mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Raphael G. Warnock (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2021-8-5

before I begin, I want to take a moment to pause and remember an effective leader in the labor movement and a real champion for working families, Richard Trumka. prgtoken Richard Trumka believed in the dignity of work, and he also believed in the dignity of workers and that they should share in the prosperity they provide for others. prgtoken His family is in my prayers as we remember and honor his legacy as a vital leader in the labor movement and in the larger quest to make us a more just society, providing opportunity for all of us. Healthcare prgtoken , I am back on the floor of the Senate because I believe that healthcare is a human right, and it is certainly something that the richest Nation on the planet can afford to provide for all of its citizens. prgtoken I have come to the Senate floor with the same message week after week because I think it is vital and important. With all of the incentives on the table for my home State of Georgia to expand Medicaid, it is past time for Georgia and the other 11 nonexpansion States to finally expand Medicaid. prgtoken My home State of Georgia has the opportunity to provide affordable healthcare to 646,000 people who could qualify. Instead of allowing Georgians to continue to suffer and be cut off from care while politicians are playing games, I introduced the Medicaid Saves Lives Act. This is legislation that would provide people in States like mine that have not expanded Medicaid an alternative path to health coverage. prgtoken In the richest country in the world in 2021 and amid a once-in-a- century pandemic that has both illuminated and exacerbated the consequences of longstanding disparities in healthcare, too many Georgians are still struggling to get what they deserve and what is already available if we would just expand Medicaid. prgtoken And for far too many, access to affordable, reliable, and continuous healthcare is quite literally the difference between life and death. prgtoken We do policy here, but we can only do policy in an effective manner when we keep in front of us the human faces behind the policy we would create or the consequences for real people when we fail to do what we were sent here to do. prgtoken So I want to share the story and remember the life of a Georgian who fought to expand Medicaid. She and other Georgians live in the coverage gap. She advocated for herself and others like her. prgtoken This is Lorie Davis and her husband Bob, both from Covington, GA. Lorie was one of our heroes. She spent much of her life serving her neighbors as a trauma nurse at the Grady Memorial Hospital. I have been to that hospital time and time again as a pastor and now as a Senator. I have seen firsthand the important work that they do. prgtoken She was a trauma nurse there at Grady, and while working as a healthcare professional in Georgia, Lorie was diagnosed with pelvic adhesive disease. The ch
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2021-8-5

these speeches on the scheme by dark money interests to seize control of the Supreme Court are designed to describe it in all its repulsive intricacy. prgtoken My last speech discussed an operation in this scheme within the Federalist Society. This speech will take you literally down the hall from the Federalist Society to something called the Judicial Crisis Network, or JCN. They share the same purpose, the same hallway, and likely the same controlling donors. prgtoken Remember David Koch's disastrous bid for Vice President on the Libertarian Party ticket that showed how unappetizing his rightwing extremism was to normal people. And remember the Lewis Powell playbook, which advised: Strength lies in organization . . . and in the political power available only through united action and national organizations. prgtoken No one corporation or wealthy individual needs to, as Powell said, ``get too far out in front and . . . make itself too visible a target.'' Let intermediaries do that work. prgtoken Corporate interests like Big Tobacco and the fossil fuel industry have, for a long time, used coordinated webs of national front groups in their plots to fend off accountability for the dangers of tobacco and carbon emissions. prgtoken These front group webs grew and multiplied and specialized, all while concealing their true interests and funders. They got more numerous, and they also got smarter and more strategic over time, polishing up front group names, like the not-too-subtle Tobacco Institute, to names like the more wholesome-sounding Heartland Institute. prgtoken It is quite a web. They created science groups to counter real scientific research on public health and climate change with fake science; think tanks to churn out white papers and hire sound bite- friendly fake experts; legal organizations to challenge and delay government regulation of harmful products; academic hothouses in which to grow donor-friendly, rightwing judicial philosophies; identity- laundering screens to hide the true donors and controllers and their interests; and political attack groups to pressure elected officials. People who study this have reported these groups numbering in multiple dozens, and their backers play the front groups like keys on a piano. prgtoken Apply this method to the scheme to capture the Court, and you see that the dark money donors needed more than just the nominations turnstile that they ran out of the Federalist Society. They also needed a bare-knuckle political brawler. prgtoken One night in early 2005, at an upscale Italian dinner, with special guest Justice Antonin Scalia, major donor and corporate lawyer Ann Corkery, California real estate tycoon Robin Arkley, and Federalist Society executive vice president Leonard Leo got together and celebrated 's second term. The political importance of the Supreme Court would have been on everyone's mind there as it was t
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2021-8-5

