mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Judy Chu (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-2-26

I rise today in strong support of the American Rescue Plan. prgtoken This bill provides security to families with $1,400 survival checks. It provides relief to the unemployed, increasing their insurance to $400 a week. It expands loans to small businesses to help them stay open. And, most importantly, it improves the distribution of vaccines and PPE, and expands affordable healthcare coverage so we can stop the terrible deaths that have occurred, saving people's lives. prgtoken One year into this crisis, we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, thanks to the approval of vaccines. But we still have months to go before we return to normal. That means more months of anxiety for families, businesses, and healthcare providers, all already stretched to the max. That is why today we must send urgently needed aid directly to Americans as quickly as possible. prgtoken This bill is too important to delay any longer. We must pass this aid today.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-2-26

I rise in strong support of the American Rescue Plan. I thank Chairman Yarmuth, our , our committee chairs, for addressing this emergency urgently. prgtoken People across America are struggling. Yes, this package is big, but the scale of the challenges that families face is enormous. They need our help, and half measures just won't cut it. We cannot wait. prgtoken This bill extends expiring unemployment benefits, provides $1,400 payments, permanently expands the child tax credit to $3,000 per child, and raises the minimum wage, way long overdue. And, yes, it provides State and local funding to protect the jobs of essential workers, who, in spite of the risk that they face, provide essential services to keep this country running. prgtoken , this bill also fights the virus with funding for testing and vaccinations for communities of color that have been hit the hardest from COVID. prgtoken Finally, this bill funds our global pandemic response. COVID doesn't respect borders. A global pandemic requires a global response. prgtoken I thank Chairman Meeks of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for working with me to ensure that America will play its role to help fight the pandemic abroad. prgtoken Let's take this bold action and pass this bill tonight.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Kim Schrier (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2021-2-26

I rise today in support of Section 1001 of the American Recovery Plan Act of 2021. This section provides necessary resources to strengthen food and agriculture supply chains that have been ravaged by COVID-19 and provides $300 million to allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct surveillance of animals that are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. prgtoken As a physician, making sure we approach this and future pandemics from a One Health perspective is key for both human and animal health, and as a Member of the Agriculture Committee, I am personally invested in making sure USDA has adequate resources to do their part. We have already seen documented evidence of a strain of COVID-19 impacting people in Europe that matches a strain that has been documented in captive mink. We cannot ignore the One Health implications of this pandemic. prgtoken The resources provided in this section will help ensure USDA can follow science-based international surveillance recommendations. I look forward to working with the Department of Agriculture to fully implement these provisions, because this is how we can stay one step ahead as this virus evolves, and also how we can detect the next virus that jumps from animal to human before it becomes a pandemic.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-2-26

as a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary, on Homeland Security, on the Budget, and as the Member of Congress for a congressional district that has experienced the worst of the COVID-19 as a public health emergency and economic catastrophe, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1319, the ``American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,'' which provides $1.9 trillion to take immediate and decisive action to crush the virus and vaccinate our people, build the economy back better, reopen schools, and provide needed support and assistance to state and local governments that have been asked to do too much with too little for far too long. prgtoken , by an overwhelming margin (72 percent), the public wants and is demanding that we act to provide more economic relief to address the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic. prgtoken Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of s and -leaning independents believe an additional relief package is necessary, while more than nine in ten (92 percent) and ic leaners say more coronavirus aid will be needed. prgtoken Even the most conservative s favor more relief by a 56 percent-44 percent margin. prgtoken Nearly nine-in-ten of all adults (88 percent) in lower-income households say an additional package is necessary, while 81 percent of s in lower-income households (81 percent) say additional aid is needed now. prgtoken The American Rescue Plan Act delivers that aid and does it in a way that will crush the coronavirus and build the economy back better. prgtoken The American Rescue Plan Act will put children safely back in schools with a strong $170 billion investment and putting money in workers' pockets by raising the federal minimum wage. prgtoken The American Rescue Plan Act will put food on the table, by expanding the SNAP program and respecting Black family farmers. prgtoken The American Rescue Plan Act will put people back to work by prioritizing funding for transit, airlines and airports, and the disaster relief fund. prgtoken The American Rescue Plan Act will put small businesses back on track with robust funding for EIDL and restaurant grants, additional funding for shuttered live venues and expanded PPP eligibility for nonprofits. prgtoken The American Rescue Plan Act will put a priority on protecting renters and homeowners, preventing homelessness, and providing $10 billion for the Defense Production Act to procure essential medical supplies and equipment. prgtoken The American Rescue Plan Act will put money in people's pockets, with direct payments, Unemployment Insurance, Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and includes pension security and expanded Affordable Care Act coverage. prgtoken The American Rescue Plan Act will provide $17 billion in critical funding to help the VA meet the health and economic security of veterans, especially as it relates to the benefits claims and appeals backlog caused by COVID-19. <|p|
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1319, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2021-2-26

