mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JOYCE HABER SCHUCK
Doug Lamborn (Republican, CO) \u2014 2020-12-21

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life of Mrs. Joyce Haber Schuck, cherished wife, mother, grandmother, patriot, community activist, and dear friend. prgtoken Joyce was born December 9, 1937, to loving parents, Frank and Florence Haber, in Long Island, New York. She met the love of her life, Steve, while at a party hosted by a mutual friend. They married in 1958, following his college graduation. As newlyweds, Steve and Joyce lived and worked in Syracuse and New York City until they accomplished their dream of starting a family and moving to Colorado Springs. They had three beloved children: William David (1959), Thomas Allen (1961), and Ann Elizabeth (1968). prgtoken Joyce lived an extraordinary life by all measures. Her husband, Steve, describes her as ``beautiful at many levels, and bordering on being renaissance.'' Joyce embraced the popular role of being a homemaker to her family, but her efforts and passions didn't end there. Joyce returned to college in her 40s and graduated with a degree in social work. Her passion was always in the well-being of those less fortunate. prgtoken Joyce blazed historic trails in her community. She co-founded Community Transitions, a non-profit organization that served homeless families, established a volunteer program for the District Attorney's office, and built the DA's `Shape Up' initiative. She was appointed by Governor Bill Ritter to the board of the Charter School Institute and served on the boards of the League of Charter School and the Youth Transformation Center. Additionally, she co-founded and chaired the board of Colorado's first military charter school, the Colorado Military Academy. prgtoken The Schuck's had an unwavering commitment to children, particularly to those who are disadvantaged. They founded Parents Challenge, a nationwide nonprofit to empower low-income parents with financial and informational resources so that they may choose the schools best suited for their children's needs. Parents Challenge has been carrying out its mission of serving parents and children across our nation for over 21 years. prgtoken In a move that took her out of her comfort zone, Joyce embraced the campaign life when Steve sought the nomination for Governor of Colorado in 1986. Not so secretly, many expressed that they wished she was the candidate because she excelled at building relationships and communicating with people from all walks of life. Unbeknownst to Steve, Joyce kept a diary of her experience on the campaign, which she converted into a trailblazing book titled, ``Political Wives, Veiled Lives.'' prgtoken Joyce had many passions in her life, but none more than her family. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Florence, and sister Rolene. Joyce is survived by her loving husband Steve, children: Bill (Dede), Tom, and Ann; her grandchildren: Emily, Molly, Hillary, Whitney, Gabriel, Conner, Colton, and Bryce; great-grandchildren: Madyson
UNITED STATES-MEXICO ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP ACT
Michael K. Simpson (Republican, ID) \u2014 2020-12-21

I rise today in support of the fiscal year 2021 omnibus appropriations bill, and particularly the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. prgtoken As ranking member of the subcommittee, I am pleased this bill is significantly improved from the House bill in many ways. prgtoken First and foremost, the bill strongly supports our national nuclear security programs, providing $15.3 billion for the Weapons Activities account, an increase of $2.9 billion above fiscal year 2020. This funding supports the maintenance and modernization of our nuclear weapons system, which will ensure a credible and reliable nuclear deterrent. prgtoken One of my personal priorities is promoting innovation and growth in nuclear energy. This bill provides almost $1.4 billion for research, development, and demonstration activities, including increased funding for the Advanced Small Modular Reactors Program and the Advanced Reactors Demonstration Program, both programs focused on building the next generation of carbon-free technologies to be deployed here and abroad. prgtoken The bill also includes critical water storage projects in the drought-prone West, such as the Anderson Ranch Dam raise in my district in Idaho. prgtoken , before , I would like to thank the full committee ranking member, Kay Granger, who has so ably led our Conference on appropriations matters all Congress long. And full committee Chairwoman Lowey deserves our thanks for her many years of service in this committee and to the Nation. We will miss her. prgtoken Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Chairwoman Marcy Kaptur and I, again, worked well with our Senate partners, Lamar Alexander and Dianne Feinstein, to advance national and constituent interests throughout the programs that are funded in this bill. prgtoken Finally, I would like to thank staff on both sides of the aisle for their hard work--extremely hard work--particularly this last month, working to help bring this bill to completion. prgtoken , this appropriations package, which includes the Energy and Water division, is a strong bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
UNITED STATES-MEXICO ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP ACT
John R. Moolenaar (Republican, MI) \u2014 2020-12-21

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. prgtoken , I support the legislation finishing the appropriations process for 2021 because it funds important priorities for Michigan families. It includes funding for the construction of a new lock at the Soo Locks, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, rural broadband internet access, and NIH research into cures for cancer and Alzheimer's. prgtoken Of course, there is more work to do. prgtoken Many communities have been affected by disasters this year, including my district, where two dams failed and communities were flooded. prgtoken Congress should do more to help all communities affected by natural disasters this year, and I will be doing everything I can to help those in my district apply to receive Federal assistance. prgtoken I am glad we have this bill done for the American people, and I look forward to working with my colleagues across the aisle to craft bipartisan legislation again in the new year.
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
Susan M. Collins (Republican, ME) \u2014 2020-12-21

later tonight, the Senate will vote on comprehensive legislation to fund the government throughout the remainder of fiscal year 2021 and to provide additional, long-overdue funding to address the ongoing emergency needs of our country during the persistent COVID-19 pandemic. prgtoken I am proud to have helped lead a bipartisan, bicameral coalition that literally worked night and day to develop a commonsense plan that provided the foundation for this final agreement. prgtoken There are many important components of the package before us, including assistance for struggling families; additional funding for testing, vaccine distribution, and healthcare providers; resources to help our schools operate safely in a COVID environment; and aid for the Postal Service and for airlines, airports, mass transit, and motor coach companies that keep our country moving. prgtoken I come to the floor tonight, however, to focus on one aspect of the agreement, and that is the extension and expansion of the Paycheck Protection Program, better known as PPP. prgtoken As the Presiding Officer well knows, the PPP has been a critical lifeline for more than 5 million small employers, at one point helping to sustain the jobs of upwards of 50 million Americans. It was one of the most successful programs in the CARES Act. It was so successful that it went through the initial allotment of money in just 13 days, and then we had to pass additional legislation replenishing it. prgtoken In the State of Maine, the PPP has provided nearly $2.3 billion in forgivable loans to 28,000 small businesses--that is 3 out of 4 of the small businesses in my State--and has helped sustain more than 250,000 jobs. prgtoken In its original form, the program provided one-time loans sufficient to support 8 weeks of payroll, plus a limited amount to help cover certain overhead expenses. All of this was completely forgivable as long as the borrowers retained and paid their employees and kept within the other parameters of the program. Our whole purpose was to help our small businesses save jobs and pay their workers, keeping the employer- employee relationship alive so that they could reopen and Americans could quickly return to work when the pandemic subsided. prgtoken When Chairman Marco Rubio and I, together with Senators Ben Cardin and Jeanne Shaheen, put the PPP together at the onset of the national emergency, none of us could have imagined that the pandemic would still be forcing shutdowns and curtailing operations and that extreme mitigation measures would be necessary these many months later. Yet, sadly, the virus is still spreading, and many of the steps taken to fight it, although they may be necessary to protect public health, threaten catastrophic damage to many of our small businesses and their employees--small businesses that have now spent their PPP loan funds but are still unable to return to normal operations. prgtoken I talked with a rest
CORONAVIRUS
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2020-12-21

history will look back at 2020 and find many lessons and even some silver linings to unpack. prgtoken The loss of more than 300,000 American lives so far will be mourned for years to come. Operation Warp Speed, which President launched, turned out to be a historic public-private partnership. It has delivered a lifesaving vaccine in record time, shattering scientific benchmarks along the way. For the last 9 months, Americans have pulled together in shared sacrifice to do their part. prgtoken As the COVID-19 vaccine makes its way into the communities across our country as it is right now, I encourage my fellow Iowans to keep pulling together. When public health officials say it is your turn to get a vaccine, roll up your sleeve. I will be doing the same when my turn arrives. prgtoken Getting immunized is the only way we will beat the virus and get back to the normal way of American life. History will show Americans turned the page on the pandemic when all of us roll up our sleeves. prgtoken .
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-12-21

I rise to honor the passing of a great Kentuckian, Richard Ronald Knock, or Dick, as he was known to his friends and family. He died December 8, 2020, at the age of 82. prgtoken Dick was born June 28, 1938 in Cold Spring, KY. Dick's name was always mentioned with high praise. He was valued in his community, as he was known to lend a helping hand when needed and provided a thoughtful ear when spoken to. Mr. Knock came from a humble upbringing, but through his own deeds, he rose to the pinnacle of his profession, being a respected member of many institutions, including as CEO of Knock Investments; CEO of Omaha Enterprises; through his service on the Board of Trustees at University of the Cumberlands; and as chairman of Board of Commissioners for the Boone County Water District. prgtoken Dick was also an active political pundit within his community. His commitment to freedom was unmatched, and he often proved to be a great source of wisdom for elected leaders such as myself. Dick worked tirelessly in bringing s throughout the Commonwealth together in the name of freedom. I can recall during my first election he opened his house for an event that featured my predecessor, Senator Jim Bunning, that helped unify s in a critical area of our State. A picture from that event hangs in my Washington office to this day. With his passing, we have lost one of our brightest and loudest freedom fighters, but, as Dick would want, the voices of liberty will remain loud and clear. prgtoken While we share in the great sadness of his passing, it with great joy we look back at his life, his many accopmlishments, and the positive impact he had on his community and Kentuckians across the Commonwealth. We honor Dick and his family, and may he rest in peace.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 133, UNITED STATES-MEXICO ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP ACT; PROVIDING FOR DISPOSITION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 1520, PURPLE BOOK CONTINUITY ACT OF...
Tom Cole (Republican, OK) \u2014 2020-12-21

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Shalala), my good friend, for yielding me the customary 30 minutes. prgtoken Madam , we are here today to consider a rule that provides for consideration of a package of items that are of great importance to the country. prgtoken The House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 133 includes not only a bipartisan omnibus appropriations bill covering the remainder of fiscal year 2021, but also a $900 billion bipartisan pandemic relief package to provide help to millions of Americans who have suffered as a result of the pandemic. prgtoken It also includes a bipartisan compromise addressing surprise medical bills, something that has been a priority for both parties. prgtoken Finally, it includes a number of end-of-the-year tax and healthcare- related extenders that are critical to those they serve, especially during a pandemic. prgtoken While I know that we are all thrilled to be here today to bring these items to the floor, I am frustrated that it has taken this long to reach this deal, and I know the American people share that frustration. prgtoken The reality is that we could have had this deal months ago on a pandemic relief package, and we could have had this deal. Individual components could have been passed across the floor in July of this year. Instead, Americans were left to suffer. All the while, jobs were being lost and businesses being closed; all the while, small businesses across the country were forced to make difficult decisions about which employees to keep and which staff to let go; all the while, a deal was available here in Congress that could have extended unemployment insurance and extended the Paycheck Protection Program, a program which in the House rejected extending 41 times. prgtoken These two key backstops could have helped millions of Americans. Instead, chose to play politics and chose not to take yes for an answer. But now that the election is over and the end of the year is at hand, suddenly there is room for a deal, a very bipartisan deal that was on the table all along and that could have been passed into law months ago. prgtoken Madam , for today, we will look past that. Though this overall bill is massive, I think it is easiest to digest if you consider it in three separate sections: prgtoken Section 1 is the bipartisan, bicameral omnibus appropriations bill, which will include our appropriations work for fiscal year 2021. The appropriations process works best when it is bipartisan, and with today's bill, we have accomplished that end. prgtoken Once we step past the partisanship, we are able to work together and reach a deal that will fully fund the government for the fiscal year. Our constituents deserve no less. prgtoken Madam , the deal before us covers all 12 spending bills and it ensures that taxpayer dollars will go where they are needed most. In
TRIBUTE TO LAMAR ALEXANDER
Richard C. Shelby (Republican, AL) \u2014 2020-12-21

I would like to start by thanking my good friend Senator Lamar Alexander for his nearly two decades in the Senate and his longstanding devotion to improving our country. His dedication to the people of Tennessee and Americans throughout our Nation has been unwavering. We have served together in the Senate for 18 years, but he has been in public service for much longer than that. prgtoken I remember when Senator Alexander was first elected to the Senate in 2002. He was no stranger to his new colleagues. Lamar had already served as the Governor of Tennessee, the president of the University of Tennessee, and the Secretary of Education under George H.W. . He also ran for President in 1996 and again in 2000. prgtoken We should have seen the writing on the wall then--that Senator Alexander would be one of the smartest and most ambitious Members we would serve with throughout our careers. prgtoken Born in Maryville, TN, Lamar graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vanderbilt University and went on to receive his juris doctor from the New York University, NYU, School of Law. He then clerked on the Fifth Circuit for Judge John Minor Wisdom in New Orleans. prgtoken Following his time in Louisiana, he moved to Washington to work as a legislative assistant for then-Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee. This is when he met his beloved wife Honey. They married and had four children, and his remarkable career took off. prgtoken During Lamar's time as a U.S. Senator, he served as the chairman of the prgtoken Senate conference, an important leadership position in which he influenced his fellow Members to accomplish conservative achievements by working in unison. prgtoken Currently, Lamar is the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, HELP, Committee-- a``Class A'' committee in the Senate. In 2016, he was instrumental in passing the overwhelmingly bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act--landmark legislation that has brought new innovations and advances to patients who need them faster and more efficiently. prgtoken I have been blessed to serve with Lamar on the Senate Rules Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee, where he is the current chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. prgtoken In this role on Appropriations, he has supported and advanced a host of important national priorities, such as nuclear security, critical infrastructure projects across the country, and the science and research taking place at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. I, along with my colleagues on the committee, am grateful for his hard work to craft many years of significant and influential funding measures. prgtoken Lamar came to the Senate as a staffer and is leaving as chairman of one of the largest and most significant committees in the Senate. His impact and leadership during his time here has been both substantial and constructive. prgtoken Lamar and I have travelled the world together. Annett
JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-12-21

