mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DR. LORNA BREEN HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PROTECTION ACT
Judy Chu (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-12-8

. Madam , I rise today in strong support of the Dr. Lorna Breen Act. prgtoken The past 2 years have stretched our Nation to the brink. No one has shouldered this burden more than our healthcare workers. The doctors, nurses, and all healthcare workers who have worked day in and day out through surge after surge have put their lives on hold to care for us and our loved ones as the pandemic spread around the country. prgtoken In many instances, they have done this while understaffed, without sufficient PPE, and knowing that they are putting their own lives at risk before a vaccine was available to them. This can have a profound impact on a provider's mental health. Today, we are prgtoken taking an important step to ensure that they get the help they need. prgtoken The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act establishes grants for training healthcare workers and strategies to reduce and prevent suicide burnout, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders. It also establishes a national awareness campaign to encourage healthcare professionals to seek support and treatment for mental health issues. prgtoken As one of the two psychologists in Congress, I know how much mental healthcare matters and how much stigma can prevent someone from getting the help they need. By passing this bill today, we can say to healthcare workers: You are not alone. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation.
NASA ENHANCED USE LEASING EXTENSION ACT OF 2021
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-12-8

I rise in support of H.R. 5746, the ``NASA Enhanced Use Lease Extension Act of 2021''. prgtoken I want to thank Chairman Beyer of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics for introducing this bipartisan bill, along with Subcommittee Rankin Member Babin, Representative Troy Carter, and Representative Young Kim , as original cosponsors. prgtoken As Chair of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I've had the privilege over the years to visit many NASA Field Centers and witness the extensive infrastructure required to support our nation's inspiring space program. prgtoken Some of those properties are underutilized and many are aging. Therefore, they can fall into disrepair. prgtoken NASA facilities, properties, and infrastructure comprise over 5,000 buildings and structures, including those at its field centers, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. prgtoken The extension of enhanced use leasing authority in this bill helps NASA manage the agency's real property, including the preservation of underutilized or unique, historic properties. prgtoken As Chairman Beyer noted, enhanced use leasing, or ``EUL'', allows NASA to enter into agreements with state and local governments, academia, private sector entities, and other Federal government agencies to lease non-excess and underutilized properties at NASA. prgtoken EUL authority allows the agency to accept lease revenues, in turn helping NASA to reduce operating costs and make repairs and improvements to facility systems. prgtoken According to NASA, in Fiscal Year 2019, five NASA Centers used enhanced use leasing resulting in a total of over $10 million in net revenue for the agency. prgtoken Congress first granted NASA authority to demonstrate enhanced use leasing at two NASA Field Centers as part the Fiscal Year 2003 Consolidated Appropriations Resolution. prgtoken The Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act expanded the authority to agency-wide use. prgtoken Since then, the authority has been amended in 2008, and further amended in 2012 to allow NASA to accept in-kind considerations for leases for the purpose of developing renewable energy production facilities. prgtoken The most recent extension of EUL authority was in the Fiscal Year 2020 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, where the authority was extended for 2 years, until December 31, 2021, the end of this year. The bill we are considering today provides a clean ten-year extension until December 31, 2031. prgtoken This longer term extension provides consistency and certainty to NASA and tenants, allowing NASA to continue existing EUL arrangements and make progress on developing new arrangements that are currently underway. prgtoken Enhanced use leasing is an important, well-used authority that benefits NASA and the many institutions that enter into EUL leases. We must act now to extend it. prgtoken With that, , I urge my colleagues to vote yes and pass H.R. 5746, the bipartisan ``NASA Enhanced Use Le
NASA ENHANCED USE LEASING EXTENSION ACT OF 2021
Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2021-12-8

