mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
COMMEMORATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Ed Case (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2020-10-23

. Madam , I rise to commemorate the upcoming 75th anniversary of the United Nations and recognize the continued importance of multilateral action as we pursue a more peaceful, prosperous and just world. prgtoken On October 24, 1945, less than two months after the world emerged from the deadliest conflict in human history, the United Nations Charter entered into force, formally creating the United Nations. The Charter was and continues to be a visionary document dedicated to the indispensable idea that, through diplomacy and consultation, states can work together to achieve a better world. prgtoken American leadership played a central role in the effort to establish the United Nations. Even before the United States entered the Second World War, President Franklin Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill issued the Atlantic Charter to outline their vision for the post-war international order. In the final years of the war, individuals like Cordell Hull, Edward Stettinius Jr Ralph Bunche and many others played crucial roles in shaping the draft United Nations Charter. prgtoken Congress was deeply involved as well, with Members on both sides of the aisle participating in the San Francisco Conference. Representatives Sol Bloom of New York and Charles Aubrey Eaton of New Jersey and Senators Tom Connally of Texas and Arthur Vandenberg of Michigan helped make the case for the United Nations in Congress and to the American public. On July 28, 1945, the Senate voted to ratify the United Nations Charter by an overwhelming vote of 89 in favor, 2 against--a dramatic change from the rejection of the League of Nations just 26 years prior. prgtoken Yet the push for a United Nations also came from beyond the halls of Washington. In 1943, a dedicated, passionate group of Americans created the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA- USA), bringing the discussion of a post-war order to homes and communities across the country. Thus began a rich history of advocacy for American leadership and participation in the United Nations that continues to this day, with over 20,000 UNA-USA members in over 200 chapters across the country. prgtoken In the decades since 1945, through the most turbulent years of the Cold War, through the challenges of decolonization and entering the new millennium, the United Nations has been center stage for the international community in addressing issues like conflict and peace, economic development, global health, gender equality, human rights and more. Through the United Nations and the multitude of specialized agencies that have emerged to coordinate international action, the international community has come together to eradicate smallpox and curb other infectious diseases, protect the ozone layer, lift millions out of poverty, promote maternal and child health, preserve cultural and historical sites and so much more. prgtoken Yet, in an era of renewed great power competit
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR--MOTION TO PROCEED (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-10-23

now, I believe the Senate majority is on the precipice of making a colossal and historic mistake. By rushing this nomination through the Senate only 8 days before a national election, after 50 million Americans have already voted, the majority is steering the Senate, the Supreme Court, and the country in a very dangerous direction. The damage to Americans' faith in these institutions could be lasting. prgtoken So before we go any further, we should shut off the cameras, close the Senate, and talk face-to-face about what this might mean for the country. prgtoken We need to restore public trust in our institutions, not continue to undermine it. The Senate majority may have the power to confirm this nomination before the election, but that does not make it right. Might does not make it right. prgtoken We ought to have a candid conversation, Senator-to-Senator, in which we truly listen to each other before it is too late. So I am making a motion to move to closed session.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MR. GENE MORGAN
Emanuel Cleaver (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2020-10-23

. Madam , it is with a heavy heart that I rise today on behalf of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, the Kansas City community, and the Jackson County ic Committee. I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. Gene Morgan, a lifelong Kansas Citian whose dedication to serving others will have an enduring impact throughout our community. prgtoken Scripture says, in 2 Corinthians 9:7, that each of us ``must give as he has decided in his heart, for God loves a cheerful giver.'' There is no doubt Gene was a cheerful giver of his time, energy, and intellect. Gene made it a lifelong goal to work on achieving criminal justice reform in Kansas City. After seeing how substance abuse impacted children in the juvenile court system, he was elected President of the Kansas City Community Center. Fueled by his unwavering belief that people could change for the better and improve their lives when given the opportunity, Gene promoted drug rehabilitation and treatment services throughout his tenure. As an Adjunct Professor in the Criminal Justice Department at the Metropolitan Community College, he mentored the next generation of advocates and prepared them to engage our community in discussions on crime prevention and justice reform. As a member of the Jackson County Community Backed Anti-Crime Tax (COMBAT) Commission, he worked tirelessly to ensure Kansas City residents could live free from the dangers of illegal drugs and violent crime through the use of prevention, education and treatment services. And as the Parliamentarian and Ward 4 Committeeman for the Jackson County ic Committee, he whole-heartedly supported candidates and elected officials dedicated to reforming a system that incarcerates too many and rehabilitates too few--costing us too much money and too many lives. prgtoken Public service has long been a family affair for Gene and his wife, Judy, who currently serves as the State Representative for the 24th district in Jackson County. During fifty years of fruitful and devoted marriage, Gene cheered Judy on as she taught and counseled students in the Kansas City Public School District. When Judy decided the best way to continue serving others was through elected office, Gene served as her campaign manager and treasurer, always by her side lending his steadfast support. prgtoken While he was an active participant in politics, attending countless community events and helping elect candidates across our city and state, Gene never lost sight of the central reason he decided to dedicate his life to public service. It was the same reason--the same motivational force--that drove him out of bed every morning with the verve and optimism to find success in the face of adversity. That reason, as anyone who knew him will tell you, was his enduring love for the people he served. When working the room at a committee meeting or greeting guests at a fundraiser, he always took an extra moment with each person
Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett (Executive Calendar)
Rick Scott (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-10-24

I am disappointed my ic colleague doesn't want to focus on the global impact of General Secretary Xi's censorship. I clearly don't understand why my ic colleagues refuse to stand up to Communist China. They have stopped every attempt to protect Americans from this threat. prgtoken Again and again, the block efforts to hold Communist China accountable and never try to work with us to come up with solutions. prgtoken They blocked my resolution to move the 2022 Olympics out of Communist China. They blocked my bill to prevent Communist China from stealing or sabotaging American COVID-19 vaccine research, even as American lives depend on the rapid development of this vaccine. prgtoken Now they are turning a blind eye to the censorship of American journalists in China. Chinese state-backed journalists in America push the propaganda of the Chinese Communist Party. It is time to wake up and understand that the oppression at the hand of General Secretary Xi and the Chinese Government Party will not stop. prgtoken This is about the safety of Americans and about freedom around the world. This is about standing up for human rights. prgtoken We must act, and passing the Chinese-Backed Media Accountability Act takes real steps to hold Communist China accountable for their failure to treat American journalists fairly. prgtoken I am not going to stop working to make sure there is reciprocity between our nations and that we understand how many Chinese propaganda journalists are operating in the United States. We must, together, do everything in our power to fight for freedom and hold Communist China and General Secretary Xi accountable, and I hope, at some point, my ic colleagues will join me in this fight. prgtoken .
Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett (Executive Calendar)
Steve Daines (Republican, MT) \u2014 2020-10-24

reserving the right to object, I have already made my remarks about the hypocrisy on this issue of dark money. prgtoken I think it is also worth pointing out that it was a very different situation in 2016, when Merrick Garland was nominated by President . In every White House controlled by one party and the U.S. Senate by another, the President of the Senate, going back to 1888--in an election year when both the Senate and the Presidency are controlled by the same party, you move forward; when not, you don't. prgtoken That is exactly what we did. We had an election in 2016. President won, and here we are in 2020 with s controlling the Senate, and the White House began to move forward. prgtoken So with that, I object.
Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett (Executive Calendar)
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2020-10-24

the Senate will soon vote on the confirmation of Judge Barrett to become Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. I will be voting in favor of her nomination, and I urge my colleagues to do just the same. prgtoken As was made clear to millions of Americans who watched her hearing, Judge Barrett has the temperament, the modesty, and the humility that we should all expect in a judge. She approaches cases without bias or personal agenda. She made that very clear to almost every question asked to her by every member of the Judiciary Committee. prgtoken Most importantly, Judge Barrett understands the proper role of members of the Judiciary and our constitutional system of separated powers. That is, a judge should interpret--not make--the law. Making law is, under the Constitution, the responsibility of the Congress, not the Supreme Court. She also made that very clear in almost every question that she was asked by members of the Judiciary Committee. prgtoken Judge Barrett has an impressive command and, of course, the respect for the law and the Constitution. Clearly, from her testimony, she respects precedent, and she practices judicial restraint. In her words: ``A judge who approaches a case as an opportunity for an exercise of will has . . . betrayed her judicial duty.'' prgtoken She went on to explain to the committee her legal method, how she considers statutes and the Constitution and how she interprets and applies the statutes and the Constitution. Her judicial method is rigorous and exacting but fair. She testified that she would listen to both sides in every case. She said: ``We want judges to approach cases thoughtfully and with an open mind.'' prgtoken When pressed on how she might rule in a particular case, Judge Barrett promptly applied what we all know as the Ginsburg rule, and she did it just like every other recent nominee to the Supreme Court for the last 30 years when Ginsburg first told the Judiciary Committee that there would be no hints, no previews, or forecasts, and Judge Barrett demonstrated her independence by often repeating the Justice Ginsburg rule. prgtoken I specifically asked Judge Barrett if she had made any promises or guarantees to anyone about how she might rule on a case. She responded this way to my question: The answer is no. . . . No one ever talked about any case with me. . . . I can't make any pre-commitments to this body either. It would be inconsistent with judicial independence. prgtoken To quote further: I'm not willing to make a deal--not with the committee, not with the president, not with anyone. I am independent. prgtoken That quote or similar words were spoken by Judge Barrett to almost every suspicious Judiciary member about whom she might have made some deal ahead of time to get on the Supreme Court. prgtoken Contrary to critics' claims about her being biased, Judge Barrett is evenhanded and has ruled for both plaintiff
Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett (Executive Calendar)
Kevin Cramer (Republican, ND) \u2014 2020-10-24

reserving the right to object. prgtoken Can we just be a little more honest? This is not about childcare. What is going on here is not about childcare, for veterans, or for anybody else. This is another attempt to prevent us from talking about the outstanding qualifications of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be on the Supreme Court of the United States. prgtoken I will stand here all day and object if that is what it takes for my other colleagues to get to the floor and talk about the merits of this outstanding judge. With that, I object.
Presidential Debate (Executive Calendar)
Lamar Alexander (Republican, TN) \u2014 2020-10-24

I am glad I was here to hear the wise words of the Senator from Texas. I look at our region, in the Tennessee Valley, compared to California. California is moving ahead with a policy a lot like Vice President 's. They have got a high goal for powering that whole State on wind and solar and closing their nuclear plants. prgtoken What is happening in California? Rates are going through the roof, and they are having rolling blackouts. What is happening in Tennessee and the Tennessee Valley? The TVA has very wisely expanded nuclear power so that it is more than 40 percent of our electricity. prgtoken Of course, nuclear power is totally emission-free--no carbon, zero carbon--it is reliable, and it is, by far, most of the carbon-free electricity we produce in this country. The combination of that nuclear power, hydropower, and natural gas in Tennessee has given us one of the cleanest areas. In the East Tennessee area where I live, I can see the mountains clearly now because pollution control is on all the coal plants. prgtoken So we need a realistic energy policy, not a fanciful one. We don't want rolling blackouts throughout the country like California has because they have adopted exactly the policy that Vice President is advocating.
Vaccine Safety (Executive Calendar)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-10-24

I have another request. prgtoken As Americans face job loss, health crises, isolation, and enormous daily stress during the pandemic, the risk of suicide has tragically gone up. The CDC found that since the pandemic began, twice as many Americans report serious consideration of suicide. The rate of suicide risk is especially high among young Americans, minorities, essential workers, and caregivers. prgtoken Unfortunately, this is hitting our Armed Forces, as well. The Army's Chief of Staff, General McConville, stated that he sees a correlation between COVID and a rise in military suicides. My office recently received a note, a tragically sad note, from a veterans group in Rochester, NY, about a veteran in their region, 50 years of age, unemployed, and struggling during the pandemic. When he stopped receiving the $600 unemployment assistance, he was unable to make his mortgage payments and, unfortunately and sadly, very recently committed suicide. prgtoken I have no doubt that there are more American veterans out there who are going through the same struggle. Each one is a separate and heartbreaking tragedy. These men and women who risked their lives for us are taking their own lives. It is incumbent upon us to do something about it. prgtoken Congress can implement suicide prevention initiatives. We may be able to make a difference. The House has passed a number of bills to get suicide prevention funding and new resources out to communities. prgtoken I am going to ask that we go into legislative session to consider four of those House-passed bills. This pandemic has taken so many lives, and we sometimes forget that it is not just those who contracted COVID, but those who are pushed to unimaginable stress and devastation because of what COVID has done to our economy, our friends, and our way of life. The Senate should be passing these bills and helping out those who may be hiding in the shadows but crying out for help. prgtoken There are four bills. I think I will ask for consideration on the four of them en bloc; is that permitted?
Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett (Executive Calendar)
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2020-10-24

in order to proceed to the consideration of H.R. 4894, Congressional Budget Justification Transparency Act of 2020, a bill that requires Federal agencies to make budget justification materials available to the public--it is a transparency measure. It requires disclosure, and it requires the Office of Management and Budget to make certain details regarding the materials available to the public, including a list of agencies that submit budget justification. prgtoken It also forces disclosure of the dates that materials are submitted to Congress and posted online and links to the materials--a basic disclosure measure. It was passed, again, overwhelmingly by the House of Representatives on September 14 of this year, without any action so far in this body. prgtoken I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session.
Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett (Executive Calendar)
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2020-10-24

I guess I am not surprised about that, considering I hear my colleagues talk about how outrageous it is that we were spending $600 a week to help unemployed workers, and this bipartisan bill that passed the House would help workers to get retrained and get jobs, and they are not willing to do that either, but we also know that this is a bill that--we have seen this act before. Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 3659 prgtoken , in order to proceed to the consideration of H.R. 3659, Danny's Law, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session.
Recognition of the Minority Leader (Executive Calendar)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-10-24

H.R. 4995 is one that passed the House from Representative Engel to help address maternal health gaps and disparities in rural communities. The bill would provide grants at HHS to networks of healthcare providers and academic partners to expand obstetric capacity and improve trainings in underserved rural areas. prgtoken The trainings would help to address implicit bias, which--more so than economic status, health status, or education level--can contribute to health negative outcomes for moms and their babies. prgtoken Due to lack of specialists and geographic gaps, maternal health outcomes in rural Illinois are worse than in urban areas. So when it comes to responding to and tackling the urgent health challenges of the moment, prgtoken alongside addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, these bills can help close the disparities and gaps that exist in health care in America. prgtoken H.R. 4996, sponsored by Congresswoman Robin Kelly from Illinois, passed the House in September. It closely mirrors a provision in legislation I have introduced in the Senate, the MOMMA Act. This critical legislation addresses our Nation's unconscionable disparities in maternal and infant mortality by ensuring mothers can maintain access to care and prevent pregnancy-related complications. prgtoken The U.S. is 1 of only 13 countries in the world where the maternal mortality rate is worse now than it was 25 years ago. Nationwide more than 700 women die every year as a result of their pregnancy, and more than 70,000 others suffer severe, near-fatal complications. Across the country, women of color are four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified these racial and ethnic health disparities that already existed. These gaps in our health system are unacceptable. prgtoken Medicaid covers half of the births in Illinois. This policy would help thousands of mothers in Illinois and nationwide by enabling Medicaid to provide coverage for low-income mothers for up to 1 year, compared to the current limit of 60 days. It is time we turn the page on this unacceptable inequity in our healthcare system and address a real need across America. prgtoken H.R. 1585, the Violence Against Women Act was signed into law 26 years ago, and it must be reauthorized. This law has been a lifeline for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in my State of Illinois and across the country. Over a year ago, the House voted to reauthorize and strengthen VAWA. But the -controlled Senate has refused to bring this bill to the floor for a vote. prgtoken For many Americans, home is not always a safe place, and the COVID-19 pandemic has presented particular challenges for people facing abusive situations and domestic violence. It is shameful that Leader McConnell has refused to call this critical reauthorization to the Senate floor for a vote. prgtoken It is long past time for