. Madam , I rise in support of the legislation because there are many reasons to vote for the American Rescue Plan. prgtoken If you want to ensure that schools can reopen safely and make up for lost time in the classroom, vote for the bill. prgtoken If you want to provide relief for institutions of higher education and their students, vote for the bill. prgtoken If you want to save our childcare system from collapse, vote for the bill. prgtoken If you want to protect workers against the virus and increase their wages, vote for this bill. prgtoken If you want to maintain access to affordable healthcare for workers who have lost their jobs, vote for the bill. prgtoken If you want to prevent more than a million retirees from losing their hard-earned pensions, vote for this bill. prgtoken Finally, if you want to keep children and families from going hungry, prevent domestic and gender-based violence, and protect older Americans during this pandemic, you must vote for this bill. prgtoken The American people need to know that help is on the way. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Suzan K. DelBene (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2021-2-26

I rise today in support of the American Rescue Plan. prgtoken This bill contains critical support for our communities, including a provision that I fought for in expansion of the child tax credit. The child tax credit is the largest Federal investment we make in our children, but it still leaves behind one-third of all children who are in families who earn too little to get the full credit. prgtoken Those left behind include half of Black and Hispanic children, families with young children, families in rural areas, and families headed by women. This bill will provide an increased credit and monthly payments to help families pay bills and buy essentials. An estimated 8 million people have fallen into poverty during this crisis, making the current need even greater. prgtoken Today, my colleagues have the opportunity to vote to crush the virus, get our economy back on track, and transform the lives of impoverished children I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this critical legislation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Alma S. Adams (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2021-2-26

I raise my voice today to add my support for the steps taken by the House Agriculture Committee under the leadership of Chairman David Scott to include provisions in H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act, to begin to correct the long and documented history of USDA discrimination against producers of color. prgtoken The existence of this longstanding discrimination cannot be disputed. Every year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture spends billions of dollars in programmatic and direct support for American producers and we know that those resources have, unfortunately, not been equitably distributed due to discrimination. The provisions included in sections 1005 and 1006 of the American Rescue Plan Act are a tailored approach towards correcting the wrongs felt by too many. prgtoken I am not alone in raising my voice and support for these provisions. In addition to the support of many Members of the House Agriculture Committee and of the 117th Congress, more than 200 organizations have voiced their support for this language. Among those who have spoken out in support of these provisions are: prgtoken Advance Carolina, Raleigh, NC; Advancing Collective Equity, Portland, OR; African Alliance of Rhode Island, RI; Agri-Cultura Cooperative Network, Albuquerque, NM; Agricultural Missions, Inc New York, NY; Agroecology Research-Action Collective, Oakland, CA; Alabama Rivers Alliance, Birmingham, AL; Alabama State Association of Cooperatives, Epes, AL; Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, Oxnard, CA; Alliance for the Great Lakes, Chicago, IL; Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley, New Market, VA; American Farmland Trust; American Federation of Government Employees, Local 3354, Saint Louis, MO; American Sustainable Business Council, Washington, DC; Amy's Kitchen; Atrisco Valley Farm LLC, Albuquerque, NM; Bayer; Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc.; Black Family Land Trust, Inc Durham, NC; Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association, Tillery, NC; Black Farmers and Ranchers New Mexico, Jerales, NM; Bolthouse Farms; Boulder County Farmers Markets, Boulder, CO. prgtoken Cabot Creamery; Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment; Cargill; Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Pittsboro, NC; Center for Agriculture and Food Systems; Center for Biological Diversity, St. Petersburg, FL; Center for Community Self-Help, Durham, NC; Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, DC; Chef Danielle Leoni; Chef Judy Ni; Chef Keema Johnson; Chef Mark Bittman; Chobani; Church Women United in New York State, Rochester NY; City Love, Philadelphia, PA; Clean Water Action, Washington, DC; Clif Bar & Company; Coastal Enterprises, Inc Brunswick, ME; Colorado CoBank; Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Davis, California; Community Food and Justice Coalition, Oakland, California; Concerned Citizens of Tillery, Tillery, NC; Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive, Santa Rosa, CA; Cottage House, Inc Ariton, AL; Cultivate Charlotte
COLORADO WILDERNESS ACT OF 2021
Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2021-2-26

