mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
IN RECOGNITION OF WILLIAM ``BILL'' RYAN
William R. Keating (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-12-10

. Madam , I rise today in recognition of the life of the William ``Bill'' Ryan, a veteran and public servant of thirty- six years. prgtoken Born in Brighton, Massachusetts in 1938, Bill graduated from Brighton High School and Quincy College. After graduating, Bill began his long career with the United States Postal Service in 1956. During this time, he served as both letter carrier and as an Army National Guard Reservist working as a heavy equipment operator. Continuing his career with the U.S. Postal Service, he would eventually be named U.S. Post Master in 1981. Bill served multiple communities in his role as Post Master including; Bedford, Waltham and Abington, where he would retire in 1992. prgtoken Bill was a dedicated family man and a devout follower of the Catholic faith. After his retirement, Bill most enjoyed spending time with his family and rooting for his beloved Boston Red Sox. prgtoken Surrounded by family, Bill passed away on November 30, 2019, at the age of eighty-one. His dedication to serving both his country and his community will long be remembered by his growing family and all those who had the great privilege of knowing Bill. In addition to his wife Mary Sue, Bill is survived by his six children Billy, John, Patrick, James, Mary Sue, and Peggy, his twelve grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. prgtoken Madam , I am proud to honor the life of the William ``Bill'' Ryan. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing his commitment to his local community and the people of Massachusetts.
CELEBRATING HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-12-10

I rise today to celebrate Human Rights Day. prgtoken More than 70 years ago today, the United Nations established the fundamental human rights to be protected for every person in every nation, such as the right to liberty, freedom from slavery, and freedom of opinion. prgtoken But there were rights added in 1976 that bear repeating here today: the right to work in just and under favorable conditions, the right to an adequate standard of living, and the right to an education. prgtoken In the last few decades, we have failed to live up to these rights. We have allowed unions to lose their power and protect worker conditions. We have failed to increase the Federal minimum wage. We have failed to provide funding for higher education. prgtoken We need to get these rights back for all Americans. We can regain the high ground in our struggle for human rights.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 729, TRIBAL COASTAL RESILIENCY ACT
Joseph D. Morelle (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-12-10

on Monday, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 748, providing for consideration of H.R. 729, the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act, under a structured rule. prgtoken This rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Natural Resources. prgtoken The rule makes in order 29 amendments and provides en bloc authority. prgtoken Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit. prgtoken , the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act brings together ten meaningful and bipartisan bills that have comprehensive and necessary benefits for the American people, and I am proud to add my voice in support of this much needed legislation. prgtoken Increased climate instability is an undeniable reality. All around us, we see spikes in severe weather patterns, rising sea levels, and destroyed ecosystems. prgtoken As natural disasters increase in frequency and devastation, our communities pay the price through destroyed infrastructure, economic instability, and even loss of life. prgtoken Coastal communities in particular are experiencing intense climate impacts, including severe weather events, sea level rise, chronic flooding, coastal erosion, and changing oceanic conditions. prgtoken Coastal communities and economies need to adapt for climate change. prgtoken My own district knows all too well the devastation that flood waters can cause, as many of my neighbors are still rebuilding from the severe flooding that we experienced in 2017 and again just this past spring. prgtoken Within 100 miles of shoreline that fronts directly on Lake Ontario or nearby bays, rivers, and streams, my district is directly impacted by lake fluctuations, and we are experiencing unprecedented flood waters that erode beaches, devastate family homes, and cripple lakeside businesses. prgtoken As a Member of this Congress, I know I am not alone in worrying about whether my constituents are adequately prepared for the next natural disaster, which is not a matter of if, but when. prgtoken So many of us in this body, in fact most of us, have communities that are struggling to deal with climate impacts. Whether it is wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, droughts, red tide in our oceans, harmful blue- green algae in our lakes, the list seems to never end, but one thing is clear: the situation is not going to get better on its own. We need to act now. prgtoken H.R. 729 is an opportunity to help our constituents prepare and adapt to our climate crisis. This coastal resiliency legislative package not only tells the American people that we care about preserving coastal communities and natural habitat, but proves we are willing to take the necessary actions to protect coastal ecosystems and local economies. prgtoken The bill also sets in place mechanisms to improve ocean monitoring and research and provides necessary tools and resources for coastal communitie
TRIBAL COASTAL RESILIENCY ACT
Ed Case (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2019-12-10