I rise today to join my colleagues in saying I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my great friend Richard Trumka. prgtoken To say Rich was a champion for workers is really an understatement. He dedicated his life to fighting to secure and strengthen workers' rights. Everyone who knew Rich knew just how deeply committed he was to that mission. He understood how hard people in this country work for their families. He understood the dignity of work. He grew up understanding it. His grandfather was a coal miner, his father was a coal miner, and so was he. prgtoken It is because he knew how hard people across the country work that he was driven to work so hard himself, to hold Washington accountable and make sure our country was looking out for working families. prgtoken For decades, Rich led the charge in creating a country that treats all workers with the dignity and respect they deserve and where every worker had the right to join a union, including by fighting to root out systemic inequities and racism in this country. prgtoken Rich once said: There's no evil that's inflicted more pain and more suffering than racism and it's something we in the labor movement have a special responsibility to challenge. prgtoken He worked to live up to that challenge and to push others as well, and this country is better because of it. prgtoken I have worked with Rich for years and seen firsthand how hard he fought every day to make sure workers had a seat at the table on healthcare, education, taxes, climate change. Whatever the issue, you could expect to hear from Rich because of how those issues affected working people. prgtoken I will always remember working together to develop and draft the PRO Act, which embodied our vision to give workers and their families a fair shot in this country--something Rich not only fought for every day, but, in my mind, will always be remembered for on this floor, in the halls, and all across our country. prgtoken If you didn't hear him in a meeting, you would hear him over the bullhorn soon enough because he was as comfortable on a picket line as he was in a prgtoken boardroom or in the Halls of Congress, if not more comfortable, which is why, even as Rich shaped national policy conversations and led one of the Nation's biggest unions in the country through some of the most trying times in its history, including a recession and a pandemic, his legacy stretches far beyond his legislative accomplishments and beyond his leadership of the AFL-CIO, and it will stretch onward still as we continue his lifetime work of fighting for our workers. That is how we can honor Rich's legacy. prgtoken Rich may have been a recognizable face on television, especially with his mustache; he may have met with Presidents regularly; he may have changed the history of our Nation for the better; but perhaps the most remarkable thing is, even at his tallest, he never talked down to
SOUTH SUDAN
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2021-8-5

after decades of civil war, famine, and political instability, after millions were killed and millions more became refugees, many hoped that independence and a peace agreement in South Sudan would usher in a period of stability and progress. prgtoken Some South Sudanese refugees who had resettled in the United States returned to South Sudan to aid in rebuilding. Unfortunately, peace was fleeting and the past decade of independence has been marred by continued violent ethnic conflict, widespread hunger, and ongoing disputes between rival politicians that have cared more about their own ambitions than the South Sudanese people. Despite several power sharing agreements, promises of unity and reconciliation, and a goal to seat a full Parliament in 2020, the rivalry between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar has stoked tensions between the Dinka and Nuer ethnic groups and neglected public infrastructure and basic services. On August 2, almost a year past the promised deadline, an incomplete Parliament was sworn into office, with 62 members absent due to disagreements over the power-sharing arrangement. prgtoken The people of South Sudan cannot wait another decade for progress. They cannot wait for politicians to argue over control while their children go hungry, while they sink deeper into poverty, while they worry that the next outbreak of violent conflict might send them fleeing for their lives. Recently, the People's Coalition for Civil Action launched an effort to mobilize all South Sudanese people, whether living within the country or abroad, and demand political change. In a declaration, they said they ``have had enough of war, enough of corruption, enough of insecurity, enough of economic hardships, enough of public neglect and leadership failure.'' They admonished the administration of President Salva Kiir, which has completely failed to fulfill its most basic responsibilities to provide security and stability for its citizens. prgtoken Just days later, the South Sudanese National Security Service--NSS-- arrested two of the leaders of the movement, Augustino Ting Mayai and a former State Governor, Kuel Aguer Kuel, for signing the declaration. The NSS shut down the Sudd Institute, a think tank involved in the creation of the People's Coalition for Civil Action, and issued arrest warrants for Rajab Mohandis and Abraham Awolich, two other signatories of the declaration, who have gone into hiding. This suppression of dissent is not new in South Sudan. Weak and paranoid new leaders often resort to projecting strength by arresting civil society leaders, journalists, and political rivals, and over the years, this has become President Kiir's trademark. This most recent transparent attempt to silence his own citizens for nothing more than demanding that he keep his promises and do his duty has not gone unnoticed by the rest of the world. prgtoken President Kiir may not know that Ab
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Brian Schatz (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2021-8-5