. such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise today to support passage of the bipartisan NASA Enhanced Use Leasing Extension Act of 2021, H.R. 5746. prgtoken I want to thank my colleagues, Ranking Member Brian Babin of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, Representative Troy Carter, and Representative Young Kim, for being original cosponsors. prgtoken , this is a commonsense bill that would enable public- and private-sector entities the opportunity to benefit from NASA property that is not fully used, while helping NASA manage its vast facilities and maintenance challenges. prgtoken The act would extend NASA'S authority to enter into leases for underutilized, non-excess real property, including office space, testing and launch facilities, and hangars, to other Federal, State, and local government agencies, academic institutions, and private- sector entities. prgtoken NASA's existing enhanced use lease authority, or EUL, expires on the last day of this month, December 31, 2021. prgtoken While several short-term extensions have previously been enacted, this act provides a clean, 10-year extension that will create more certainty for NASA and the many EUL partners who benefit from the authority. According to the July 2021 NASA testimony to the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, that I chair and Dr. Babin is the ranking member of, the agency has 70 ongoing leases at six NASA centers. prgtoken The authority also allows NASA to retain lease revenue and apply it toward maintenance, capital revitalization, and improvement of NASA's real property assets. prgtoken That is important because with the majority of NASA's facilities dating back to the Apollo era and over 80 percent beyond their design life, maintenance is an ongoing challenge. NASA currently manages a deferred maintenance backlog of $2.6 billion. The revenue NASA receives from enhanced use leases, $10.8 million in fiscal year 2019, can help avoid further increases to that backlog. prgtoken EUL authority also benefits the private entities, the Federal, State, and local government agencies, and the academic institutions that enter into lease agreements to use specialized facilities and properties, such as launch infrastructure, while also providing the valuable service to NASA of maintaining the properties. prgtoken In addition, co-locating other Federal, State, and local government agencies, private-sector entities, and other institutions on NASA properties creates a vibrancy and community at NASA centers that benefits NASA and its workforce, including through partnerships with those institutions. prgtoken , NASA's leadership and success in expanding our knowledge through groundbreaking scientific discoveries and extending human presence deeper into space inspires our youth, advances our technological capacity, and strengthens our economy. prgtoken Enabling such an inspiring mission requires unique infrastructure and extensive property and
DR. LORNA BREEN HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PROTECTION ACT
Haley M. Stevens (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-12-8

. Madam , I rise today to voice support for my friend Representative Susan Wild's bipartisan Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, a bill that establishes training programs for healthcare workers to prevent suicide and burnout. prgtoken As I am here in Congress today, I think of my constituents back home in Michigan who are in the midst of another COVID-19 spike, who are in our hospitals telling us they are full, who cannot provide care in the way they have been trained and taught and in the way they would like to. These spikes leave us exhausted. They leave our healthcare workers all the more stressed. prgtoken People are being pushed to the limit. Since the start of this pandemic, Michigan's healthcare workforce has become fragile. We have lost workers due to the stress of this pandemic, yet this bipartisan legislation that brings us together here today will provide support to the workforce. prgtoken Michigan healthcare workers deserve this. They are working and are continuing to work on the front lines of this pandemic. It is time to change how our healthcare industry approaches mental health. We must step up to provide a more reliable culture and supportive infrastructure for healthcare professionals to count on for years to come. prgtoken It took a pandemic for us to get this Dr. Lorna Breen bill, and we will not forget our healthcare workers. We will continue to stand up for them.
Pell Grant Program (Executive Calendar)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-12-8

. Peng Shuai. Well, I will accept you as my Mandarin coach and refer to her as Peng Shuai. prgtoken It is outrageous. She reports sexual abuse by a high-ranking official and then she disappears and they feed us occasional videotapes. prgtoken Well, I want to join you in commending the Women's Tennis Association, and I also want to add that I prgtoken think the President was correct in not only saying that we were going to withhold any diplomats being sent over to China during the next round of the Olympic Games, but I understand the administration is reaching out to other countries to join us. prgtoken Whether it is the Uighers or whether it is Ms. Peng Shuai, outrageous human rights abuses should not be ignored. And as I glance at your resolution here, it looks like you hit the nail on the head. prgtoken So why am I reserving the right to object? prgtoken Here is something that I think would be helpful in the cause of human rights. What if the United States of America actually had an Ambassador in China? prgtoken Think about that possibility. We would have someone representing our country on the scene in Beijing working for the United States, speaking up for human rights. prgtoken Well, what is holding us back? Why won't nominate somebody for this job? prgtoken Well, it turns out he did, a man named Nicholas Burns. prgtoken Well, we all know him. He has a long record of diplomacy in Foreign Service--service in Russia and other places. He is a key man in the State Department and one that we can rely on. And he should be in Beijing fighting for the causes that you and I agree on today. prgtoken What can possibly be holding him up? We need him there. prgtoken Well, it turns out he is being held up by that side of the aisle objecting to his being called. prgtoken Well, we have a chance to resolve that today. We can pass not only your resolution, but we can appoint Mr. Burns as the Ambassador to China and get it done and he could be on a plane in the morning. prgtoken How about that? That would be an amazing thing to accomplish. You take that home to Florida, and I will take that home to Illinois. It is a good day's work. prgtoken And so, to reach that end, I ask that the pending request be modified as follows: Notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate proceed to the consideration of the following nomination: Calendar No. 525, R. Nicholas Burns, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to People's Republic of China; that the nomination be confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and then, as if in legislative session, the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of your resolution, S. Res. 474, submitted earlier today; that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to recons
RECOGNIZING CAPTAIN DEREK HERRERA AS MY CONSTITUENT OF THE MONTH
Mike Levin (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-12-8