. Madam Chair, the balance of my time. prgtoken Madam Chair, first of all, I thank the members of my majority who rose in favor of this bill as well as the few members of the minority who did as well. prgtoken And I again thank the 24 s who supported a portion of this bill that is at least a start on the challenge of our time: climate change and the impacts on our oceans, on our coastlines, and on our lakes. prgtoken The ranking member complains on several fronts. The first front he complains on is that this is just an illusion, that this is just moving the ball nowhere at all. prgtoken I completely reject that. I completely reject the notion that strengthening our Federal programs that are directly related to resiliency of our coastlines, that are directly related to good science applied to our oceans and lakes, that are directly related to finding good, solid public-private partnerships to address the incredible negative impacts of climate change and other causes on our oceans and coastlines is not moving the ball forward. prgtoken In fact, I would suggest that the illusion we are talking about is the illusion that the ranking member cares at all about these issues because, if you look at the record of addressing these issues under the majority, that record is zero. They have not moved any balls forward whatsoever. prgtoken And further, pardon me for distrusting the current administration, because the ranking member complains that NOAA and other Federal agencies are already exercising flexibility on many of these programs-- fine. Administrative flexibility is one thing, and all power to good people and NOAA who are trying to do the right thing, but that is different from a congressional mandate to do something. prgtoken The reason for the concern is staring us in the face. Every year of this administration, there have been proposed disastrous budget cuts to NOAA and other ocean-related programs. For the current fiscal year, 2020, a cut of 18 percent was restored by the House majority: cuts to eliminate or severely decrease funding to our critical ocean prgtoken and coastal programs, Sea Grant, coastal zone management, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, hydrographic surveys and ocean observing, climate change research, programs that manage coral reefs and marine mammals and sea turtles, and many more. prgtoken So pardon me if we are distrustful of this administration or of future administrations on severely restricting the flexibility that these programs have to administer critical needs for not only our country, but our world. prgtoken Pardon me, but it is a congressional mandate in these areas that is really necessary. prgtoken The ranking member and his colleagues complain that we are not advancing climate change by a step. If they want to advance climate change with us, then join us in a major climate change initiative; join us in returning to the Paris climate accord; j
FOSTERING UNDERGRADUATE TALENT BY UNLOCKING RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION ACT
Joaquin Castro (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-12-10

I rise today in support of H.R. 5363, the FUTURE Act. prgtoken I thank all the Members of Congress, the Members of the Senate, the educational institutions, and the advocates who helped shepherd this legislation. prgtoken Under the FUTURE Act, MSIs will permanently receive the $255 million they need for the next 10 years. Without this funding, schools would miss out on funding for STEM programs, academic counseling, and financial support for students in need. prgtoken This funding can be the difference between millions of students being able to afford college or attend college at all. This funding provides many students of color with the only opportunity they have ever had to enter fields where they are so often sorely underrepresented. prgtoken We must support these critical efforts by MSIs to help students complete their college degrees and diversify STEM careers. prgtoken Today, many students continue to leave STEM fields while in college, especially minority students. About 37 percent of Latino STEM students and 40 percent of Black STEM students will switch majors during college, compared to 29 percent of White STEM students. About 20 percent of Latino students and 26 percent of Black students will drop out before completing their STEM degrees. prgtoken By providing schools with a means to support their students, we can prevent these trends from continuing and help diversify all fields of study. It will help dismantle the lingering discrimination found in some career fields that these folks want to pursue. prgtoken When we diversify, we develop different perspectives, gather better talent, and become more competitive globally, and I urge my colleagues to support this piece of legislation.
Nomination of Lawrence VanDyke (Executive Session)
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2019-12-10

I rise today because of my firm opposition to Lawrence VanDyke's nomination to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over my home State of Nevada. Mr. VanDyke lacks the support of both his home State Senators, Jacky Rosen and I. His qualifications are inadequate and his ties to Nevada are minimal. prgtoken His nomination sets a dangerous precedent for the Senate and would allow future administrations to nominate virtual outsiders to communities across the country over Senators' objections. prgtoken The President could have chosen a better nominee. Senator Rosen and I tried to work with the administration to identify well-respected attorneys from Nevada as potential appeals court judges. Instead, the President decided to nominate someone with no current ties to our State, someone whom the American Bar Association has rated as ``not qualified'' for the Federal bench, someone who holds extreme beliefs about reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, gun violence prevention, and environmental protection. prgtoken The American Bar Association interviewed 60 of Mr. VanDyke's former colleagues, and those colleagues characterized him as arrogant, lazy, an ideologue, and lacking in knowledge of the day-to-day practice, including procedural rules. prgtoken Mr. VanDyke's nomination is unprecedented for all of these reasons. If confirmed to the Ninth Circuit, Lawrence VanDyke would be the first judicial nominee appointed to the bench without the support of his home State Senators, with a ``not qualified'' rating from the American Bar Association, and without ties to the community whose appeals court seat he would occupy. prgtoken I would like to ask my colleagues: What kind of message are we sending when we confirm individuals who don't have the support of their local communities? prgtoken We need judges with the knowledge, the maturity, and experience to understand the impact their decisions will have on the States over which they preside. How will my colleagues feel when a future administration attempts to do the same thing to their State, when a ic President, perhaps, nominates a Californian to sit on a district court in Kentucky or a lifelong DC resident is sent to a court in Texas? prgtoken Mr. VanDyke's qualifications and connections to Nevada are just one part of my objection to his confirmation. I also believe Mr. VanDyke's views are just too extreme to promote to the Federal bench. He signed the State of Montana on to a brief in an Arizona case that argued that Roe v. Wade ``should . . . be revisited.'' prgtoken On LGBTQ protections, Mr. VanDyke at his confirmation hearings broke down in tears of frustration at the very idea that he might be unfair to LGBTQ litigants. He insisted that he believes in treating ``all people . . . with dignity and respect,'' but he didn't treat LGBTQ people with dignity and respect when he wrote in a 2004 article that same-sex marriage hurts famil
Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act (Executive Session)
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-12-10

what we just heard from the majority is, in fact, a false narrative that contends that we have to choose between broadband deployment and net neutrality, and if we don't put net neutrality back on the books, there will be internet fast and slow lanes. That is what is about to happen if we don't act out here on the Senate floor. Innovation will be stifled, consumers will have to pay higher prices, the internet will not be as we have known it in the past. prgtoken So I absolutely feel that what just happened is a disservice to consumers and innovators in our country; that they should be allowed to have net neutrality as their protection, and I think, again, that we are on the right side of history in propounding this legislation to be brought out here, and, ultimately, today history was not served well. prgtoken .
USMCA (Executive Session)
Rick Scott (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-12-10

I rise to speak today about the things Congress is failing to accomplish while in the House continue their obsession with impeaching this President to overturn the results of the 2016 election. Let's be clear. That is what is happening here. lost the election in 2016 and realized they are going to lose again in 2020. They are trying to use the impeachment process to hurt the President. prgtoken That is shameful enough, but let's think about what Congress is not doing. Congress is not passing a budget. Congress is not funding our military. Congress is not securing our border. Congress is not lowering the cost of prescription drugs. Congress is not doing the things the American people sent us to Washington to do. prgtoken I won't accept that. I have a background in business, and in the real world, if you don't do your job, you don't get paid. It is that simple. If Congress can't accomplish even the most basic tasks--passing a budget and appropriations bills in an orderly fashion--lawmakers shouldn't get a paycheck, period. prgtoken The current system is broken. No one takes responsibility, and there are no consequences. That should change. That is why we need to pass my No Budget, No Pay proposal now. Withholding paychecks from Members of Congress who fail to pass the budget will help prevent government shutdowns, which hurt the economy and millions of everyday Americans. It is also an important step to promote fiscal responsibility in the face of our staggering national debt, which stands at over $23 trillion. prgtoken No Budget, No Pay is moving through Congress with bipartisan support. It was approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in June, and it is included as part of the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act. We need to pass No Budget, No Pay now to show we are serious about the future of this Nation. prgtoken Members of Congress make $174,000 a year. All we are asking them to do is the most basic function of government--pass the budget. It is not complicated. If you are a Member of Congress, rich or poor, and you don't believe Congress can or should pass a budget every year, then go home. There are lots of other competent people who can have your job. When the American people don't do their job, there are consequences. prgtoken It is time we make Washington just a little bit more like the real world, so I ask all my colleagues to join with me to pass No Budget, No Pay. prgtoken .
Wyoming Women's Suffrage Day (Executive Session)
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2019-12-10