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar No. 143, 144, 145, and 272; that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc without intervening action or debate; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions; and that the Senate resume legislative session.
INVESTING IN A NEW VISION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION IN AMERICA ACT--Continued
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2021-8-5

I rise this afternoon, almost the evening now, to reflect on the sad news that we received today that Rich Trumka, the president of the AFL-CIO, passed away today. prgtoken I wanted to try to provide some perspective, at least from my vantage point as a Pennsylvanian, because he was a son of Pennsylvania, born in Southwestern Pennsylvania, in Greene County. prgtoken Greene County, for those who don't know where it is, is in the furthest southwestern corner of our State, the corner where Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia meet. prgtoken Rich Trumka was a man who fought his whole life in the cause of justice, fighting on behalf of working men and women. Before he became president of the AFL-CIO, obviously a national position, he also, as a very young man--I think he might have been 32 at the time--served as the president of the United Mine Workers of America, that union. And that was during a very difficult time for coal miners and their families. prgtoken And then, in that position and in so many others, he fought for workers everywhere, literally the world over--not just here in America but workers in South Africa and other parts of the world. prgtoken So to sum up what he meant to this country is difficult, but I think it can be said of Rich Trumka that he spent every day of his adult life advancing the cause of justice: the cause of justice for workers; the cause of economic justice, social justice, and racial justice. He dedicated his life in service to American workers and their families. prgtoken I wanted to reflect a little bit about two parts of his life: first of all, his roots and then, secondly, his work and his contributions. prgtoken I mentioned that Rich was a native of Greene County, PA--Southwestern Pennsylvania--a coal county. He was not just a miner himself as a young man, before and actually overlapping, really, getting a degree at Penn State and then eventually getting a law degree at Villanova University, but he prgtoken worked in the coal mines himself. He was a third-generation miner. Both his father and grandfather and uncles--just like any coal-mining community, virtually everyone was working in the mines. prgtoken The town that he was born in and raised in goes by the name of Nemacolin, PA, in Greene County, right on the Greene County-Fayette County border. And it was that kind of community, a coal-mining community, as was most of Greene County in those days. prgtoken I think of this community from the perspective of my own ancestors' background. I come from the other end of the State, all the way up in the northeastern part of the State--Scranton, Lackawanna County, Northeastern Pennsylvania, also a coal community. Lackawanna County, Luzerne County, Carbon County, Susquehanna County, Northumberland County--I may have left one out, but they were the main counties that were producing anthracite coal, hard coal. Where Rich and his family were living was so-called bituminous co
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Elizabeth Warren (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2021-8-5

I am here to honor the memory of my friend and the friend of every working person in America, Rich Trumka. prgtoken We lost Rich this morning, and all I kept thinking is the kind of man we have lost and what that means to all of us. prgtoken Rich was real. He was a third-generation coal miner who rose to become the president of the United Mine Workers and the president of the American Federation of Labor. Rich was also a hunter, and he had the patience of a hunter--the planning, the long hours, sometimes long days, but always on his target. And Rich was a fighter He was relentless. When Rich got in a fight, Rich never gave up. Might not plan every one of those fights, at least not the first time out, but he never gave up. prgtoken From his growl to his laughter, Rich was real all the way through. He lived his heart every single day. He was always Rich. prgtoken Back during the financial crash in 2008, 2009, we were trying to build an idea for a consumer agency to make sure that people wouldn't get cheated next time around the way they had been, and what led up to that crash. Rich was there, and he was there because he had seen firsthand what it is like. He had seen his brothers and sisters in the labor movement, who had lost their homes, had lost their jobs, and seen their pensions disappear because a handful of greedy banks and feckless regulators had permitted the rich and powerful to take over our government and to take over our economy, and they brought that economy to its knees. It fell hard on working people, and Rich was determined that would not happen again. prgtoken I remember the day when President announced that they were ready to lay out the first--first outlines of what the financial response should look like, what kind of laws we should pass here in Congress in order to make sure that this didn't come again. And there were a bunch of folks who were invited to the White House. I was invited. It was my first time there. I am looking around--wow. prgtoken And a bunch of people crowded, and all we cared about was: Hand us the list. I want to see what is on it. Is there a consumer agency on this? prgtoken And we get in our assigned seats, and I am sitting on these tiny, little chairs, jammed together so they can get as many people as possible. And Rich, who was a man of considerable size, is sitting directly behind me, kind of mashed up against the back of my chair and leaning out, and we were on the aisle, both of us, and furiously going through it to see what is there. prgtoken And, sure enough, the White House had said there is going to be a consumer agency, or at least that is what they are going to ask for. prgtoken So I am smiling. I turn and I say: See this? You see this? prgtoken And he said: Yeah. prgtoken And I said: You know, it makes me a little nervous for you to be right behind me here. prgtoken And he leaned over and he whispered in my ear and he said: I will always hav
Order of Business (Executive Session)
Kyrsten Sinema (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2021-8-5

