innovation is an opportunity that we have here today. prgtoken Across the country, extreme weather and climate events are being unleashed on our communities leaving tragedy and devastation in their wake. From wildfires in the West--which the distinguished ranking member referenced and that we have experienced--that are described as apocalyptic, which have killed at least 35 people, blanketed the entire country in haze, and burned an historic 3.7 million acres, more than 20 times the amount last year. prgtoken Horrific hurricanes in the Gulf Coast, some of the most severe to hit the southern States. I spoke to the Governor of Louisiana, he told me that the hurricane that hit Louisiana was the most severe in the history of Louisiana. I said, Even more so than Katrina? He said, Yes. Katrina's damage sprang from the hurricane, but also the levees collapsing. This is about the severity of the hurricane. And then frequency, they have had more hurricanes since then. They are running out of names to label them. They said they may have to go to the Greek alphabet. prgtoken Heat waves across America, with this summer being the hottest ever summer recorded in the northern hemisphere, and the second hottest summer around the planet. Scientists tell us that 2020, a year filled with climate disasters, will be among the two hottest years ever recorded. prgtoken Madam , Mother Nature is sending us a message, a clear sign that the climate crisis is real, it is deadly, and it is accelerating. prgtoken The American people elected a ic House majority that would honor the science and honor our obligation to build a more resilient, green, and sustainable economy, not only for future generations tomorrow, but for our children t
HONORING THE CAREER OF CAROL BRICK-TURIN
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2020-9-24

. Madam , it is with great pleasure that I rise to recognize the remarkable career of Carol Brick-Turin. After 12 years, Ms. Brick-Turin is retiring as the Executive Director of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation's Jewish Community Relations Council. prgtoken Carol originally moved to Washington, D.C. to join the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where she worked on public policy issues for more than a decade. A graduate of Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics, she was recruited to join the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), and served as a diplomat in Brussels, Belgium in the U.S. Mission to the European Community. She was the first married female to serve as an Agricultural Attache in the history of FAS. prgtoken Carol attended the Foreign Service Institute, completed a study program taught by faculty of the Jewish Theological Seminary and attended the University of Tel-Aviv in 1973--both before and after the Yom Kippur War. Having raised her children as Zionists, she now has three grandchildren who were born in Jerusalem, in addition to her two granddaughters in Miami. prgtoken As the JCRC's Executive Director Carol has adroitly mobilized and engaged Miami's Jewish community on many levels. She has led our citizen activists in building relationships with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, key to the success of the pro-Israel movement and the national agenda supported by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. We have worked together to address a multitude of issues facing our community--from the scourge of anti-Semitism and senseless gun violence plaguing our schools and places of worship to ensuring we maintain our strong U.S.-Israel relationship. prgtoken Carol's commitment to Miami's Jewish community and the state of Israel is exemplary, and I am proud to call her my very good friend. I will miss her guidance and wisdom, but our loss is her husband Alan and her family's gain. I wish her a hearty Mazel Tov on her retirement and am grateful for her invaluable work.
Tribute to Amy Amrhein (Executive Calendar)
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-9-24

Senators come to this floor with greatly diverse life experiences and political theories and representing enormously different States. But we all share this in common: a vast appreciation of our team members, our staff, who enable us to do our work as U.S. Senators on behalf of our own States, but also on behalf of the Nation. prgtoken These team members are not just staff. They are family. We share in moments of joy--marriage, the birth of a child. We grieve with them in those life moments that are so difficult. And when the team members choose to move on, it is a bittersweet moment. prgtoken I come to the floor today to recognize and pay tribute to a beloved member of my team, Amy Amrhein, who in just a few short days will be leaving us to a well-deserved retirement. Even after knowing for months that this day was coming, it is still hard for me not to be saddened by her departure. She has been on my team from the very beginning of my time as a Senator, serving as my field representative in Southern Oregon and staffing our Medford office. That is now a dozen years. prgtoken She took on the task of learning complicated natural resource issues and learning them with determination and insight, working to internalize the issues and challenges of every community in the region, from the smallest port to the biggest county. prgtoken She mastered the art of putting on a townhall, as I do one in every county every year, and I think at last count that is about 80 townhalls she has conducted over the years. prgtoken She has worked to bring the community together to discuss visions for the future. One of those was the potential expansion of the Cascade- Siskiyou Monument. She organized a gathering that gave public testimony, which helped share insights from all the stakeholders. Local leaders and regional Tribes and all members of the public shared their insights and perspectives. prgtoken It is no exaggeration to say that there are few people in the world with a better grasp of the complicated water issues in the Klamath Basin. We have a saying in the West that ``whiskey, that's for drinking; water, that's for fighting'' because it is so essential to so many aspects of our economy and our natural system. prgtoken For 12 years, Amy engaged in shuttle diplomacy over long-term solutions to water shortages. She found ways to help farmers and ranchers save their livelihoods through shattering droughts, truly making herself an indispensable facilitator to stakeholders across the board and an indispensable facilitator as I tried to work out agreements. That really came in handy with the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, developing that effort to have the stakeholders share a common vision for the future. It really came in handy when we worked to get funds to address the devastating droughts in 2010 and 2013--funds that would help the farmers who depended on irrigation but had no water to be able to temporari