I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 803. prgtoken During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen the renewed importance of having safe and accessible public lands for our families and communities. As a proud Virginian, I know that Virginia's public lands not only provide opportunities for recreation and reflection but they are key to our tourism industry and our overall economy. prgtoken My amendment would strengthen protections for two beautiful areas of the George Washington National Forest, the Rough Mountain and Rich Hole wilderness areas, following recommendations from the U.S. Forest Service in 2014. These areas offer outstanding scenic views, rare and endangered plants, age-old hardwood forests, and a dense population of black bears. prgtoken This legislation, the Virginia Wilderness Additions Act, would allow these irreplaceable areas to remain open to recreation while also protecting their wildlife, natural resources, and trails for generations to come. prgtoken I would like to thank Senators Kaine and Warner for their leadership on this issue in the Senate, as well as Representatives Luria and McEachin for working with me on this important amendment.
IN TRIBUTE TO DR. JOAN M. PRINCE
Gwen Moore (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2021-3-1

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Dr. Joan M. Prince, the Vice Chancellor of Global Inclusion and Engagement at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). After more than two decades of working with distinction and serving her alma mater, she is retiring on March 1, 2021. prgtoken Dr. Prince's education career with UWM began as a promising freshman when she was 16 years old. She was the first African American recipient of a bachelor's in medical technology and a master's in clinical laboratory science. She joined St. Joseph's Hospital as a hematologist and, in 1988, she became the supervisor in hematology for the Medical Science Labs. Around the same time, she began working for the University of Wisconsin's Medical school where she implemented the Health Professional Partnership Initiative's collaborative project as lead strategist. prgtoken Equipped with a strong educational background and a breadth of experience, she began her 20-year career with UWM when she was appointed Vice Chancellor in 2000. She went on to earn a Ph.D. from UWM in Urban Education, with a focus on STEM education. At UWM she is also the Chief Administrator for the Divisions of Global Inclusion and Engagement, and Partnerships and Innovation, with responsibilities as the University's Chief Inclusion Officer. She led campus-wide project areas such as the STEM Inspire Pipeline, the Inclusive Internationalization Projects, Global Partnerships in STEM, Center for International Health, Carnegie Engagement Classification team, Center for Community Solutions, and Equity and Diversity Services. Dr. Prince has led many important campus-wide initiatives that include the establishment of the first anti-bias training curriculum, as well as the formation of a program dedicated to advancing historically underrepresented students and first-generation students in the STEM field. prgtoken Outside of work, Dr. Prince's commitment to community service extended to working to meet the needs of students in underserved communities, including minorities, women, children, entrepreneurs and small businesses. She served in a variety of leadership positions, civic organizations and was board member and governance chair of The Council on Foundations, the International Foundation Membership Association and the Urban Libraries Council. She is also a corporate board director of Managed Health Services, a subsidiary of the Centene Corporation, a director emeritus of C. G. Schmidt Construction Company and a corporate director of Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation. prgtoken Dr. Prince has received recognition and numerous awards for her commitment to community service from civic and professional organizations such as The Business Journal's Woman of Influence award, The Community Leadership award (Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund) and the Friends of the Hispanic Community award. She was named one of the ten most powerful women in Milwaukee in the February 20
TRIBUTE TO DEACON DAVIES JOHNSON
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-3-1