I come to the floor as we celebrate today, in Wyoming, the 150th anniversary of Wyoming's women's right to vote--150 years. Before we even became a State, women were voting in Wyoming. Today, at our State capital building in Cheyenne, there is a huge celebration of people from around the prgtoken State and around the country celebrating this historic day. prgtoken Many people watching today may not know the history of what happened 150 years ago. Yesterday afternoon, Senator Enzi spoke on the Senate floor and outlined some of that history. I am so proud of my home State's amazing record in advancing this entire issue and concern and allowance of women's voting. prgtoken Women in Wyoming were the first in the Nation to use the right to vote. That is a fact. Wyoming women have been voting for 150 years. On December 10, 1869, Wyoming took a giant leap forward for women's equality. We are called the Equality State. This is a lot of the reason why. prgtoken Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, in a ceremony this morning at our State capital in Cheyenne, is proclaiming today Wyoming Women's Suffrage Day. Wyoming is the first place in the country to pass a law securing women's right to vote, as well as the right not just to vote but to hold public office. prgtoken The people of Wyoming spoke loud and clear 150 years ago today. We stood with women 50 years ahead of the rest of the Nation. Wyoming was a territory back then. Our State had not yet joined the Union. That didn't happen until 1890. Still, that is when we earned the proud name of the Equality State. prgtoken Wyoming earned far more than the name. By leading the fight for women's rights, Wyoming has forever earned a hallowed place in the books of history. Nobody embodies that legacy more than Wyoming's Louisa Ann Swain. On September 6, 1870, Louisa Swain of Laramie, WY, became the first woman in the United States to vote in the general election. By casting her historic ballot, she claimed a great victory for women everywhere. prgtoken It is a tremendous heritage that we celebrate today. Wyoming truly is the Nation's trailblazer for women's equality. In fact, ``Equal Rights'' is our State motto. prgtoken On November 19, the Senate unanimously passed the Wyoming Women's Suffrage Day resolution. Senator Enzi and I cosponsored the resolution to commemorate today's 150th anniversary. Now the entire Nation can join in celebrating Wyoming's groundbreaking law. prgtoken Then, 20 years after the law's passage, Wyoming refused to enter the Union as a State unless we had equal voting rights, men and women. There was a big fight about it in Wyoming and in the Nation's Capital. When standing on principle became a major sticking point, Wyoming stuck to its guns on women's equality and actually ended up delaying becoming a State over this very issue. prgtoken On March 26 of 1890, Wyoming statehood legislation narrowly passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The measure
USMCA (Executive Session)
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2019-12-10

there are just 21 days left in 2019. With the days dwindling, Congress has made little progress on its to-do list that without question must be addressed before going home for the holidays. This is largely due to the distractions and delays caused by the in this body and especially by those across the Capitol. prgtoken Let's take the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. President signed it over 1 year ago. If approved, USMCA would create 176,000 new jobs by expanding access to markets and providing much needed certainty for American businesses and farmers. Literally, everyone benefits. Yet here we are still waiting for the House to bring it up for a vote--a vote that would be broadly bipartisan. prgtoken Pelosi even admitted today that there is no question that USMCA is much better than NAFTA. I am hopeful the House will finally vote on the measure next week before leaving town. This would be a great Christmas gift for American workers, farmers, and businesses. prgtoken But it is not just on trade deals. We are now over 2 months into the new Federal fiscal year. Yet Congress still has not approved the annual funding bills for this fiscal year. These bills will actually fund the government. Yet are stalling and throwing up roadblocks at every turn. They are failing to support our servicemembers, including providing them with the largest pay raise in a decade. prgtoken Just recently, I was on the ground in Kuwait and Afghanistan to meet with our U.S. troops, including Iowans of the Des Moines-based 103rd Sustainment Command. These servicemembers are relying on Congress to do their job so that our military men and women can carry out their job of protecting our homeland. As a former company commander in Kuwait, I realize just how vital resources are to our troops. prgtoken Let's not forget that agreed to a framework months ago on all of these bills. Yet they have repeatedly blocked consideration of these bills. prgtoken Similarly, the authorization for the Violence Against Women Act--a law that is deeply personal to me--expired a year ago and remains in limbo. For months, the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee and I worked to develop a bipartisan bill to renew the law, which provides desperately needed resources to prevent domestic and sexual abuse and care for our survivors. We were making real progress, but all of a sudden, Senate walked away from the progress we made in an apparent attempt to make violence against women an election issue. prgtoken Folks, we cannot allow our political differences to keep us from performing our most basic constitutional duties: to provide for the common defense, fund the operations of the Federal Government, and support women and children across this country facing sexual and domestic abuse. I plan on continuing to work with Senator Feinstein without regard to the political winds because we h
HIGHLIGHTING CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF USMCA
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-12-10

yesterday I was pleased to join 158 of my colleagues in sending a letter to Pelosi highlighting the critical importance of the USMCA trade agreement. prgtoken It has been nearly 400 days since President signed the agreement with our two closest trading partners, and at long last, it seems a vote may finally be in our near future. With less than 2 weeks left in the legislative calendar, a vote is long overdue. prgtoken Farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and everyone in between will benefit from the passing of USMCA. USMCA will help increase market opportunities, keeping trade free and fair, and the projected impact on our Nation's agricultural industry is staggering. prgtoken Under this new, revamped agreement, U.S. agriculture exports are expected to increase by more than $2 billion, annually, leading to an estimated 325,000 additional jobs here at home. That is good news, not just for our local rural communities, but for each and every American. prgtoken USMCA will help bring U.S. trade policy into the 21st century. Each day that passes without a vote is leaving money and opportunity on the table.