mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 8294, NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Rob Woodall (Republican, GA) \u2014 2020-11-19

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I have worked with the gentleman from New York long enough to know that it is true that we sometimes measure our success by what the House does. But working with the gentleman from New York, I have seen him measure his success by what he actually gets done for folks. You never see him trying to take credit for getting the work done. He is just doing the work. And too often, I think, all of us have come to talk about what it was that we passed in a partisan way and how that absolves us of any more responsibility. prgtoken It is true, the House jammed through a partisan COVID package 7 months ago, and absolutely nothing has happened to it since then. That is what happens when you jam through partisan packages. If we jam through a partisan apprenticeship package, that is also what is going to happen to a partisan apprenticeship package. prgtoken Madam , I yield to the ranking member of the Committee on Small Business, who crafted the last bipartisan package. And when that bipartisan package was crafted, it didn't just pass this House, it didn't just pass the Senate, it was signed into law by the President of the United States. And it made the difference in the life of our constituents that my friend from New York and I would like to make. prgtoken Madam , if we defeat the previous question today, we will have the chance to, again, go to that bipartisan well of support that my friend from Ohio has generated. prgtoken Madam , I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), the ranking member of the Committee on Small Business.
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Daniel Meuser (Republican, PA) \u2014 2020-11-19

I thank the incredible gentlewoman from North Carolina for yielding. prgtoken , in the last 10 years, the number of Americans entering apprenticeship programs has more than doubled--a success. The demand among employers and workers in a variety of industries is an endorsement of the apprenticeship model's promise to close the skills gap and provide opportunities to millions of Americans--a great thing. prgtoken The legislation we are considering today, however, would shut down efforts to expand apprenticeships and make the existing 80-year-old registered apprenticeship program and system the only option. prgtoken Talking to job creators in my district, which I do extensively, I have heard firsthand the needs for talented, new workers and their challenges with the cumbersome apprenticeship system that limits employer-led innovation for union and nonunion employment. prgtoken The registered apprenticeship system is not the gold standard; it is the old standard. American workers and employers need a system as innovative and dynamic as our current American economy. prgtoken s offered an all-of-the-above approach that improves the registered apprenticeship system and promotes flexibilities to strengthen our workforce, particularly in manufacturing and construction, and would allow the apprenticeship model to be applied across all new industries such as tech, healthcare, logistics, and energy--particularly, , as we strive to fortify U.S. manufacturers and rebuild our infrastructure and repatriatize manufacturers from around the world, including China. prgtoken We should not insist on ratio standards, but we should set very high gold standards. So we should focus on baking pies, not cutting them up. prgtoken The economy workforce has evolved over the past 80 years. Our laws should, too. I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill.
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Jahana Hayes (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2020-11-19

the National Apprenticeship Act ensures that today's workforce can fill the jobs of tomorrow by creating 1 million apprenticeship opportunities over the next 5 years. prgtoken With an average starting salary, after completion, of around $70,000, registered apprenticeships create the opportunity to attain critical training while earning an income and incurring little to no student debt. Apprenticeships also ensure businesses can fill key vacancies with credentialed, skilled employees--in short, putting people back to work. prgtoken The National Apprenticeship Act will invest in Connecticut workers and our country's workers and businesses at a time when we need it most. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Alma S. Adams (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2020-11-19

to my colleagues, especially those on the other side of the aisle, I want to be clear about what we are voting to do here. prgtoken We are voting to ensure our workforce gets the investment it needs and the support it deserves. We are voting to show the American people that they are seen, that they are heard, and that we care deeply about providing them pathways to a stable future. And we are voting to uphold Congress' commitment and obligation to serve every American.
HONORING MARIA CERDA
Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-11-19

. Madam , on November 8, we lost a trailblazer for the Latino community due to COVID-19. prgtoken Maria Cerda was the first Puerto Rican woman and first Latina appointed to the Chicago Board of Education. prgtoken In that role, she secured funding for bilingual education programs and culturally responsive curricula that helped children like me, whose first language was not English, succeed. prgtoken She went on to cofound the Latino Institute and later served as an appointee to President Jimmy Carter's National Council on Educational Research. prgtoken In the 1980s, Mayor Harold Washington appointed Maria Cerda to head the Office of Employment and Training to oversee Federal job training programs. prgtoken The role she played in turning Chicago into a sanctuary city also deserves recognition. prgtoken Maria was once accosted by immigration agents in a clear case of racial profiling. The incident prompted Mayor Washington to issue the Nation's first ordinance preventing harassment of people of immigrant background. prgtoken We celebrate her for her outstanding commitment to social, educational, and economic equity for Latinos in Chicago and throughout our country. prgtoken Rest in power, Maria Cerda. We are eternally grateful for your work.
NEED FOR A COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE
Salud O. Carbajal (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-11-19

. Madam , more than 245,000 Americans have already died due to COVID-19. Cases are surging to unprecedented levels. Millions are facing poverty, food insecurity, and eviction. Low-income, homeless, and minority communities have been hit especially hard and disproportionately. prgtoken With the winter and holidays upon us, this wave threatens the health and economic well-being of our entire country. I am proud that we have already enacted four bipartisan economic relief packages that delivered targeted assistance to those impacted by this pandemic. We need to do it again. We must act now during this Congress. prgtoken Another relief package should include a robust national strategy for testing, tracing, and vaccination. Businesses, local governments, workers, and families need help to make ends meet. We must come together to deliver and help America with the urgent needs that it has and get this virus under control.
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Gwen Moore (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2020-11-19

I rise in strong support of H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. prgtoken The programs being addressed in this bill support on the job training, mentoring, and other assistance to help individuals gain employment and build careers in high paying and/or high skilled occupations. Registered Apprenticeships are our nation's most successful federal workforce training program. According to the DOL, 94 percent apprentices are employed after completing a Registered Apprenticeship and earn an average starting wage of $70,000. That success is to be applauded. prgtoken Yet, this powerful tool can be improved. Just consider these two facts: Registered Apprenticeships only account for 0.3 percent of our workforce and nearly two-thirds of active apprentices are employed in just one industry, construction. It's long past time we bring these federal efforts into the 21st Century and expanding access to apprenticeship opportunities is now especially important as we work to build back our economy from the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. prgtoken Key provisions to me in this bill are the calls to strengthen equity and promote equal opportunity to participate in youth apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and apprenticeships, especially for nontraditional apprenticeship populations. Who are they? These are individuals who have traditionally faced barriers to accessing these opportunities, including low-income individuals, those with disabilities, foster youth and former foster youth, and the formerly incarcerated, among others. prgtoken I don't have to tell you that low-income workers frequently face barriers . . . as do those who were previously or recently incarcerated. But we might remind ourselves ``[a] history of incarceration does not disqualify a person's skills, initiative, or humanity.'' Thanks to Chairman Scott and the sponsor of this legislation, Chairwoman Susan Davis, among others for their efforts that have resulted in the legislation before us today. prgtoken It recognizes that we need to keep working to ensure equal opportunity for all to participate in these programs. Pre- apprenticeships and apprenticeships are key gateways to potentially good paying careers. It's critical that we work to ensure that populations that have barriers to entry into these programs and are underrepresented. Inclusive workforce development practices will help us achieve a more diverse workforce that leverages each individual's talents, skills and abilities to determine their success, rather than the barriers they may face. prgtoken My amendment, which is included in this en bloc, builds on the base bill to ensure we do not forget populations that have traditionally been underrepresented in these programs. This includes requiring regular reviews by the federal government of participation by nontraditional populations in these programs and assessing how these programs increase participation of these populati
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (Democrat, MP) \u2014 2020-11-19

the Titus amendment is simple. It includes hospitality and tourism as an eligible industry for expansion of registered apprenticeship opportunities. prgtoken The hospitality and tourism industry is a major source for the Marianas. The GAO's February 2020 report on Economic and Workforce Trends in the Marianas found that hospitality and tourism account for 45 percent of GDP. prgtoken We are not unique. The industry is critical to many communities across the Nation, but it is considered a nontraditional industry for apprenticeships and has been unable to take full advantage of the apprenticeship system. The Titus amendment fixes that. prgtoken As I stated earlier, for 83 years, the National Apprenticeship Act has helped local economies grow by providing career opportunities to young people. The Titus amendment guarantees that H.R. 8294 will build on that prgtoken success by ensuring that the apprenticeship system is modernized to address the workforce needs of the 21st century. prgtoken I support the Titus amendment and urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' prgtoken I also am grateful that the ranking member is supportive of the Titus amendment. I thank everyone for their consideration, and I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. prgtoken , I include in the Record a letter from the American Hotel and Lodging Association. American Hotel & Lodging Association, November 18, 2020. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, of the House, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Kevin McCarthy, Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Pelosi and Leader McCarthy: On behalf of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the sole national association representing all segments of the U.S. lodging industry, including iconic global brands, hotel owners and franchisees, lodging real estate investment trusts (REITs), hotel management companies, independent properties, bed and breakfasts, state hotel associations, and industry suppliers, I write in support of H.R. 8294, National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. This important legislation would expand the national apprenticeship system to include nontraditional apprenticeship industries and create a grant program to support registered apprenticeship, pre- apprenticeship, and youth apprenticeship programs. AHLA also strongly supports the bipartisan amendment offered by Representatives Dina Titus (NV-1) and Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) that would specifically identify the hospitality and tourism industries as a nontraditional apprenticeship industry under Sec. 201 of the Act. Prior to the pandemic, filling service positions was one of the hospitality industry's most significant challenges. According to the Department of Labor (DOL
HONORING NATIONAL RURAL HEALTH DAY
Tom O’Halleran (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2020-11-19

I rise today in honor of National Rural Health Day. prgtoken I am proud to represent Arizona's First Congressional District. Our district is larger than the State of Illinois, and it is one of the most rural in the country. prgtoken Many of my constituents must spend hours traveling hundreds of miles to access any kind of care, let alone specialist care. prgtoken This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit our rural communities especially hard. prgtoken In March, we passed the CARES Act: Sweeping legislation to address the coronavirus pandemic and provide relief to struggling healthcare facilities workers, families, small businesses, and Tribes. prgtoken Within this package, we pushed to include $8 billion in funding specifically for our rural Tribal Nations. We also secured over $1 billion to support the Indian Health Service in Tribal health systems. prgtoken The CARES Act included $200 million for new rural telehealth services and $3.1 billion in funding for community health centers. prgtoken But this is not enough. We need to pass a new, comprehensive COVID-19 package now. A Talk About Life
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Conor Lamb (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2020-11-19

for the last 2\1/2\ years, I have been a member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs; and during that time, one of the things I have seen is the way that our veterans service organizations, particularly the American Legion, the VFW, the Vietnam Veterans of America, but several others, too, play an essential role in connecting all of the good things that we are trying to do with government programs with the people who actually need to benefit from them and take advantage of them. prgtoken So often in government, we have a hard time getting our ideas and our solutions beyond the walls of the Federal office building and into the communities and streets and homes where we want them to be, and these organizations are very, very good at doing that. prgtoken So I want to thank my colleague, Representative Van Taylor from Texas, for partnering with me on these amendments to bring in these veterans service organizations as part of signing people up and enrolling them in apprenticeship programs so that the veterans who are out there who are most in need of up-skilling or creating a new career path can actually find out about these opportunities and take advantage of them. prgtoken There is probably no one in America more qualified and a better bet for this investment than a veteran. On-the-job training is what we do. These people have the patience and discipline to complete these programs and make our entire workforce stronger and better off, and I know that the veterans service organizations will help us get there.
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Steven Horsford (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2020-11-19

I thank Chairman Scott from Virginia for his kind words and leadership, and I want to commend Congresswoman Susan Davis from California for leading on this important issue. prgtoken , I rise today in support of H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act, and to urge my colleagues to support my amendment, which would ensure equity and fairness in our national apprenticeship system. prgtoken Specifically, my amendment would support the recruitment, retention, and completion of nontraditional apprenticeship populations, including women, people of color, and individuals with barriers to employment. prgtoken Now more than ever, in response to the economic challenges posed by COVID-19, people need access to opportunities in apprenticeships. This is especially true for my constituents throughout Nevada, which has been one of the hardest hit economic regions in the country. prgtoken My amendment would ensure that women like Evelyn Pacheco, who is the founder and president of Nevada Women in Trades, continue to have opportunities to provide apprenticeships to women of color throughout southern Nevada. The opportunities presented by women like Evelyn matter because 94 percent of apprentices who complete an apprenticeship program retain employment with an average annual salary of $70,000. prgtoken , it is no secret that this pandemic has disproportionately impacted workers of color, particularly women of color, who have shouldered the greatest job losses due to their concentration in low-wage service industries that have been hardest hit by the economic downturn. prgtoken That is why we must do everything in our power to ensure that we have equity and fairness in our national apprenticeship system so that every person can have access and support for desperately needed job training. prgtoken , I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of my amendment, and I support the passage of H.R. 8294. prgtoken , I include in the Congressional Record a letter from the National Urban League supporting my amendment and the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. National Urban League, November 19, 2020. Dear Representative: On behalf of the National Urban League and its 90 affiliates located in 36 states and the District of Columbia, I urge you to vote ``Yes'' on the National Registered Apprenticeship Act (NAA) and associated equity amendments, including those put forth by Representatives Brown, Horsford, Moore, Ryan/Rice and Smith/Langevin. The COVID-19 pandemic has shuttered businesses all across America, leaving millions of workers unemployed and devasting our national economy. Research shows that Black and Latino workers are more likely to be working in hard-hit industries that may never bounce back. The NAA represents an important step towards stemming that job loss by creating o
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-11-19

I thank my friend, the chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, Mr. Bobby Scott, for yielding. He has done such an extraordinary job through the years in the minority and in the majority watching out for workers and creating jobs and security for our workers. prgtoken I rise in strong support of this legislation. prgtoken Two weeks ago, , we saw deep divisions within our country, divisions that we must heal. prgtoken Part of that division, I believe, comes from a broad lack of faith in government to deliver on what the American people need to get ahead in our economy. prgtoken Americans, in my view, want their elected officials to focus on reaching consensus on broadly popular initiatives that expand opportunity and connect people with good careers. prgtoken This legislation, , that we are considering today, falls within the scope of the Make It In America plan that I have been proud to lead since 2010. prgtoken That plan seeks to make our workers and businesses more competitive by legislating in the three key areas of education and skills training, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship. It is based on bipartisan ideas that most Americans support. prgtoken One of those ideas is reauthorizing enhancing the National Apprenticeship prgtoken Act for the 21st century in order to help more of our people reach for the opportunities that enable them to make it in America. prgtoken This bill would have been, , and should have been, bipartisan, were it not for the administration's insistence on including unaccredited and unproven apprenticeship programs that do not have adequate worker protections or quality standards. prgtoken That is a shame. And I hope we can revisit this effort and make it truly bipartisan once President-elect has taken office. prgtoken At a moment when our economy is in crisis as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans are out of work and looking for new ways to get back into the workforce. prgtoken They recognize that this moment presents an opportunity to gain new skills and move up in their careers, as Mr. Scott has pointed out. prgtoken That is why, , congressional support for apprenticeship programs is so important. prgtoken According to the Labor Department, 94 percent of participants in registered apprenticeships are employed upon completion with an average salary of $70,000. prgtoken This bill would permanently authorize the Labor Department's office of apprenticeship and direct it to promote new partnerships among labor, industry, and educational institutions to create new apprenticeship tracks. prgtoken It will also codify standards, , for registered apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and preapprenticeship programs. prgtoken This legislation would invest more than $3 billion in the National Apprenticeship System, an investment that will pay off geometrically to our country and to our families and to our workers. That will be spent over the next 5 years in order to
TRIBUTE TO BISHOP WILLIE JAMES CAMPBELL
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-11-19

. Madam , this Proclamation is in tribute to Bishop Willie James Campbell: prgtoken Whereas, Bishop Willie James Campbell was called in his eternal rest on November 7, 2020 at age 75; and prgtoken Whereas, Willie James Campbell was born in Chicago to the union of Bishop Jesse Campbell and Agnes Campbell; and prgtoken Whereas, Bishop Campbell started preaching in 1968 at his father's church on Chicago's Westside at 4147 West Roosevelt Road and was ordained in 1970's; and prgtoken Whereas, Bishop Campbell was known as ``the prince of preachers,'' a dynamic, energetic and effective minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with over 25 years of ministry, an evangelist (who preached my Ordination Service when I became a Deacon at the New Galilee MBC Church). He was a loyal community leader and supporter of community revitalization programs including as an original supporter of Community Bank of Lawndale (now Liberty Bank); and prgtoken Whereas, Bishop Campbell was appointed by the Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake and the General Board of the Church of God in Christ to the office of President of the Department of Evangelism and subsequently was recommended and promoted to the designation of Bishop; and prgtoken Whereas, Bishop Campbell was a member of the Gospel Music Workshop of America Announcers Guild, a member of the NAACP, AARC, Chicago Urban League, Ministers Alliance of Chicago, Operation PUSH and a Save the Children sponsor; and prgtoken Whereas, Bishop Campbell leaves to cherish his memory his wife: Lori; sons: Jesse, James and Jared from his first marriage to Anne Campbell; daughter Bridgette Hurt; another daughter, Tjuan Gibbs; children Miisha and Kayla Campbell from his marriage to Lori Campbell; sisters Lillie Mae English, Eunice McIntyre and Clarola Scott; brothers Wardell and Kenneth Campbell; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his Congregation and a host of relatives and friends; prgtoken Now, that we join with his family, Congregation and friends in deeply mourning the passing of our friend Bishop Willie James Campbell; and prgtoken Furthermore, we express to his family, Congregation, friends and all who knew him, our respect for his life and works, and we commend his soul to the Almighty God for peaceful repose.