. Madam , it is my great honor to recognize Marine Corps Bronze Star veteran, Captain Derek Herrera, for my November Constituent of the Month. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, Captain Herrera attended The Basic School and Infantry Officers Course in Quantico, Virginia. From then on, he was deployed on several missions, the last of these in June of 2012 in Afghanistan. On this mission, Captain Herrera was shot and paralyzed from the chest down. He was medically evacuated back to the United States. prgtoken While he was determined to walk again, Captain Herrera came to realize that his injury was more permanent than he anticipated. With this new found understanding and a new mission, Herrera refused to give up his dream of finding normalcy, and in this process, discovered his new life's calling. Captain Herrera began forging his new path by pursuing a Master of Business Administration at UCLA and founding UroDev Medical, a company that designs and manufactures innovative solutions for men living with Urinary Retention. prgtoken As he learned more about medical research and technology, Captain Herrera became intrigued not only by its' potential to help him, but also others with disabilities, including his fellow injured veterans. That's when Captain Herrera discovered the ReWalk Exoskeleton, a product that enables Captain Herrera to walk, stand, and sit. Although this technology isn't permanent, Herrera saw a space and opportunity within the medical technology realm to give veterans injured in combat, another chance to feel a semblance of normalcy. prgtoken Overcoming a life-changing injury is an incredible challenge, and I am inspired by the strength and perseverance Captain Herrera has embodied in his recovery journey and beyond. I thank Captain Herrera for his service to our country and his dedication to helping other veterans in similar circumstances. Captain Herrera's personal decorations are a testament to his selfless service and sacrifice, including the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Bronze Star (with combat distinguishing device), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. As long as I have the privilege to serve as Vice Chairman on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I will look to heroes like Captain Herrera as an exemplary model of what it means to serve and support our veterans with reverence and resolve. I am deeply grateful for Captain Herrera's continued service in helping our veterans, and I'm proud to recognize him as my Constituent of the Month.
CELEBRATING FRED GRAY'S 91ST BIRTHDAY
Terri A. Sewell (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2021-12-8

I rise to honor a true American hero and one of our Nation's most distinguished civil rights lawyers, Attorney Fred Gray, Sr as he celebrates his 91st birthday on December 14, 2021. prgtoken A native of Alabama's Seventh Congressional District, Attorney Gray was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and came of age during the height of the Jim Crow segregation era. prgtoken One of Alabama's first Black lawyers, he successfully litigated groundbreaking civil rights cases, representing the likes of Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin, Reverend Martin Luther King, and even our own John Lewis and those protesters who dared to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. His trailblazing work dared this Nation to live up to its highest ideals, leading to the desegregation of the University of Alabama, Auburn University, and Alabama's public schools. prgtoken Attorney Gray's long and accomplished career fought back against injustice wherever it existed. To paraphrase one of his clients, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Attorney Gray was a drum major for justice, peace, and righteousness. prgtoken As we celebrate another year of Attorney Gray's life, it is my hope that President will strongly consider awarding him our Nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. There is no one more deserving. Let's give him his flowers as he lives.
EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE FAILED TO ADHERE TO ITS OWN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITMENTS
Jennifer Wexton (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2021-12-8

