mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Nomination of Chad A. Readler (Executive Session)
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2019-3-6

as the longest serving Member of the Senate and also the former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I feel compelled--and I normally don't come down and speak about these things--but I want to warn about the destruction of long-held norms and traditions that have protected the Senate's unique constitutional role with respect to lifetime judicial appointments. prgtoken This is an extraordinary responsibility on the part of the U.S. Senate. The Constitution quite properly allows any President to nominate whomever they want for a lifetime position on our Federal courts, but as our Founders said, the Senate has to give advice and consent because of the effect of this person's lifetime position. They go way beyond the term of the Senators who vote for them and the term of the President who nominates the person. prgtoken In fact, until recently, and certainly during the years I have served here, Members of this body knew well they had a say when it came to who serves in the Federal courts in their States. It didn't matter whether you had a or ic President or a or ic majority in the Senate; blue slips protected the prerogative of home State Senators and gave meaning to the constitutional requirement of advice and consent. It ensures fairness but, more importantly, I think it also ensured comity in the Senate. That now is fast becoming history, and I fear it is going to do lasting damage to the Senate. prgtoken What is happening is a disingenuous double standard. When I was chairman of the Judiciary Committee at the beginning of the administration, every single Senate , including many serving today, signed a letter. They made the case for the importance of the blue-slip tradition. They said it was absolutely imperative that it be respected during the new administration, the administration. The s said: We must do this. Well, I didn't need any reminder because under my chairmanship during both the administration and the ic administration, I respected the blue-slip tradition without exception, even when it was not politically expedient to do so. I respected s and alike. Regardless of who was in the Oval Office, under my chairmanship, not a single judicial nominee received a hearing without first receiving both home State Senators' positive blue slips. prgtoken I defended the blue slips, and that was unpopular in my own party on occasion, but I believed in both their constitutional and institutional importance. I also believed in the prerogatives of home State Senators and the need to ensure that the White House works in good faith with those Senators. I believed then, and I still believe now, that certain principles matter more than party. Something that, unfortunately, some, probably because they are new here, don't understand. prgtoken All of us, whether ic or , sho
Nomination of Chad A. Readler (Executive Session)
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-3-6

today, the Senate considers the nomination of yet another unqualified, far-right nominee--Chad Readler, who is up for consideration for a seat on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. prgtoken Let me just say at the outset that any whiff of credibility this nominee might have had as a judicial nominee disappears the minute he puts his name on the administration's absurd legal argument that protections for preexisting conditions are unconstitutional. prgtoken To get a sense of how ridiculous this argument is, you have to look at a bit of recent history. prgtoken In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that the individual mandate was a tax, that it was constitutional, and that the Affordable Care Act would stand. For millions of Americans, particularly the ones who wouldn't have to go to bed at night fearing that when they woke up, they could get discriminated against for a preexisting condition, just as in the old days--under the ACA, they wouldn't have to worry about that anymore--it was a joyful day when the court ruled that the Affordable Care Act would stand, but it was a tough day for the strategists who had been so desperate to bring down the law at any cost. prgtoken Next, in the process of jamming the tax law through Congress, in late 2017, many s said: Let's bring out our old attacks on the Affordable Care Act. They passed an amendment that said there would be no penalty for those who failed to sign up for health insurance, even though everybody understands that those who have coverage often pick up the bills for those who don't. prgtoken Then, in 2018, Governors and attorneys general in 20 States made what was really the silliest legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act yet, and that was in the case of Texas v. United States. prgtoken Here, they said they were going to stipulate that the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate only because it was a tax. Then they said: We establish that the tax law dialed the penalty associated with violating the individual mandate down to zero. At least that had a kernel of accuracy. prgtoken Let me describe how they got into the backbreaking legal acrobatics next. They argued that because there is no penalty associated with violating the individual mandate, it is no longer a tax and somehow it has become unconstitutional. Finally, they argued that since the individual mandate is unconstitutional, the whole Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional and ought to be thrown out the window. prgtoken My own take is that if you were a first-year law student, you would get a failing grade for that kind of work on constitutional law, but let's stick to the history. prgtoken The Justice Department has an obligation to defend the laws of the United States. It is a quaint idea, but that is the role of the Justice Department--defending the laws of the United States in court. prgtoken The administra
GOVERNMENT REFORM
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-3-6

