mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-7-21

today, I voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. While this legislation includes several provisions that I strongly support--including prohibiting the use of funds to support the Saudi-led coalition for strikes in Yemen and limiting the President's ability to divert funds to build his wasteful border wall--it ultimately fails to rein in our nation's out of control defense spending. prgtoken Amid a global pandemic, and at a time when our nation's poverty rate is at least 25 percent, it is unconscionable that Congress is authorizing a record-breaking Pentagon budget of $740.5 billion--over half of our discretionary budget. Multiple independent analyses have concluded that our nation's collective security would not suffer by cutting obsolete cold war weapon systems, rejecting new nuclear weapons, and ending our military's reliance on expensive private contractors. Congress must confront this reality and take meaningful action to ensure that the basic needs of American families are prioritized over wasteful military spending. That's why I'm deeply disappointed that an amendment I supported to reduce the Pentagon's budget by ten percent--while exempting military personnel and the Defense Health Program from any reduction--was defeated on the House floor. prgtoken While I oppose the wasteful spending included in this legislation, I am pleased that it authorizes a three percent military pay raise and contains provisions to protect the health of military families by cleaning so-called PFAS forever chemicals and investing in military housing infrastructure improvements. The bill also takes important steps to improve the tracking of military child abuse cases, improve sexual assault prevention and response, and require that the DoD procure body armor that properly fits female service members. I am also pleased that the bill takes meaningful action to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay--an issue I have long championed--by eliminating arbitrary restrictions on the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay that hindered the Administration's ability to close the facility. prgtoken Although I am glad these important provisions were included, I could not and cannot support a bill that ensures our nation will provide $550 billion more in discretionary funding for military spending than for healthcare, education, workforce development, and anti-poverty programs combined.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2020-7-21

today, along with Senator Murkowski, we are introducing legislation to provide relief to all Federal student loan borrowers during this public health and economic crisis. The bipartisan Student Loan Fairness Act, which is also cosponsored by Senators Murkowski, Jones, and Tillis, will correct an inequity in the CARES Act that left out millions of Federal student loan borrowers from benefits to ease the burden of repayment as we continue to fight COVID-19. prgtoken The CARES Act benefits are restricted to borrowers of student loans that are held by the Federal government. This leaves out the borrowers whose Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) are still held by commercial and State agency lenders, and those with Perkins Loans that are administered by institutions of higher education. In fact, nearly 6 million borrowers were left out under the FFEL Program and another 1.9 million under the Perkins Loan Program. This disparate treatment by loan type is as confusing as it is unfair. prgtoken In April, a broad group of more than two dozen organizations representing educators, borrower advocates, veterans, lenders, guaranty agencies, and student loan servicers implored Congress to remedy this inequity. They wrote, ``A Federal loan borrower--regardless of the origination of that loan, be it Part B, D, E, commercial, or government-held--should receive equal, immediate, and critical support in this unprecedented time . . . Already, borrowers are confused as to why their Federal loans are treated differently than others.'' prgtoken The Student Loan Fairness Act will extend the CARES Act relief to these borrowers by covering the cost of interest and suspending monthly payments for the period of March 13 through September 30, 2020, and suspending all involuntary collection, such as administrative wage garnishment or offsets from tax refunds, for this period. prgtoken This legislation is one component of what should be a comprehensive package of student loan debt relief. As the crisis continues, we should extend the repayment relief until health and economic conditions improve sufficiently for borrowers to be able to begin repayment. Additionally, we should forgive at least $10,000 of debt for each student loan borrower to help speed the recovery and reduce the drag of the roughly $1.6 trillion in outstanding student loan debt on economic prospects for over 40 million Americans. Going forward, we must reduce the need for student loan borrowing by expanding need-based grants, such as the Pell Grant, and ensuring that states and institutions do their part to lower the cost to students and families. prgtoken We should work together to build on the important steps Congress took to provide relief to student loan borrowers in the CARES Act. However, we need to ensure that all Federal student loan borrowers have access to this relief. I hope that my colleagues will join us in cosponsoring the Student Loan Fairnes
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DECLARED WAR ON PORTLAND, OREGON
Earl Blumenauer (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-7-21

I come to the floor today with a heavy heart. I see 's administration declaring war on my hometown of Portland, Oregon. prgtoken After failing the American people in the coronavirus, in the face of 6 months of not just weak leadership, but virtually no leadership at all, there are tens of thousands of people dying unnecessarily. prgtoken It is hard to focus on the unprecedented assault on our environmental protections that they have unleashed, but now they are declaring war on America's cities, sending in an occupying force drawn from Homeland Security, particularly the Customs and Border Protection patrol, ostensibly to protect monuments and statues. prgtoken What about protecting the American people and their constitutional right to protest? prgtoken Don't attack our people with tear gas without warning, seriously injuring people exercising their right to protest, things that people can see on video with their own eyes; watching the gentleman hit with a projectile, requiring serious surgery, inflicting facial injuries; a person just asking what was going on having officers assault him, breaking his hand. prgtoken They can't be that inept. It must be purposeful, taking a very challenging situation in my hometown and making it worse. prgtoken But make no mistake. This isn't just about Portland, Oregon. prgtoken We watched what they did in Lafayette Park across from the White House, again assaulting innocent protestors in prgtoken order to have a photo op for the President of the United States. prgtoken There are indications that they are moving to Chicago, Atlanta, Kansas City, Seattle. Who is going to be next? prgtoken Talking about the challenges that have been taken in Philadelphia with a reforming district attorney, Larry Krasner, and somehow holding him up as an example of breakdown in law and order and an assault on the American public. It is just crazy. prgtoken Portland, Oregon is not out of control. To be sure, there are some people who have strong feelings, and there are some who have done things that are inappropriate and unlawful. But that is the challenge of our local and State officials to manage it; not having somebody unwelcome, uninvited, and unprepared coming in to take this difficult situation and make it worse. prgtoken I deeply appreciate the congressional leadership, chairmen of the Armed Services Committee, Adam Smith, the Judiciary Committee, Jerry Nadler, Bennie Thompson, Homeland Security, who have decried this activity. prgtoken It is important that we deal with 's weaponizing law enforcement for his own agenda, not driven by people's needs, but by his poll numbers, and becoming an occupying force in our community and, sadly, I fear, elsewhere. prgtoken We need to move forward dealing with what they are doing. We want to pursue legislative initiatives, spending limitations, oversight hearings. This needs to be front and center. At a time when we have so much to deal with, p
HONORING JOE GUNTER
Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-7-21

. Madam , I rise today in mourning to celebrate the life of the late Mayor of Salinas, California, Joseph David Gunter, for a lifetime of public service to both his community and our country. Mayor Gunter, a longtime resident and public servant of Salinas, passed away on June 29, 2020. It is with deep sadness that I stand here on the House floor today to honor Mayor Gunter's life and contributions. prgtoken Born into a military family in Maryland, Joe and his family eventually moved to Fort Ord, a former Army base on the central coast of California. After graduating from a local High School, Joe joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served honorably for four years during the Vietnam War. Joe's military service shaped his life and led to a lifelong career guided by a sense of duty and service to his community. Soon after returning home, Joe joined the Salinas Police Department, serving six years as a patrol officer and another twenty-six as a detective. Joe's strong leadership skills and commitment to public service led him to become Mayor of Salinas, a position in which he served for eight years. prgtoken During his time as Mayor, Joe spearheaded many projects in Salinas and throughout Monterey County. Some of these projects include development of the new Salinas Police Department and Youth Alisal Sports Fields, construction of housing for homeless and low-income residents, leading the Veteran's Day Parade, and playing a critical role in advancement of the California Central Coast Veteran's Cemetery at Fort Ord. The initiatives that Joe led will undoubtably have a lasting impact on individual residents and the broader community for generations to come. prgtoken Joe's community service expanded far beyond his mayoral duties. He also found time to serve as the Director of Security for the Salinas Rodeo and California International Airshow, served as President and volunteer at the Salinas Women's Crisis Center, and was President and a coach of the Bobby Sox Softball League. Joe's extensive service to the community and country for more than fifty years is an inspiration to us all, and I am both proud and honored to have had the opportunity to serve alongside him. prgtoken Madam , I ask that you join me in celebrating the life of the late Mayor Joe Gunter and offering our sincere condolences to his wife, children, and grandchildren as they, alongside the community, mourn the loss of a truly special man.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-7-22

I will be brief. prgtoken Let me just tell the Senator from Massachusetts that I agree with everything he has said. It shows how people of, maybe, different political ideologies--certainly different parties--can come together and recognize that there is a moment available to us here in which we can demonstrate our nonpartisan support for this act of racial reconciliation in our country. prgtoken I agree that slavery was the original sin. Our founding documents said that all men and women were created equal, but that certainly wasn't the practice when it came to African Americans at the time who were officially designated as something less than fully human. It was an outrageous act at the time, and our country has paid a dear price for that over the years--from the Civil War to the violence that led up to the peaceful civil rights movement in the sixties. It is obvious from the recent events--George Floyd's death in particular--that we are not where we need to be. We still have room to grow as part of our developing that more perfect Union. prgtoken I know our friend and colleague Tim Scott, who has been at the forefront of this discussion with his advocacy for the Justice Act, has a lot of bipartisan ideas for police reform. He points out that, as an African American, his experience has been much different from prgtoken those who are non-African Americans. He said, over the last two decades, he has been stopped--as he puts it, ``driving while Black''-- about 18 different times. prgtoken At a roundtable that was sponsored by Mayor Sylvester Turner and that I had requested, I sat next to a pastor of a church in Houston who happened to be the local head of the NAACP. prgtoken He said: I honor the police. I respect the police. I support the police. Yet he said: My son is afraid of the police, and we have to do everything we can to cure that trust deficit. prgtoken In Texas, we have recognized Juneteenth as a State holiday for 40 years, obviously, because of the fact that this occurred as a result of the Emancipation Proclamation's being announced in Galveston, TX. Yet I recently cosponsored a bill with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee to study a trail, basically, from Galveston to Houston as the possible designation of a national park in further recognition of this event. prgtoken I believe strongly that we need to remember our history because if we don't remember our history, in the words of one sage, ``we will be condemned to relive it.'' We have come so far, but we know we still have further to go. I do believe that the appropriate word to use is ``reconciliation.'' This is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our concern and our commitment to equal justice and equal treatment under the law by recognizing Juneteenth as a Federal holiday.
HONORING CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS
Tom Reed (Republican, NY) \u2014 2020-7-22

. Madam , I rise today to join with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to express my condolences and express the spirit that John Lewis represented to all of us. prgtoken John Lewis was a humble man. I knew John serving on the Ways and Means Committee with him. prgtoken I traveled with my colleague, Mrs. Bustos, from Illinois down to Selma, Alabama, on that 50th anniversary day. And I will tell you, one of the moments that inspired me the most in my tenure here in Congress was not just that day, when we walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge arm in arm in celebration of his victory over hatred, but it was the following day, when we sat at the doors of the Montgomery, Alabama, State Capitol, and I saw the daughter of Governor Wallace express to John an apology for the sins of yesterday. And John, in typical John Lewis fashion, stood up and embraced her when she said: ``I'm sorry.'' prgtoken John Lewis epitomizes the best of the human race. John Lewis was an inspiration to all of us. prgtoken My predecessor, my mentor, Amo Houghton, who served in my seat for 18 years, expressed to me early on in my tenure: ``Get to know John Lewis. Get to know and listen to his story.'' And I will tell you, that is some of the best advice I received from his friend, Amo Houghton. prgtoken And so I come here tonight to express my grief, but most importantly, my hope that the spirit of John Lewis does not die with us tonight. The spirit of John Lewis, who is now resting with the glory of God, will shine down upon us and improve this institution, improve each of our souls, and inspire us, the way that he did, as that proud, quiet, humble giant of a human being that inspired me and will continue to inspire me to search for our better angels each and every day. prgtoken So to my colleagues on the other side, I join you in your grief, but we are united in our love for the great John Lewis.
MEMORIALIZING THE HONORABLE JOHN LEWIS
Michael R. Turner (Republican, OH) \u2014 2020-7-22

John Lewis has a true legacy of leadership in this House, and he changed the world that we live in. prgtoken When Congressman Lewis would take the podium, everyone in this House would fall silent and listen to him. I doubt in his long career in this House that the ever had to hammer the House into order to listen to John Lewis speak. prgtoken A man who fought for the Voting Rights Act, John Lewis' legacy demands that Congress act. I call on Congress to pass and send to the President's desk for signature the bipartisan H.R. 1799 renewing the Voting Rights Act. prgtoken Congressman Lewis was a giant in history, but he was a humble man in this House. He treated every Member the same and with dignity. He will be missed.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Richard Hudson (Republican, NC) \u2014 2020-7-22

. Madam , I was unknowingly exposed to someone who later tested positive for Coronavirus. Out of an abundance of caution and for the health and well-being of my colleagues, I am in self- quarantine until Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. As such, I had to miss this vote series. prgtoken Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 139; NAY on Roll Call No. 140; NAY on Roll Call No. 141; NAY on Roll Call No. 142; YEA on Roll Call No. 143; NAY on Roll Call No. 144; NAY on Roll Call No. 145; NAY on Roll Call No. 146; NAY on Roll Call No. 147; NAY on Roll Call No. 148; NAY on Roll CAll No. 149; NAY on Roll Call No. 150; YEA on Roll Call No. 151; and YEA on Roll Call No. 152
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Ron Johnson (Republican, WI) \u2014 2020-7-22

in reserving the right to object, let me start out by saying that I agree with virtually everything my colleagues from both Massachusetts and Texas have said about celebrating the emancipation of the slaves. That was an important moment in U.S. history. It should be observed, and it should be celebrated. I have no disagreement whatsoever with that at all. The one area of disagreement is how the bill's sponsors have chosen to celebrate that holiday. prgtoken As the Senator from Massachusetts pointed out, since 1865, it has been observed with celebrations and cookouts, which is the appropriate way of doing this. I object to the fact that, by naming it a national holiday--and what they are leaving out of their argument and its main impact--it will give Federal workers a paid day off that the rest of America will have to pay for. prgtoken When I asked for a CBO score, the sponsors of the bill had not even obtained a score, and I still don't think they have obtained a score. The estimate, in terms of what it will cost American taxpayers in the private sector to pay for a paid holiday for Federal workers, is about $600 million per year. The CBO score would come in at $6 billion over 10. prgtoken In terms of why I object, let me just put a couple of facts to that $600 million bill that hard-working taxpayers would have to foot in an era when we are $26.5 trillion in debt and when 17 million of our fellow Americans are currently unemployed. prgtoken The first chart here--let's just talk about how many days off Federal workers get currently. prgtoken I have two columns--minimum and maximum. For paid holidays, they get 10, which is pretty generous. Most people in the private sector get something similar--7, 8, 9, or 10. For paid leave days, there is a minimum of 13, up to 26; for paid sick days, 13, minimum and maximum. prgtoken What we just added in last year's NDAA was paid parental leave, which allows an individual--either mother or father, with either a natural childbirth or an adoption--60 days of paid leave. prgtoken So for a total, at a minimum, there are 96 days, up to 109 days if they take paid parental leave. prgtoken Looked at a different way, as a ratio, if they take the maximum number of 109 days, that is, basically, for every 1.4 days you work, you get a day off. On a minimum basis with paid parental leave, for every 1.7 days you work, you get a day off. prgtoken Now, again, I realize the paid parental leave is a ``just a few times in somebody's career'' phenomenon, so let's take a look at this without paid parental leave, and it will show that the number of days with pay that Federal workers get off is still quite generous. prgtoken Again, paid holidays, they get 10; paid leave, 13, up to 26; paid sick leave, 13, for a total of 36 to 49. prgtoken So, again, going back to that ratio, the maximum number of days without paid parental leave, a Federal worker can work 4.3 days and then get a day off-
REMEMBERING LORNE CRANER
Lindsey Graham (Republican, SC) \u2014 2020-7-22

I would like to pay tribute to someone many of my colleagues knew and admired, Lorne Craner, who passed away on July 2 at the too young age of 61, a victim of cancer. prgtoken Lorne dedicated his professional life to advancing freedom and justice in the world. He served that cause faithfully as the longest tenured president of the International Institute, IRI, as the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor in the administration, as Director of Asian Affairs on President George H.W. 's National Security Council, and as an advisor to Members of Congress, including his service as foreign affairs aide to a newly elected Senator from Arizona, our late colleague, John McCain. He continued to advance American values abroad as president of the American Councils for International Education, as a board member of several distinguished organizations, including the Millennium Challenge Corporation. prgtoken I got to know Lorne when Senator McCain, who was IRI's chairman, asked me to serve on its board. I saw the Institute thrive in size and reach under Lorne's leadership, becoming one of the world's most effective agencies for democratic development, respected by human rights advocates around the world and in both U.S. political parties. prgtoken Like John, Lorne was a tireless defender of the dignity of all human beings, the bedrock value that democracies are instituted to respect. Like John, Lorne fought the bad guys to defend the little guys. Toward that end, he usually exercised a little more skill at diplomacy than John sometimes possessed, but they shared an equal devotion to mankind's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Secretary of State Colin Powell awarded Lorne the Distinguished Service Medal, the State Department's highest decoration. prgtoken Lorne and John shared, too, a dedication to the peaceful conduct of international relations. Both knew that our interests and values sometimes had to be defended by force of arms, but they were both so personally familiar with the costs of war that they worked hard to resolve international conflicts peacefully where possible and to make new friends of former enemies. prgtoken Lorne went to work for John in his last term as a Member of the House and his first term in the Senate, but their relationship began earlier than that. Lorne's father, Air Force Colonel Bob Craner, resided for more than 2 years in the cell next to John's in a Hanoi prison the POWs called, ``the Plantation.'' John described Colonel Craner to me as one of the finest officers he had ever served with and ``probably the person I was closest too in my life that I wasn't related to.'' John was held in solitary confinement at the time, the hardest period of his imprisonment, and he credited Bob Craner, whom he constantly communicated with by tap code, ``with keeping me sane.'' prgtoken Despite the mistreatment of the P