mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAINT ELMO VILLAGE
Karen Bass (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-1-29

. Madam , on May 25, 2019, Saint Elmo Village celebrated 50 years as an artist colony that has worked to bring art into the everyday lives of young and old in the heart of Los Angeles. I congratulate all of the past and present residents, teachers, neighbors and supporters. I also commend its community of citizens for using their powers of creativity and artistic expression to create an oasis of beauty in Mid-City. prgtoken Saint Elmo Village was founded in 1969 by painter Rozzell Sykes, once featured in Life magazine, and his artist nephew Roderick Sykes, who hoped to use a small group of bungalows in the 4800 block of St. Elmo Drive to enhance the neighborhood and to further their artistic visions. Their goals: to capitalize on a thriving art scene in Southern California; construct a space to nurture urban and African American artists; and to prove that everyone has creative talents. prgtoken The Village continued to gain prestige, with the Sykes receiving numerous public art commissions and international recognition for their work, specifically in painting and photography. Soon enough, Saint Elmo welcomed resident artists to expand the diversity and types of pieces created at the Village. prgtoken With creativity at its core, Saint Elmo Village consistently emphasizes the inclusive aspects of art-making. Now under the leadership of executive director Jacqueline Sykes, the organization holds workshops and art showings tailored to the idea that all people can be creative. prgtoken Community engagement stands as a cornerstone of the Village's mission. St. Elmo offers a creative space for locals and hosts art classes, festivals, and numerous educational enrichment programs to spread love for art in the Mid-City neighborhood. prgtoken Guided by a singular phrase, ``Do What You Love--Love What You Do'' Saint Elmo Village has spent a half-century enriching Los Angeles. I congratulate Saint Elmo Village on its host of accolades, and I look forward to another half century of memorable milestones.
TEMPORARY REAUTHORIZATION AND STUDY OF THE EMERGENCY SCHEDULING OF FENTANYL ANALOGUES ACT
Frank Pallone, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-1-29

we as a Congress have worked over the past several years to combat the opioid epidemic and support the millions of Americans with a substance use disorder. That work includes bipartisan efforts to pass legislation like the 21st Century Cures Act, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), and the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. prgtoken Just last month, in the Fiscal Year 2020 funding bill, we supported a public health response to this epidemic with over $4 billion to help with Federal substance abuse treatment and prevention efforts. Also last month, the House passed H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which included an additional $10 billion in funding to support public health efforts at the Department of Health and Human Services to combat the opioid epidemic. prgtoken Earlier this month, the Energy and Commerce Committee had a chance to hear directly from States on how our federal support through these legislative actions has helped save lives. Although we've witnessed an improvement in the number of year-to-year overdose deaths, the availability of synthetic opioids like fentanyl is hindering the progress we've made. prgtoken Fentanyl is a deadly synthetic drug that is 50 times more powerful than heroin, and 100 times more powerful than morphine. Although it is used in medical settings, we have seen a proliferation of illicitly produced fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and its precursor chemicals originating from China. Because fentanyl is relatively easy to make and so potent, it is tragically leading to large increases in overdose deaths. prgtoken We have all heard the terrible numbers that tell this story. In 2017, there were over 47,000 opioid overdose deaths--and 28,000 of those deaths involved synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. My home State of New Jersey, for example, has seen a tenfold increase in deaths involving fentanyl in the last several years. prgtoken A more complicating factor is that we are now seeing fentanyl increasingly mixed into other drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, and even counterfeit prescription drugs like oxycodone. This means that many unsuspecting people are dying at the hands of fentanyl when they didn't even realize they were taking it. prgtoken , the nature of our Nation's fentanyl problem is more complex than drug epidemics of the past. In addition to traditional routes, users can purchase fentanyl analogues and fentanyl precursor chemicals online. These purchases, which typically include the most pure and potent fentanyl, are often packaged and shipped through the United States postal system or consignment carriers in small quantities, making detection a significant challenge. All these factors combined make for complex problem, and requires a multifaceted solution. Part of that solution is finding a way to support both public health and public safety actions aimed at stemming the tide of overdose deaths. prgtoken In Febr
TEMPORARY REAUTHORIZATION AND STUDY OF THE EMERGENCY SCHEDULING OF FENTANYL ANALOGUES ACT
Janice D. Schakowsky (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-1-29