. Madam , to be of service to humanity is one of the greatest attributes one can have. Such was the life and character traits of Davies Johnson. Born and raised in rural Arkansas on the border of Louisiana, in the little town of Wilmot, Arkansas, Davies married his childhood sweetheart Mabel Parker in 1953 and migrated to Chicago, Illinois where they made their home and their lives. Davies was employed by the Burlington Railroad where he began as a Porter and became a Crane Operator and retired as a Supervisor after thirty-three years. Mr. Johnson was always kind and considerate. He was Christian-orientated and joined the Lord's Way Missionary Baptist Church in 1973. At Lord's Way, Mr. Johnson served on the Trustee Board, Sunday School Superintendent, Chairman of the Deacon Board and as anything else the church needed him to do. Deacon Johnson was a stalwart in his family and the community where he lived. He was a man of high standards and was well regarded by all who knew him. The world became a better place because Davies Johnson lived, and my life was enriched by knowing him. May he rest in peace.
THE TRAGIC DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD HAS AWAKENED THE NATION
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-3-1

. Madam , with great expectation, we expect to have the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act on the floor of the House this week. prgtoken I am joined in these special 1-minute speeches by Congressman Bowman from New York and Congresswoman Lee from California. On behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, we are here to say that the tragic death of George Floyd has awakened the Nation and the world to the gross injustice that too many African Americans face on a daily basis. prgtoken Eight minutes and 46 seconds, and the world stood up. New Zealand and London, around the world, they all said, enough is enough. prgtoken This legislation will now have qualified immunity reform, pattern and practice investigations, the idea of a national police misconduct registry, the Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act banning choke holds, banning no-knock drug warrants. prgtoken It will be a new day in the relationship between police and community. Crisis units because police do not want to be social workers. We know there are officers who believe in protect and serve. At the same time, we know the Nation does not want police misconduct. prgtoken Let's work together, pass this legislation, and let it be signed by the President of the United States. I thank the Congressional Black Caucus for its leadership. The world is watching us this week.
IMPEACHMENT
Elizabeth Warren (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2021-3-1

I would like to enter a statement into the record. prgtoken The President swears an oath to faithfully execute the Office of the Presidency and to ``preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.'' At the very core of that oath is a commitment to democracy, to government of the people, for the people, and by the people. prgtoken President tested that commitment. Americans endured a pandemic while casting their votes in the November 2020 election. Following that election, the outgoing President baselessly sowed doubt about its legitimacy and refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power. In the days leading up to January 6, 2021, President agitated his most dangerous supporters, who had already shown a propensity for violence, and called on them to interfere with Congress' duty to formally count the votes of the electoral college. wanted a riot to take place on January 6. We know because he said so. And when police officers defending the Capitol were overrun by his mob, he did nothing. Democracy is at its most fragile at the moment of transition, and that fragility is exactly what the former President sought to exploit. prgtoken During President 's second impeachment trial, his defense tried to paint for Americans a picture of a President who called for peaceful protest and who bears no responsibility for the January 6 assault on the People's House. But the President's actions took place before our eyes. His conduct before, during, and immediately after the assault on the Capitol is well known to the American public. He is uniquely responsible for the events of January 6. prgtoken Americans spoke clearly and forcefully in November when they elected a new President. 's attempt to cling to power through lies and violence is just what the Framers of our Constitution feared. But part of the brilliance of our Constitution's separation of powers is that we, the Congress, have the power and obligation to defend against such gross misconduct through impeachment. prgtoken I voted to convict and disqualify former President because he violated his oath of office and because our future leaders must know that such abuses of power will not be tolerated in a free and democratic society. I will continue to call out these abuses and to keep those in power accountable.
CREATING A COVID-19 VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS MEMORIAL DAY
Greg Stanton (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2021-3-1

. Madam , last week, we mourned half a million American lives lost to the coronavirus. Their absence in our communities is difficult to comprehend. prgtoken Sadly, many are facing the reality that it has now been more than a year without their loved ones. Tragically, many of them died alone, without loved ones to say good-bye. prgtoken To honor and memorialize those lost and those impacted by the virus, I introduced a resolution designating the first Monday in March as COVID-19 Victims and Survivors Memorial Day. Commemorating this memorial day is an important marker for all those affected across the country and to help our country heal from this trauma. prgtoken In my home State, this day of recognition has been pushed by two advocates who lost their fathers to COVID-19. Kristin Urquiza and Tara Krebbs turned their grief into action and have mobilized more than 100 cities and multiple States to recognize today as a memorial day. prgtoken Long after our Nation moves beyond this ordeal, we will need to collectively recognize all that we have lost and the trauma of what we have experienced. prgtoken Together, we can overcome.