this explanation reflects the status of negotiations and disposition of issues reached between the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. prgtoken The explanation shall have the same effect with respect to the implementation of this act as if it were a joint explanatory statement of a conference committee. prgtoken I ask unanimous consent that the joint explanatory statement for the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 be printed into the Record.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 133, UNITED STATES-MEXICO ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP ACT; PROVIDING FOR DISPOSITION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 1520, PURPLE BOOK CONTINUITY ACT OF...
Debbie Lesko (Republican, AZ) \u2014 2020-12-21

. Madam , I am glad that we finally have a bipartisan deal for COVID relief, but the process has been absolutely terrible. prgtoken I have to tell you that we have, what, 6,000 pages? And what did we get? prgtoken We got it, like, maybe 2 hours ago, the text of it. We were waiting all night. prgtoken In fact, Pelosi had called Members back last week. We thought we were going to be doing this last Wednesday. Instead, we were doing all these suspension bills. People had to fly from all over the country--all the Congress Members--in crowded airports, crowded planes; not really good for mitigating COVID, if you ask me. prgtoken Madam , I will say, though, that I am glad that, finally, after months and months of s asking for a bipartisan COVID relief bill that could actually get signed into law, we are actually here today, even if it is a couple days before Christmas. And it is a bill that will help small businesses and their workers, will help the airline industry, will be a solution to Americans who are struggling with surprise medical bills. prgtoken For those who are unemployed because of the coronavirus, because the governments have shut down the businesses, it will give unemployment insurance relief. But there will be protections in there to make sure that the people are really unemployed and that they will accept a reasonable offer for a job. prgtoken Also good in the bill is that there is not only money for vaccine procurement but for distribution of the vaccines. prgtoken On that note, I want to applaud President for his action in Operation Warp Speed and for working with the private sector to get vaccines done and out the door in record time. This has never been done before in history. Normally, it takes years and years for vaccines to be done. prgtoken Thank you, President , for your hard work for the American people.
CORONAVIRUS
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2020-12-21

I am, like many of my colleagues, very pleased that we have reached an agreement on a final COVID relief package and none too soon. prgtoken Last week, we celebrated what will, hopefully, be a turning point in the COVID fight--the first coronavirus vaccinations. We need to build on that momentum and make sure that vaccine distribution goes swiftly and smoothly so that we can vaccinate as many Americans as possible as quickly as possible. The COVID relief package will help us achieve that goal by providing important funding for vaccine distribution. It will also provide critical support to Americans to help them weather the rest of the pandemic, including a second round of paycheck protection funding for the hardest hit small businesses, money to help schools reopen safely and operate so that our kids aren't left behind, and more money for coronavirus treatment and other frontline medical priorities. prgtoken I am very pleased that the final package includes my Paycheck Protection for Producers Act, which will help more farmers and ranchers benefit from the Paycheck Protection Program. The bill also includes funding to allow the Department of Agriculture to provide additional assistance to farmers and ranchers. Ag producers were dealing with a challenging agricultural economy even before the pandemic hit, and the coronavirus has only made things tougher. I strongly advocated for including additional funding for farmers and ranchers in this legislation, and I am very glad that the final bill includes this support. prgtoken The final package also explicitly makes biofuels, like ethanol and biodiesel, eligible for USDA assistance at the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture. Biofuel producers have suffered from a drop in fuel demand during the pandemic, and I hope the Secretary will ensure that they are able to receive assistance, which will further help our ag economy recover. prgtoken I am very happy that the COVID relief package includes an extension of the Thune-Warner Employer Participation in Repayment Act. The Thune- Warner bill allows employers to make tax-free contributions to their employees' student loans of up to $5,250 per year. This is a win for employees, who get help in paying off their student loans, and it is a win for employers as they look to attract and retain talented workers. Our bill was included in the CARES Act--the major coronavirus relief legislation we passed in March--but it was scheduled to expire at the end of the year. Under the coronavirus relief package, however, our legislation will be extended for an additional 5 years. prgtoken The COVID relief package also includes Senator Cornyn's Small Business Expense Protection Act, which I cosponsored. This legislation will ensure that small businesses that qualify for forgiveness of their Paycheck Protection Program loans can still deduct their ordinary business expenses on their taxes. prgtoken The relief package