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me. prgtoken I rise to agree with my colleagues that we are facing a crisis. The number of overdoses and deaths related to fentanyl has skyrocketed over the last few years; however, the emergency scheduling of fentanyl and its analogues or any other substance as a schedule I drug has serious criminal justice implications. prgtoken We should not forget our history and what happened to communities of color during the failed war on drugs. We can't forget that classifying a substance as a schedule I drug comes with harsh mandatory minimum sentences that even the lowest quantity can trigger. prgtoken We cannot forget that over 60 percent of people federally charged for drug possession and over 95 percent of people charged with drug trafficking receive a prison sentence. We should not forget that over 78 percent of people charged with a fentanyl trafficking offense are people of color. prgtoken We must work together to prioritize a public health solution, not just a criminal justice one, to the fentanyl epidemic. We must remember that a criminal justice approach disproportionately impacts people of color and does not necessarily reduce the crime. prgtoken I look forward to working with my colleagues to address the problems that this bill possibly could create.
TEMPORARY REAUTHORIZATION AND STUDY OF THE EMERGENCY SCHEDULING OF FENTANYL ANALOGUES ACT
Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2020-1-29

every 22 hours, a Delaware family loses a loved one to an overdose. Unfortunately, that figure may increase due to the proliferation of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Fentanyl has made this national public health emergency increasingly deadly and increasingly difficult to address. My home state of Delaware continues to see an unacceptably high loss of life due to the increasing prevalence of synthetic opioids like fentanyl and despite the work Congress has done to address this crisis. With the passage of the bipartisan SUPPORT Act, we took significant steps forward to truly address the opioid epidemic. But it is clear that we must do more. prgtoken We need a comprehensive response to combat the opioid epidemic and the proliferation of fentanyl. I call on my colleagues to provide the funding needed to effectively treat substance use disorder, funding I proudly champion as a supporter of the Respond NOW Act, which would provide $5 billion dollars a year to treatment services. And I hope to work with my colleagues in the near future to advocate for the kind of policies we need to effectively respond to fentanyl and finally bring the relief our communities deserve. prgtoken We cannot arrest our way out of this crisis and this bill gives me serious concern. Sadly, our criminal justice system is not able to solve this problem. Too often the proposed solution has been to take away judicial discretion in favor of mandatory minimums, disproportionately affecting the poor and people of color. Worse, this drive to incarcerate coupled with the lack of effective treatment for substance use disorder behind the walls of our correctional institutions threatens to make a national crisis into a national disaster. While controlling the flow of illicit fentanyl can help mitigate this crisis, it can only do so temporarily. And that is why I support S. 3201 today because while it is far from perfect, we need to try and curb the increase of addiction and death by fentanyl because too often, these tragic deaths disproportionately impact people of color. This bill will only extend the DEA's scheduling order for 15 months and require an important study to give us the information we need to truly solve this calamity. It will give us time to create the long-term solution the country needs.
IMPROVE AND STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY
Brian Higgins (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-1-29

80 years ago this week, Americans began receiving Social Security benefits. Social Security is a highly popular and successful program with a trust fund exceeding $1.9 trillion. prgtoken With rising life expectancy since the program's inception, adjustments need to be made to improve and strengthen Social Security for future generations. prgtoken The Social Security 2100 Act, sponsored by Congressman John Larson of Connecticut, will increase benefits for all current and future beneficiaries; will improve cost-of-living-adjustments to keep up with real inflation; will cut taxes for millions of beneficiaries; and improve and strengthen Social Security through the 21st century and beyond. prgtoken I urge passage of the Social Security 2100 Act.
BE LIKE AMERICA, DON'T BE LIKE SAUDI ARABIA
Ted Lieu (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-1-29

this morning, wrote on Twitter: ``Remember s, the already had 17 witnesses. We were given none. Witnesses are up to the House, not up to the Senate.'' prgtoken Both of his statements are false. In the House, there were multiple -requested witnesses that testified under oath, some of them on national TV, and they were cross-examined by both and committee members. prgtoken In addition, under our Constitution, it is the Senate that runs trials. And Americans understand that in a trial you have witnesses and documents. In fact, a recent poll showed that 75 percent of Americans want the U.S. Senate to call in witnesses, witnesses like John Bolton. prgtoken You know who runs trials without witnesses? Saudi Arabia. prgtoken So my message to the U.S. Senate, controlled by s, is very simple: Be like America. Don't be like Saudi Arabia.
END THE USE OF TOXIC MILITARY BURN PITS
Raul Ruiz (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-1-29