I rise in support of the majority leader's comments, and I want to commend my colleagues for the work we have done together in a bipartisan fashion over the last 4 days, considering and clearing 22 amendments as a body together in the Senate. prgtoken And while we were unable to agree on additional amendments today, I do also look forward to us reconvening together on Saturday and proceeding under regular order to finish what will be a historic piece of legislation both in its bipartisan nature and in the impact it will have on our country. prgtoken .
INVESTING IN A NEW VISION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION IN AMERICA ACT--Continued
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-8-5

we are working on an agreement. As you know, we have been working all day, but we aren't there yet as work continues on the agreement. I am filing cloture on both the substitute and the underlying bill for a Saturday vote. If we come to an agreement yet tonight, which is our preference, we will have additional votes on amendments. I believe we are very close to an agreement and see no reason why we can't complete this important bipartisan bill. I urge both sides to continue working diligently to make it happen. Cloture Motion
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2021-8-5

. No, I never say ``The Ohio State.'' We want to be humble. But I used to be a Navy ROTC midshipman there for a number of years and have great memories of being a part of the student body there and part of the Navy ROTC unit. prgtoken Later, I had the opportunity, as my colleague knows, to join forces in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982--one of the largest freshman classes ever. It seems like yesterday. He went on to come and serve in the Senate, and I went on to serve as Governor. prgtoken One of the things I never thought about as Governor is the job of the Governor to nominate people to serve on the courts. I never thought about that. prgtoken As it turns out, in Delaware, given the positions we have in corporate law and other parts of our economy and business, judicial appointments are over-sized. They are really extremely important. prgtoken And while I hadn't given it a lot of thought, I remember I had, I think, 45 joint appearances with my opponent when I ran for Governor--45 in the year 1992, and not once did anybody ever ask of either of us: What would you look for in nominating judges? prgtoken It turned out to be hugely important. I studied economics and got an MBA, but I don't pretend to be an expert on legal matters. One of the things that I learned--and I felt it was important--was to have a judiciary that was diverse and that looked like Delaware. I think the same is true here for our country for district court judges, appeals courts, and the Supreme Court. prgtoken I wanted to nominate people who were bright and who were smart, and intellectually curious. I wanted to nominate people who were hard working, who brought a diversity of experiences to the bench. And mostly, I wanted to nominate people who were able to make good decisions--even tough decisions--and were fair and treated everybody in their court before them with fairness. prgtoken The reputation of the nominee whom you referred to, I think she checks all those boxes, and I want to thank you for raising her before us here today. Thank you. prgtoken We have our colleague from Louisiana here with us today. He has worked hard, along with 21 of our colleagues, to try to fashion a bipartisan consensus to build on the work of, among others, the Environment and Public Works Committee on infrastructure. prgtoken We worked hard in our committee--Shelley Capito, the lead , and myself, and 18 others--to report and later to vote on legislation on water infrastructure here, drinking water and wastewater sanitation legislation. We voted on it a couple months ago after reporting it unanimously out of committee. And 89 to 2, the same bill came up here-- 89 to 2. And we have used that as one of the building blocks on which the bipartisan infrastructure package is fashioned. prgtoken We also have in the Environment and Public Works Committee the great support and leadership of our ranking member, Senator Capito, and the participatio