I am pleased to be here on the floor with my colleague from New Mexico, who has been a champion for restoring our democracy, working year after year over the last decade toward that vision, and presenting tonight superb comments on the history of where we have been and where we should go. prgtoken This last weekend, I went to Alabama. I went with Congressman John Lewis to be there to look into the history of discrimination in our Nation, the history in which we had separate entries to buildings for Whites and for Blacks and separate water fountains. We had front doors for White America and back doors for Black America. prgtoken We were standing on the spot where Rosa Parks stood before she stepped onto the bus and said: I will not sit at the back of the bus. I will be treated like every other American. She asked for equality, and she started a big movement to break down discrimination. prgtoken Last weekend, we also gathered together in Selma, AL, at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. This spot is where John Lewis and a whole set of individuals took a stand. They were planning a march. They were going to march for voting rights--for voting rights in America, voting rights that had been taken away as a strategy of suppressing the voice of the people, particularly the voice of African Americans. prgtoken We have struggled in the history of our country toward full equality of opportunity--full equality to participate in this beautiful democratic Republic we call America. We started with a Constitution that was flawed by not recognizing the full equality of every American. prgtoken We fought a war over slavery, and after that war, a strategy was devised to continue to strip the right to vote from African Americans by taking African-American men, arresting them as felons, and then saying that felons can't vote--a determined strategy both to reenslave, because the constitutional amendment said that you could put people to work if they were a felon, and to strip voting rights from them. prgtoken That is a history we should be putting behind us--a history of voter intimidation and a history of voter suppression. Have we not come to the point where we can recognize that the real vision in our ``we the people'' democracy is that every person gets a full chance to participate, that we should be looking for voter empowerment, not voter suppression? prgtoken This beautiful document we have worked to perfect and fulfill over time. It was President Lincoln who said: ``America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.'' prgtoken Aren't we at that point now, where the vision of government of, by, and for the people has been corrupted by voter suppression, by voter intimidation, by gerrymandering, and by dark money flooding our campaigns? Aren't we at that point now that our very essence of our constitutional vision of government by
Nomination of Chad A. Readler (Executive Session)
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2019-3-6

I rise to speak in opposition to the nomination of Chad Readler to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. prgtoken This nomination, if confirmed, would be advanced without the support of one of his home State Senators, and it deliberately ignores Senate precedent that has historically respected Senators' ability to identify nominees that best fit the needs of their State. prgtoken In his current position at the Department of Justice, Chad Readler led the legal briefs for some of the Department's most extreme positions. prgtoken He defended President 's travel ban, led efforts to end DACA, supported the inclusion of a citizenship question on the 2020 census, suggested that the structure of the CFPB was unconstitutional, and argued that businesses should be able to refuse services to same-sex couples. prgtoken Mr. Readler also led the DOJ's legal brief for the Texas v. U.S. lawsuit, arguing against the Affordable Care Act's protections for people with preexisting conditions, even while three other career attorneys at the DOJ refused to do so. prgtoken Think about that for a second. This nominee took up his pen and drafted a legal opinion at the Department of Justice that stated it was fine for his Department not to defend the law--a law that protects millions of Americans' access to the critical healthcare they need. prgtoken If that weren't enough to shock the conscience, Mr. Readler's nomination to the Sixth Circuit judgeship was announced the same day the brief was filed. prgtoken Is that a coincidence? Maybe, but since three other career lawyers at the Department of Justice resigned rather than draft this brief and violate their duty to the law, I think it is fairly obvious. prgtoken This administration has made it crystal clear that Mr. Readler was chosen because of his willingness to dismantle the ACA and completely eliminate critical protections that ensure seniors, kids, and families in Nevada and across this country are able to get health insurance, regardless of whether they have a previous medical condition. For many Americans, denying vital healthcare protections and access to care is truly a matter of life and death. prgtoken President and leaders have promised to sabotage our healthcare from day one, and this nomination is another example in a long line of legislation, nominations, and Executive actions aimed at ripping away healthcare coverage from hard-working families in Nevada and across the country. prgtoken The Affordable Care Act is, quite simply, the law of the land. Its patient protections have wide bipartisan support, as evidenced by Congress's inability to pass ACA repeal. Since its inception, over 400,000 Nevadans have gained healthcare coverage, including 158,000 children. Tens of million more Americans across the country have gained access to affordable health insurance, prescription drug coverage, mental health services, and preventive care. prgtoken The A
WE THE PEOPLE
Julia Brownley (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-3-6

my favorite three words in our Constitution are the first three words, ``We the people.'' prgtoken The will of the people is the basis of our entire democracy. But for far too long, special interests and big money have rigged that system against everyday Americans. prgtoken This week, we take a major step to change that. We are voting on H.R. 1, transformational legislation that will finally put the power back in the hands of the American people, by toughening Federal ethics laws, fixing the broken campaign finance system, and strengthening voting rights, including two bills that I have worked on with my colleagues to end partisan gerrymandering and requiring same-day voter registration. prgtoken I encourage everyone to support H.R. 1 this week, because it is long past time we return our government to one that is of the people, by the people, and for the people once again.
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2019
Debra A. Haaland (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2019-3-6

I rise today in support of H.R. 1 because I want America to live up to its democratic principles, and that means having a government that really is for the people and not just for those with the means. This bill is about ensuring that all voters, regardless of ZIP Code, race, or party, can participate in our democracy. prgtoken I am proud that H.R. 1 includes a bill I introduced, the Same-Day Voter Registration Act, which will increase access to the ballot box across the country. prgtoken Same-day registration already exists in 17 States and the District of Columbia. In those locations, more people, not fewer, participate in elections. prgtoken I spent nearly two decades organizing to make sure New Mexicans, including those in Indian Country and in rural America, have access to our democracy. prgtoken This commonsense provision gets rid of arbitrary registration deadlines, which often fall long before the real time needed to process voter registration applications. Same-day voter registration is one of many provisions in H.R. 1 that will make elections more accessible.
HONORING REPRESENTATIVE WALTER B. JONES, JR.
Jerry McNerney (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-3-6

. Madam , I rise today to mourn the passing of our colleague, and my dear friend, Congressman Walter Jones. prgtoken Walter was a man of principle and patriotism. prgtoken Who was dedicated to serving his District and his country. prgtoken He was deeply concerned about the state of our nation's politics. prgtoken Especially the growing inequities within our campaign finance system. prgtoken I had the distinct privilege of working closely with Walter over the past three years. prgtoken As co-founders and co-chairs of the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Caucus. prgtoken And throughout our work together, I witnessed firsthand his willingness to reach across the aisle and put people before politics. prgtoken Walter was a model public servant who held tightly to his passions and his unyielding faith. prgtoken His independence in this chamber demonstrated his relentless devotion to doing what he believed was right. prgtoken It's no surprise that he was widely respected and admired throughout these halls. prgtoken My thoughts are with Walter's family and his Congressional staff at this time. prgtoken And I ask my colleagues to join me in taking a moment to celebrate the life of our friend, Walter. prgtoken And to honor his legacy of honesty and integrity.
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2019
John P. Sarbanes (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-3-6

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I want to thank him for his work on House Administration. I know, as well, that Congressman Anthony Brown helped with this particular amendment. prgtoken This is really critical. This is all about, and H.R. 1, in large part, is about the journey to the ballot box, and how do we make that journey easier for people; how do we make sure that they can get there without too much of an undue burden; and that is what this would do for rural voters. prgtoken This would require that States ensure that the polling places are located in rural areas. So this idea that somebody in Washington is going to be deciding where the location is, that is preposterous. We are just saying make sure that the State figures it out; and so each State can decide what makes the most sense in terms of placing these voting places for rural voters. prgtoken So it is a very, very commonsense amendment. I want to thank the gentleman for introducing it and, definitely, I support it.
Nomination of Chad A. Readler (Executive Session)
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-3-6

today I rise to oppose the nomination of Chad Readler to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. prgtoken I remember the 2018 campaign season, when so many s suddenly became the world's most passionate defenders of patients with preexisting conditions. They told voters that never ever could they even imagine doing anything that would weaken the protections that stop health insurance companies from discriminating against people with preexisting conditions. prgtoken Whether they be breast cancer survivors or children born with birth defects or any of the tens of millions of Americans who manage chronic conditions like diabetes or depression or high blood pressure, well, Americans are about to find out whether my American colleagues meant a word of what they said on the campaign trail. Americans will soon see whether s stand up for patients with preexisting conditions or vote to confirm Chad Readler to the Ohio Sixth Circuit Court. prgtoken This nominee's record of threatening patients with preexisting conditions is not up for debate. Chad Readler was the mastermind behind the administration's effort to strip away the core of the Affordable Care Act--the principle that health insurance companies cannot deny coverage or kick a patient off their policy just because of their medical history. prgtoken On the campaign trail, President spoke of protecting Americans with preexisting conditions, but we now know that was just another lie. prgtoken Apparently, it wasn't enough for this administration to stop defending the Affordable Care Act in court; the President sought to attack it in court. Initially, the administration struggled to find someone at the Department of Justice willing to take on this cause. In fact, three separate career attorneys at the Justice Department refused to argue the administration's position in court. One employee even resigned. prgtoken Chad Readler, the nominee we are voting on today, was more than happy to take on this cruel and unjust cause. He became the chief architect of the administration's legal brief, challenging the very constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act's protections for people with preexisting conditions. In other words, Chad Readler's legal brief took the administration's effort to sabotage the Affordable Care Act to a whole new level, threatening to bring us back to a time when health insurance companies didn't have to cover cancer survivors, or individuals with substance abuse disorder, or anyone who has ever faced, ever confronted a health challenge in their life. How does President reward Chad Readler for leading this assault on patients and their families? Well, the day after he filed this reckless and morally repugnant legal brief, the President nominated him to serve on the Sixth Circuit. prgtoken Now, let me tell you, I spent a lot of time crisscrossing New Jersey over the past year, and I don't think I
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2019-3-6

I rise to honor the career of Sam Mamet, who recently announced his retirement as the executive director of the Colorado Municipal League. Sam spent the better half of his adult life working to empower communities and local governments across Colorado. It is not an understatement to say that every corner of the State is incredibly grateful for his work. prgtoken Sam joined the Colorado Municipal League in 1979, when he spearheaded the organization's advocacy in the State capitol. After 26 years in that position, Sam would go on to spend the rest of his time in the organization as its executive director. There, he worked tirelessly to foster partnerships across the State and the country that have benefited Colorado's 270 towns and cities. He also spent time as an adjunct professor of political science at CU Denver. prgtoken Throughout my time in public service, I have always appreciated Sam's thoughtful approach to policymaking, his collaborative spirit, and his unwavering advocacy for our local communities. When I worked in local government, I always knew I could count on Sam to ensure that our perspective would be heard at the State and Federal level. After joining the Senate, I have had the benefit of his advice across issues, ranging from infrastructure to tax policy. prgtoken Going forward, I will miss Sam's wit, humility, and sense of humor-- attributes in short supply in our politics today. prgtoken Although Sam is retiring from the Municipal League, I suspect he will continue to serve the State of Colorado with the same passion that has characterized his career. We wish Sam well in retirement and extend our deepest thanks for his lifetime of public service.
The Green New Deal (Executive Session)
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2019-3-6

I understand that the majority has the floor, and so I will be very brief. I have enormous regard for Senator Blunt and for those who have spoken already. I just want to say that, for the people who say we want to have a discussion about this issue, we are so eager to have a discussion about this issue. I come here every week hoping to have a discussion about this issue, and I would love to have a discussion about this issue. I would love to have hearings in the Environment and Public Works Committee about a climate bill. prgtoken I would love to have people working together to solve this problem. I will say that Senator Schatz and I have a piece of climate legislation that is not this one, but it does have the support of seven former chairs of the President's Council of Economic Advisers, six current and former Congressmen, four former EPA Administrators and Secretaries of Treasury and State, two former chairs of the Federal Reserve, and one former CBO Director. A congressman referred to that bill as not just an olive branch reaching out to s but an olive limb reaching out to s. prgtoken I hope we can emerge from this with a real conversation about real bills, and in the context of that, we will be very interested to know what the proposal is to deal with climate change. prgtoken . prgtoken I thank the Presiding Officer, and I appreciate the courtesy of my distinguished colleagues.
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2019
Mary Gay Scanlon (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-3-6

. Mr. Chair, my next amendment is Amendment No. 7. prgtoken The amendment would require the Federal Election Comission to conduct a study to specifically assess whether the small donor match cap and the 6-to-1 ratio contained in H.R. 1 is appropriately scaled for both House and Senate elections. prgtoken H.R. 1 will empower everyday Americans through each of these systems by bringing more and more people into the political fold. prgtoken This system of small donor campaign funding is relatively new to the Federal system but has been tried in States and localities nationwide to great effect. New York City has had a matching funds program in place since the 1980s, and over 80 percent of the 2015 Connecticut State Legislature was elected under the Citizens' Election public financing program. prgtoken It is important and necessary to study these issues at the Federal level, and my amendment would ensure that the Federal Government has all of the relevant information it needs when proceeding with any future changes to these programs. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and .