I rise today because children and families in CBP custody continue to be without basic humanitarian standards of care. prgtoken Late last year, Customs and Border Protection put out a directive outlining its ``enhanced medical support efforts,'' with the objective of mitigating risks for people in CPB custody along the southwest border. But their directive for addressing medical needs falls short of even basic humane treatment to prevent the heartbreaking conditions I saw when I visited the southern border: people piled on top of each other in cold, windowless, concrete rooms, crowded with so many bodies you couldn't even see the floor; open toilets in crowded cells; and visibly sick children coughing on one another. prgtoken The conditions I witnessed were inhumane and inconsistent with our American values and our moral conscience, and the CBP directive does nothing to address them. prgtoken The directive does not include, for example, pregnant women, the elderly, or disabled individuals as vulnerable populations who need priority screening. The CBP medical directive does not address humanitarian standards for water, sanitation, hygiene, shelter, or food and nutrition, nor does it even set standards for private, safe, clean, and reliable toilets with proper waste disposal. prgtoken Last year, I wrote the House-passed H.R. 3239, the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in CBP Custody Act. This bill sets basic public health standards for people in CBP's care, such as health screening priorities, nutrition, food standards, water, sanitation, hygiene, and reporting requirements. It makes sure individuals have essentials, such as toothbrushes, diapers, and baby formula. prgtoken Because this bipartisan bill was blocked from consideration in the Senate, these standards of care for children and families are not currently law, and the recent CBP medical directive falls short. It fails to outline proper humanitarian standards of care. prgtoken This is why the Senate must take up and pass the bipartisan bill, the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in CBP Custody Act, to ensure CBP's treatment of children and families is consistent with our American values and the principles of basic human dignity and prevent children from dying under the custody and responsibility of CBP.
IMPEACHMENT TRIAL NEEDS WITNESSES
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2020-1-29

the impeachment of President has forced our Nation into a constitutional crisis. prgtoken On the one hand, have led a good faith effort to discover the truth and hold President and his administration responsible for their destructive and corrupt actions in Ukraine. While on the other hand, s have refused outright to meaningfully engage in the fact-finding process. prgtoken In our House, s have ignored the fact that Russia has invaded Ukraine, a sovereign nation. Ukraine is a scrimmage line for liberty in Europe today, a continent whose liberty we restored and paid a deep price for it. prgtoken Despite overwhelming evidence in the Senate, s have complained they have learned nothing new from the impeachment trial. Yet, they have voted over 10 times to block new evidence and witnesses. prgtoken For instance, it is clear that President 's former National Security Advisor John Bolton's testimony has relevance to the Senate's efforts to find the truth--the truth. Bolton has firsthand knowledge of the administration's duplicitous actions in Ukraine and President 's malintent. Yet, s in the Senate have refused to subpoena Bolton, despite his statement that he is willing to testify. prgtoken Additionally, this week, The New York Times reported that President told his former National Security Advisor John Bolton that he wanted the $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine frozen--a nation at war--until Ukrainian officials agreed to carry out investigations into and the s. prgtoken According to a manuscript written by Bolton, such a claim is relevant and warrants immediate investigation by Congress. Yet, Politico reported today that leadership in the Senate remains opposed to additional witnesses, including Bolton, though dissent is emerging in their ranks. prgtoken , I feel strongly that if the Senate fails to allow additional witnesses relevant to the impeachment trial and subsequently votes to acquit, such inaction will set a dangerous and perhaps even irreversible precedent, one that allows the executive branch to ignore congressional oversight with impunity. prgtoken Today, President has refused to comply with any congressional subpoenas obstructing justice, even going a step further as to block any and intimidate executive branch officials from cooperating with the House investigation. prgtoken An executive branch unaccountable to Congress, the branch of government most connected with the American people, is a dangerous prospect. We cannot allow this to become the new norm. prgtoken Ours is a nation of laws, not men or women. Laws protect us. The balance of power between our three branches of government at the local, State, and Federal levels is the only protection we have from ourselves. prgtoken Our Founders wrote into our Constitution the means to hold a lawless President accountable and remove
RECOGNIZING LEXI RODRIGUEZ FOR BEING NAMED THE 2019-2020 GATORADE ILLINOIS VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Cheri Bustos (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-1-29

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Lexi Rodriguez, a junior from Sterling High School, who was named the 2019-2020 Gatorade Illinois Volleyball Player of the Year. prgtoken Lexi led the Golden Warriors to a 36-6 record and a second win at Class 3A State Championships this year. Showing her dedication to sports, she also took part of this season to help Team USA win a gold medal at the FIVB Girls U18 World Championships in Egypt. In addition, she is a three-year class president and a youth volleyball coach. As a former athlete, I commend her for her determination and attitude. Lexi is an example of the importance of dedication and a strong work ethic. I am proud to see her represent Sterling so well throughout the state and the country with her talent and passion. prgtoken It is because of student leaders such as Lexi that I am especially proud to serve Illinois' 17th Congressional District. Madam prgtoken , I would like to again formally congratulate Lexi Rodriguez on being named the 2019-2020 Gatorade Illinois Volleyball Player of the Year.
STUDENT BORROWER CREDIT IMPROVEMENT ACT
Ayanna Pressley (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2020-1-29