I thank Chairman Meeks for bringing this bill to the floor and to Pelosi for her steadfast commitment to holding the PRC accountable for its human rights abuses. Thank you also to my colead on the resolution, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Waltz). It has been a pleasure to work with him in such a bipartisan way. prgtoken , I rise in strong support of my resolution calling on the People's Republic of China to immediately guarantee the safety and freedom of Peng Shuai and condemning the International Olympic Committee for its shameful handling of the situation and failure to uphold its own human rights standards. prgtoken Over 1 month has passed since tennis superstar and three-time Olympian Peng Shuai was censored and disappeared after alleging her rape by a senior member of China's Communist Party. prgtoken Within minutes of posting the allegations on Chinese social media site Weibo, the post disappeared, and shortly thereafter all mentions of Peng on social media did, too. prgtoken Since then, Peng has not been seen or heard from in public and has only been seen in videos released by the Chinese state media, raising serious questions about her safety and freedom and leaving the world to ask: Where is Peng Shuai? prgtoken Her case has drawn support from all over the world, including from tennis stars Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, and Novak Djokovic. The hashtag ``Where is Peng Shuai'' has trended globally on Twitter. prgtoken Women's Tennis Association CEO Steve Simon called for a full and transparent investigation into Peng's allegations and eventually suspended all WTA tournaments in China, citing concerns about the risks players could face at the hands of the PRC. prgtoken The WTA's actions and Peng's bravery in coming forward stand in stark contrast to the IOC, which is undermining efforts to secure Peng's safety by working hand-in-hand with Beijing to cover up her allegations and disappearance. prgtoken Instead of prioritizing the safety of an Olympian who may be in danger, the IOC is once again putting its bottom line over athletes' safety and allowing itself to be used as a tool by the world's worst human rights abuser. prgtoken In a matter of weeks, our athletes will be in Beijing for the opening ceremonies of the 2022 Winter Games, and the IOC's complicity in this coverup raises serious questions about the organization's ability or even their willingness to protect our athletes. prgtoken Today, we are calling on the PRC to provide independent and verifiable proof of Peng's whereabouts and that she is safe and to allow Peng to communicate directly with the WTA and the United Nations. prgtoken The IOC must call on the PRC to undertake these actions immediately, stop legitimizing Beijing's coverup, and uphold its own human rights commitments to protect the safety and speech of Olympic athletes. The world is watching.
China (Executive Session)
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2021-12-8

. I rise today in opposition to the latest effort by s to undermine Americans' health and safety. COVID-19 remains a grave danger. We have lost more than 775,000 Americans to this virus, and cases are rising yet again. prgtoken Despite this clear and present danger, millions of workers across this country have been showing up to their jobs every day since this pandemic began. Essential workers, nurses, doctors, janitors, security guards, retail employees, and countless more were never able to work remotely. They can't Zoom to the cash register, checkout, or the driver's seat of a bus. But these workers faced and continue to face on-the-job exposures and the hazards those exposures entail. prgtoken We are lucky to have tools to mitigate these dangers for workers. Testing works. Vaccines work. Booster shots work. Masks work. And as these new variants begin circulating around the globe and as vaccine effectiveness begins to wane, for those who were among the first vaccinated, especially for older Americans and the immune compromised, it is incredibly important that everyone get their boosters now. prgtoken Let me just say that again: If you are eligible, don't wait. Get your booster shot now. If you have two shots already and you got them 6 months ago, you are not fully vaccinated. If you don't have your third shot right now, you are not fully vaccinated. If you have two shots already, and it is more than 6 months after you got those first two shots, just understand that, when you say ``I am vaccinated,'' it is not accurate. You need the third shot. prgtoken Not only do the vaccines work, but vaccine requirements work. They increase vaccination rates and improve worker safety. We have seen in Massachusetts that, as the State government implemented vaccine requirements, vaccination rates approached 95 percent of State employees. prgtoken We aren't just the Bay State; we are also the ``Brain State.'' We listened to what scientists and medical experts are telling us. prgtoken So to protect workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, at the Department of Labor, published a rule known as an emergency temporary standard--an emergency temporary standard, or ETS. That emergency temporary standard will keep employees safe by requiring large companies to ensure that each of their workers is fully vaccinated. prgtoken And if employees cannot or will not be vaccinated, they simply must test negative for COVID-19 at least once a week before coming into work. It is as simple as that: Get vaccinated or get tested. prgtoken The ETS also requires that employees protect their coworkers by wearing a mask in the workplace. This requirement is not onerous. In fact, it is flexible for all workers to require employees to provide paid time off to workers to get vaccinated and ensures that paid leave is provided for recovery from any side effects of the vaccinations that keep employees from being able to wor
DR. LORNA BREEN HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PROTECTION ACT
David N. Cicilline (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2021-12-8

. Madam , for too long, healthcare providers struggling with mental illness have suffered in silence, intimidated by stigma and afraid of being penalized for seeking treatment. prgtoken Even before the pandemic, 42 percent of the physicians reported experiencing burnout, and 40 percent reported a reluctance to seek treatment for a medical health condition. This is far too many people suffering in silence. prgtoken How can we expect our doctors to take care of us when they feel they can't take care of themselves? prgtoken The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, named for a doctor who lost her life to suicide after fighting on the front lines of the pandemic, will help reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and mental health conditions of healthcare professionals. It does so by supporting training to prevent suicide and burnout; creating a national awareness campaign encouraging healthcare professionals to seek support for mental health concerns; and establishing a comprehensive study on healthcare professional mental health and burnout, including the impact of the pandemic. prgtoken Our healthcare professionals have been serving on the front lines, taking care of us amid an unprecedented global pandemic. It is time we take care of them. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation.