mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CORONAVIRUS
Doug Jones (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2020-3-20

I appreciate the opportunity to speak today in the wake of what is going on. prgtoken I appreciate my colleague from Tennessee talking about supply chains. I completely agree with her. It is something that we are going to have to seriously look at as we get through this process. We have become too dependent. I appreciate her efforts in that regard. prgtoken I want to talk today--I know we have a lot going on up here. For those who are watching and the American people, you need to understand that while this Gallery may be empty and this floor may be empty, there is a lot going on in the Senate right now. There is a lot happening to try to make sure that we save this economy, that we do those things necessary to try to make sure our businesses, our workers, and our economy from all sectors are saved. prgtoken Again, I want to go back to the thing you can do as Americans, and that is to stop the spread of this virus. Do social distancing. Do those things we have talked about now for several weeks to try to get folks to do their part because we are trying to do our part. We are doing this in an incredibly bipartisan effort. I think you will see a lot of things coming out of the Senate and out of the House, along with the administration, to try to make sure we do those things for Americans. prgtoken Over the past few weeks, I have talked with countless business owners and local and State officials. I have heard from a lot of folks who are scared to death, working folks who are now at home. They are not telecommuting because their jobs are not like that. They are alarmed about where we are today and where we are going to be tomorrow and next week and over the coming weeks and even potentially months. prgtoken Businesses are having to lay off folks. They are having to furlough workers, sending a surge of folks to the unemployment line. We have seen that in just the last few days, which is something that, as we were moving, we thought we would not see. prgtoken Small businesses, like restaurants and Main Street retailers, will go bankrupt if we are not careful. They are going to go bankrupt without customers, as folks stay home and practice the social distancing that we know we have to do and as States start enacting forced closures of schools and events. Those businesses will shutter. Hopefully, it will only be a temporary shutting. prgtoken First and foremost, there are steps we can all take to stop the spread of the virus and begin to get the economy on the right track. It is up to us individually. In the meantime, we, as Members of Congress and public officials across this country--from local county officials and city officials to the Governors and State legislators and Members of Congress--we have to do all we can to make sure our businesses, particularly the small businesses, which make up an overwhelming amount of business in the State of Alabama in particular, can continue to meet payroll and kee
CORONAVIRUS
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-3-20

yesterday I came to the floor with some optimism about what we could be including prgtoken in the legislation currently being considered in the Senate to respond to the coronavirus public health emergency. I laid out priorities ranging from shoring up the hospital systems to measures to provide direct assistance to students, workers, businesses, and families through this economic crisis. prgtoken Since that time, Leader McConnell has released the draft of his offering for this third package. It is a 250-page bill that some estimate will cost $1 trillion. That is a daunting pricetag, except when you put it in context of the American economy and what it takes to keep us on track or put us back on track. prgtoken Our top priority must be immediate, direct relief to the healthcare sector--our heroic doctors, nurses, first responders, lab techs, and the hospitals and health clinics they support. prgtoken Yesterday I spent an hour on the telephone with the Governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, talking about the reality on the ground in my home State and the choices he faced. It is a tough job being Governor-- never tougher than when you have to make a decision about the lifestyle of families and individuals, about the businesses and their future, and, literally, a life-and-death choice in terms of policy. No one willingly accepts that, but when you run for high office, there is always that possibility. prgtoken He is concerned--and I share his concern--about the capacity of our hospitals and clinics in Illinois to deal with the infections that are becoming more and more common in our State. The numbers of infections are growing as the number of tests are increasing, which is an indication that there are many undiagnosed people in our midst, and that number is likely to continue to increase. prgtoken Those who administer the hospitals of Illinois have given us some yardsticks to measure the future. They suggest to us that if 20 percent of the population of my State should become infected for a 12-month period of time, they will need 88 percent of our hospital resources to respond. If that same 20 percent becomes infected over a 6-month period of time, it will be double that capacity; in other words, 176 percent of our current hospital capacity. It would push our system beyond the breaking point. If the infection rate, though, is double that--40 percent for any period of time--our hospitals, as good as they are, as big as they are, as prepared as they are, can't handle it. prgtoken If that is the situation in our State, it is the situation in many other States. At that point, we will be dealing with serious overcrowding and triage decisions being made under heartbreaking circumstances. prgtoken That is why many of us on this side of the aisle feel that this third package offered by the other side really needs to be changed and improved so that we do have what Senator Schumer is calling a Marshall
CORONAVIRUS
Cory A. Booker (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-3-20

this past week, we have seen that the spread of COVID-19 has really become a crisis not just for our Nation but a crisis for every American. Today, millions of Americans are asking themselves how they will endure this crisis, how long will the crisis last, how will it affect their families, their communities, and their Nation as a whole. prgtoken We have many people who are now trying to do the dollars-and-cents of this crisis, literally sitting down to try to calculate how many weeks they can stretch the last 2 weeks of pay. prgtoken We see people who have been furloughed, had their hours reduced, been laid off. prgtoken We have seen that small businesses--from the mom-and-pop pizza joints, to small interior design shops, to barber shops--are all trying to determine how they can keep themselves afloat when their doors are closed and how they can deal with their fixed costs. prgtoken I have been on the phone with so many employers in my own State who have spoken to me about the challenges they have trying to continue to cover the health insurance of their employees even with the fact that no revenue is being brought in by their businesses. prgtoken Over and over again, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, our sports arenas, hotels--all of them have been emptied, and millions of workers have been let go and had their hours slashed. prgtoken On top of that, schools across this country, from colleges to kindergartens, have been closed, and millions of families are now scrambling to try to find childcare. College students are displaced and moving back in with families. prgtoken This is, on so many levels, a true crisis like none of us have ever faced before in our Nation. The emotions are running the gamut. People are angry. People are afraid. People are fearful for their own physical safety, as well as their economic well-being. prgtoken This is something that is challenging because we do not know how long it will last. The one thing we do know is that this crisis is a shared one, but many people face their own privately painful challenges. I will give one example. prgtoken There is a single mother in my State--a mother of two--who works at a nursing home and is also raising her granddaughter. At work, she cares for elderly patients, and because family members can no longer visit, she is rising to the challenge of not just being a professional there, but she also feels she is serving as a surrogate family member. Now, for weeks, the basic personal protective equipment she needs to keep herself safe is in short supply and is literally dwindling. prgtoken For all of this incredible work, this incredible dedication literally on the frontlines, she makes $14 an hour. With schools now closing, her teenage children will be responsible for caring for her granddaughter while she works because she can't afford childcare. She doesn't know what she would do if she got sick and actually had to miss work. She is living e
SENATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-3-21

Senators' bipartisan discussions continued all day yesterday and through the night. Both sides' negotiators, with the administration, are continuing to work toward a bipartisan agreement on major legislation to support American workers and families, protect small businesses, help to stabilize our economy, and put more resources on the frontlines of our healthcare battle against the coronavirus. prgtoken As of now, an agreement has yet to be finalized, but our committee chairs, their ic counterparts, and President 's representatives are making important progress. prgtoken Yesterday, I took action on the floor to keep the process moving along with the urgency that it demands. By rule, it set up our first procedural vote for tomorrow, and then, on Monday, the Senate will vote on passage. prgtoken It has only been 2 days since Senate s introduced the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to give shape and structure to these urgent discussions. We put forward four objectives: prgtoken First, put emergency cash in the hands of individuals and families as quickly as possible. prgtoken Second, deliver the major relief that American small businesses need at this unprecedented time, and deliver it fast. prgtoken Three, help bring some stability to our economy and prevent as many layoffs as possible. prgtoken Four, continue to rush resources to the frontline healthcare workers and providers who are actually treating patients. prgtoken And perhaps most important of all, we looked specifically for policies that could do all of the above as quickly as humanly possible. prgtoken Small businesses all across the country have made it clear: If they are going to keep their lights on and keep their employees on payroll, they need help, and they need it now. prgtoken Americans who have already been laid off due to this crisis have made it clear they need help and they need it now. Key national industries which are hemorrhaging business through no fault of their own but due to the government's own public health guidance have made it clear: In order to retain their workers, they need help, and they need it now. prgtoken In particular, every single American who has opened a newspaper or turned on the television in the last week has heard from our brave nurses, doctors, first responders, and public health experts: If our Nation is going to punch back and beat this virus, the people on the medical frontlines need our help, and they need it now. prgtoken Senate s put out our starting proposal as fast as we could. Then I created a structure for bipartisan discussions to begin as fast as they could. No legislation will move through the Senate that does not contain ideas from both parties. That is the way this body is designed. So these bipartisan talks have been essential, and they are ongoing, but what we need to do now is move forward. prgtoken Now, 2 days ago the press reported that a se
MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019--Motion to Proceed--Resumed
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2020-3-21

I come to the floor today to provide an update on the bold, bipartisan action Congress is taking to respond to the pandemic we have with the coronavirus. prgtoken First, we are all deeply saddened by the loss of life due to the outbreak in this country and globally. I know, , it has affected your State in terms of disease as well as death; in my State, disease, not yet death, and we are hoping to prevent that. All of us remain very concerned about the great loss of life and the suffering that is happening as a result of this. prgtoken These are extraordinary times. We are fighting a world war to defeat a virus. We want to do it to save lives but also to keep people safe. prgtoken This war has two fronts I know you discussed these on television the other evening. I listened carefully about the impact on your State. As you said, we are fighting on the front of public health as well as the health of our economy. prgtoken The coronavirus right now is controlling our economy. It has taken a dominant role. To stop this disease, the Nation has largely shut down. prgtoken These temporary restrictions on our daily activities are necessary in an effort to limit new cases and the spread of the disease. Yet the economic fallout is devastating millions of hard-working American families. Once we defeat the virus, we will rebuild. Our economy will bounce back. We are a strong and resilient Nation, and we always bounce back, and we will again. prgtoken First, we need to make it through this medical crisis. This is going to require big and bold and bipartisan action. The American people need help. I would reassure the American people that Congress is responding. This is a national rescue operation, as I see it, and help is on the way. prgtoken President and Congress are coming together in a bipartisan way to ease the pain of the American people. It is going to take time. It is going to happen. We are sending immediate relief, and we have done that. We are sending financial support--plus medical support--to people all across America. prgtoken The bill being considered on the floor right now is called the CARES Act. It stands for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. It will bolster our economy, and it will help working families. This bill allows us to deliver direct cash payments to most Americans to see people through this economic downturn. People who work in small businesses and people who own small businesses will receive federally guaranteed loans to help them stay viable and keep their businesses viable so that they can keep their employees on the payroll until we get to a point where they are--from a disease standpoint--able to reopen the businesses. We want them to be viable when the day comes that businesses can reopen all across America. prgtoken The CARES Act is major legislation that will stabilize our economy and protect American jobs. It also includes crit
SENATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2020-3-21

I am leading negotiations on tax and healthcare issues as part of the third phase of economic relief to help workers, families, and small businesses. We have been working through tough issues, and we must do it in short order. prgtoken The American people need Congress to put partisan politics aside and provide them relief as quickly as possible to get the economy turned around, and we must demand this of ourselves as well. prgtoken Our multifaceted approach includes recovery checks to Americans, enhanced unemployment insurance, and much needed resources for our healthcare system. This is just one piece of the Senate's comprehensive package; in other words, there are a lot of other Senators who are working in separate arenas to accomplish in that area what I am trying to accomplish through the Finance Committee. prgtoken I hope that and my colleagues in the House of Representatives will work with us to pass our relief package as quickly as possible. This requires all hands on deck. prgtoken From what I just said, you might draw the conclusion that fighting this virus pandemic is going to be just a role for the Congress of the United States, as important as that role is, but also, as you read how people are responding, we have to thank a lot of private large and small businesses that we read about that are stepping into this abyss that we call the pandemic. prgtoken While we are wringing our hands--and we all ought to be wringing our hands--you read about manufacturing plants of different varieties all over the country converting production to badly needed hospital supplies and testing supplies. You not only read that in the United States of America but you also read about President Macron of France saying that we are in a war-like environment--all joining together to produce these badly needed hospital supplies and testing supplies. You read about the German Chancellor calling unemployed people out to help with harvest because workers who normally come in can't cross borders there. prgtoken So we here in Washington might think the only reaction to the pandemic we are in is only something we can do in Congress, as important as that is, but it is also very important that we recognize that there are a lot of people out there in our private sector doing what entrepreneurs normally do--coming to the rescue--and they need to be thanked and recognized as well. prgtoken . prgtoken .
MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019--Motion to Proceed--Resumed
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-3-21

I want to clarify a statement I made earlier. I said that, because of problems at the control tower at Midway, Southwest Airlines had suspended its flights. It turns out it has substantially curtailed its flights, but it has not suspended all of its flights. prgtoken I want to put that on the record because, in this moment of great national challenge, we should all take care that our remarks are accurate. The earlier press report has been amended by the newspapers, and I wanted to make my statement on the floor clear. prgtoken . prgtoken .
SENATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-3-21

negotiations on the third phase of the coronavirus legislation went late into the night last night and will continue through the day today. prgtoken I have spoken to Pelosi and Secretary Mnuchin several times, as well as President , to keep them apprised as we continue the work through a number of issues. In fact, I just had a very good, very detailed phone call with Secretary Mnuchin--or ``Steve and Chuck,'' as he prefers to call it. We discussed many of the outstanding issues, and we are making very good progress. I have every expectation that this progress will continue throughout the day. ic negotiators will meet with their counterparts throughout the day to continue hammering out the details. prgtoken The Senate is here, we are working, and we are all eager to come to a bipartisan agreement as soon as humanly possible. prgtoken There are still a number of priorities that continue to fight for in the package that is now being assembled. prgtoken As I have made clear, have two primary goals, broadly defined, in this next phase of coronavirus legislation. One is to address the impending public health crisis head-on with a massive infusion of resources to our hospitals, our medical facilities, and our other public health infrastructure. The second priority is to put workers first. In fact, our proposal, which we laid out as early as Monday, is entitled ``Workers First.'' prgtoken want to do as much as possible to prepare our healthcare system, and we want to give Americans who are most immediately affected by the economic slowdown ample relief so they can weather the storm over the long haul. So, on healthcare, are fighting for a Marshall Plan for our public health infrastructure. prgtoken We need hundreds of billions of dollars for ventilators, testing equipment, gloves, masks, ICU beds, and PPE, or personal protective equipment, for our frontline medical workers. prgtoken I spoke to the head of the nurses union in New York yesterday. They are short of masks. These brave nurses are going to work, doing their job, but they don't have the right equipment that they need. prgtoken Money must go to our hospitals and our nursing homes, our community health centers, and our State and local governments. This can neither wait for a future bill nor a supplemental package. We need it right now, not 2 weeks from now. prgtoken A senior doctor at Maimonides hospital in Brooklyn, NY, wrote to me yesterday. Here is what the doctor said: I'm writing to you in a move of desperation. Currently, we have severe shortages in the basic necessities needed to fight the disease and protect health care workers. Disposable masks and gowns are in such short supply, we re-use them until they fall apart. We don't have adequate supplies of supportive medicines. Beds, ventilators, nurses and critical care doctors are also needed
MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019--Motion to Proceed--Resumed
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-3-21

thank you for presiding today, and to all who are here at this moment of extreme challenge for our country and for the world, we must rise to the occasion and unite to fight a common enemy, COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus. prgtoken What we are witnessing is Americans from all backgrounds and all walks of life doing that around the country--coming together and uniting, not physically close, but spiritually close to one another as we work our way through this crisis. prgtoken In my State of Maryland, people are doing exactly that. Our healthcare workers on the frontlines--whether they be nurses, whether they be people working in clinics, in the hospitals, whether they be doctors, they are all pulling together to get the job done. prgtoken Elected officials from the Federal, State, and local governments are working together, as are nonprofits and businesses. prgtoken Three nights ago, I held a telephone townhall meeting on COVID-19, and more than 5,000 Marylanders joined that call. They called in to share their hopes, their concerns, and their determination. prgtoken Yesterday, in Maryland, we lost the second life to COVID-19, and our medical services are being stretched thin. But people are coming together to get the job done, and as we address the healthcare challenges, we must also deal with the financial and economic pain that is arising from that and spreading quickly. prgtoken Most of all, Marylanders, like other Americans, told us they want clear guidance from public health officials and a united and effective response to both the healthcare crisis and the economic fallout. prgtoken Since Marylanders are united and Americans are united, we, too, in Congress must unite to do our job. And to date--to date--we have risen to meet the moment. The question is, What comes next? prgtoken Over a few weeks ago, we did unite to pass emergency legislation to provide $8.3 billion to provide funding to our public health systems and to direct more dollars toward developing a vaccine and therapeutics. prgtoken Last week we passed a measure to ensure that tests for the coronavirus are free. It makes no sense to have any American discouraged from getting a prgtoken test because they can't pay for it. That hurts them; that hurts the entire community. That was an important provision, as was the emergency food assistance for people in need. prgtoken In States that have closed schools, we have lots of students who are now home. Many of those students get one of their best meals at school during lunch, so that emergency food assistance has been absolutely vital. In Maryland, we have about 350 schools that are now being used for families to pick up food for their kids and for others in the community. prgtoken We help provide more resources to State insurance systems, which are being stressed more and more as we speak, and we need to do a lot more on that front. prgtoken We passed emergency sick leave measures because