. Mr. Chair, my bill, the Comprehensive CREDIT Act, will greatly improve a fundamentally flawed credit reporting system, providing much-needed relief for families across the country. prgtoken It works to protect consumers from unfair and misleading credit reporting practices, affirming the rights of all Americans to an equitable and transparent credit reporting process. My bill takes the burden off consumers while holding credit reporting agencies accountable and restoring fairness to the system. prgtoken from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) for offering this amendment. CRAs are all too quick to add penalties and negative marks to credit reports, but the same urgency never seems to be applied to improving those reports. prgtoken Once borrowers take the steps prescribed in this bill to improve their credit reports, they deserve to have the reports updated to reflect that in a reasonable timeframe. prgtoken Credit scores are meant to be predictive, and the best predictor of future behavior is their most recent behavior. Our bill takes the burden off of consumers while holding debt reporting agencies accountable and restoring fairness to the system. This amendment would further strengthen our bill by ensuring that these changes happen in a timely manner. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I am proud to support this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
KOBE BRYANT
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-1-29

. Madam , I rise today heartbroken upon hearing of the sudden passing of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and occupants Christina Mauser, Keri Altobelli, John Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Payton Chester, Sarah Chester, and Ara Zobayan. prgtoken Kobe was an inspirational leader, advocate, athlete and father. He inspired people from across the world to strive for greatness, to be the best, and to invoke what he called, the Mamba Mentality. prgtoken Kobe not only inspired the people of California but the entire world. From his incredibly difficult jump shots, to his selfless charitable efforts, Kobe always worked hard to stand up for what he believed in and to be a great father to four beautiful girls whom he loved. prgtoken This unimaginable tragedy has rocked this world and left many hurt. Kobe Bryant finished his NBA career among the best to have ever played the game. prgtoken His legacy will live on forever and we must come together to support the entire Bryant family and all the families affected through this tragedy.
PRAISING DONARI JOY MOSBY
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-1-29

I rise today to celebrate the kindness and generosity of a rising star in my district, Donari Joy Mosby. Ms. Mosby is a senior at County Prep High School in Jersey City, New Jersey. prgtoken , 7 years ago, she made it her goal to select socks to help the homeless residents stay warm during the winter. She started with a modest goal of 250 pairs of socks. When she exceeded that, she raised the number every single year. prgtoken This year, she donated more than 5,700 pairs of socks to a local community center on Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in Jersey City. prgtoken In 7 years, Ms. Mosby has donated 21,883 pairs of socks to help the homeless of my district. She called her campaign the Joy of Sox and wrote that socks are a simple and powerful way to show love to someone going through difficult times. prgtoken I agree, and I think her efforts and commitment to charity deserve to be praised.
HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF LINDA COZZEN
Marc A. Veasey (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-1-29

. Madam , today I rise to commemorate and dedicate this time to one of our local activists in Tarrant County, Linda Cozzen, who was a great friend of mine. prgtoken Linda was born in Canada and became a U.S. citizen at the age of 8 when her grandparents immigrated to the United States. prgtoken Linda and her brother were orphans, and their entry into the country in Texas would not have been possible were it not for the great work of the President and Senator from Texas, Lyndon Johnson, who was one of her heroes. President Johnson had a huge impact on Linda's life, which is one of the reasons why she was so active in politics in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. prgtoken Over the years, she served on a lot of different committees: The 820 Corridor ic Club, the Southwest ic Club, Tarrant County ic Party, Tarrant County ic Club, League of Women Voters. She was a precinct chair, and so many others for over 20 years. prgtoken She also served as campaign manager for numerous candidates in local and State elections. And she was a proud alumna of Texas Christian University also in Fort Worth, TCU. prgtoken Ms. Cozzen's story highlights the importance of incorporating immigrants into our democracy and providing them with an opportunity to participate in our political system. prgtoken Linda was a great friend, and someone who always just had encouraging words for me and so many others. She was at literally every single ic event in Tarrant County. prgtoken It has really been a sad week when everybody found out about her untimely passing, and our blessings go out to her family and all of her friends who will miss her.