mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CORONAVIRUS
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2020-8-4

you can hear the passion not only in my colleague Senator Rosen, with whom I am proud to stand side by side to represent the great State of Nevada, but in all of the Senators on the floor today in their talking about this particular issue. prgtoken At kitchen tables all over the country, including in Nevada, families are sitting down and are pouring over their budgets. Too many of them are trying to figure out how to stretch those budgets with no income, and they are making difficult decisions on which bills need the most urgent attention. prgtoken Our State and local and Tribal governments across this country are doing prgtoken the same thing. With the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, State and local governments have less revenue at a time when they need those resources to combat the virus and keep Nevadans safe. That is why, when Congress passed the CARES Act in March, the fought so hard for funding for State, local, and Tribal governments. prgtoken We wanted to make sure that State and local governments had enough cash on hand to cover the urgent costs of the pandemic so that they could keep services running and expand their responses during this crisis. We needed to guarantee these governments could cover the costs of emergency shelters for COVID patients. We had to make sure that frontline responders had enough personal protective equipment on hand for them to do their jobs. We also wanted local governments to help people stay in their homes. We allocated $150 billion from the coronavirus relief fund for State, local, and Tribal governments in March. That was a compromise. We came together. We worked together to solve that problem. I heard on the floor of the Senate today that there is bipartisan support for this funding as well, but we all knew back in March, when we passed the $150 billion as part of the CARES Act, that it was not going to be enough. prgtoken We weren't sure, but now we know it is not enough, and we have to do something about it. prgtoken We are seeing across the country how local governments and States are dealing with this pandemic. prgtoken Senator Rosen just noted that in Nevada, we are in the middle of a special session. The Governor had to call a special session of our legislature because we have a budget hole of about $1.2 billion related to COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has had. prgtoken What is that impact? It is the impact we all have asked across this country. Listen, we are in the middle of a health crisis. Until we have that vaccine, we have to keep people safe. And the one thing that we have asked them across the country, including in the State of Nevada, in every county, is that if you shelter in place, if you go home, if you shut your business and help us stem the spread of this virus, we will take care of you. We will help you put food on the table. We will help you pay your rent, make sure you have a roof over your head,
TRIBUTE TO TIMOTHY McCARTHY
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-8-4

Timothy McCarthy has had an amazing career in law enforcement where he was at the right place when needed. Whether it was protecting Presidents or his hometown of Orland Park, Tim has been where people needed him most. After 48 years, he will be retiring, and today, I lend my voice to the many who honor him. prgtoken Tim dared to try out for the University of Illinois' football team as a walk-on in 1967, even though he had not played the sport at Leo High School in Chicago. However, he was so impressive that he was given a full scholarship the next year, playing strong safety for the Fighting Illini. Injuries cut his football career short, but he found himself on another career path, the Secret Service. prgtoken With a father who served in the Chicago Police Department as a sergeant, law enforcement was a natural draw for him. He started out as an investigator in the Chicago field office for the Secret Service in 1972. Tim moved to the Presidential protection division for President Jimmy Carter. prgtoken On March 30, 1981, Tim was protecting President Ronald Reagan in Washington. A coin toss with a fellow agent put him into duty that fateful day. He remembers wearing a brandnew blue-gray suit when John Hinckley, Jr stepped out from a crowd with a handgun and attempted to kill the President. prgtoken In 1.7 seconds, John Hinckley, Jr fired six bullets. The first bullet hit Press Secretary James Brady. The second hit Washington, DC, police officer Tom Delahanty. The third was set to hit President Reagan, but Tim, with that extraordinary courage, stepped in front of the President and took the bullet in the chest. Another bullet ricocheted, hitting the President under the arm. Hinckley might have killed President Reagan, but that day, we were lucky to have Tim McCarthy doing his duty to protect the Gipper. prgtoken Tim spent 2 weeks in the hospital and was back on the job that June. He would never be able to do the 5 to 7-mile runs he used to do, but he continued in the Secret Service. Tim received the National Collegiate Athletic Association Award of Valor in 1982 for his heroic deed. He remained in touch with President Reagan and his wife, Nancy, for the rest of their lives. Tim also served in the Presidential protection division for President George H.W. before returning to Chicago to run the Secret Service office there. prgtoken In 1994, Tim accepted the position of the Orland Park police chief in Illinois. Often, police chiefs serve 3 to 5 years, but Tim stayed on for 26 years. He led the development of new policing strategies, including bike patrol officers, cookouts with police, and community meetings with beat officers. Under his leadership, the police department launched villagewide initiatives, addressing mental illness through a crisis intervention team that focuses on responses to mental health-related incidents. prgtoken Tim was a hands-on leader, whether it was back up for a se
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
John B. Larson (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2020-8-4

. Madam , I was not in attendance to cast votes on consideration of the Defense, Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.R. 7617) and the related amendments. Had I been present, I would have vote YEA on Roll Call No. 174; YEA on Roll Call No. 175; NAY on Roll Call No. 176; NAY on Roll Call No. 177; and YEA on Roll Call No. 178.
CITIZEN COSPONSORS OF THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-8-4

. Madam , on June 25, the House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to address systemic racism and police misconduct, increase accountability and transparency, and change the culture of law enforcement. Since passage, thousands of Americans have visited the website JusticeinPolicing.us to learn about the bill, weigh in with their support, and sign on as citizen cosponsor in support. I would like to include in the Record the following names of citizen cosponsors: Rosemary Cavazos, Kyle, TX; Barbara Lino, New York, NY; Teresa L Fincham, Prince Frederick, MD; Javier Cavazos, Kyle, TX; Ethan Gates, Lubbock, TX; Sheyna Gifford, Saint Louis, MO; Melisa Duncan, Bowie, MD; Sonia Gazer, New York, NY; Noah Bailey, Ridgewood, NY; Amy Aasheim, Excelsior, MN; William Rhodes, Knoxville, TN; Sylvia Elerick, Temple City, CA; Helm John, Bowie, MD; Kim Bell, Vernon Hills, IL; Shaun Brown, Laguna Beach, CA; Manuel Jesus Rivera-Matute, Wilmington, NC; Sarah Pope, Brooklyn, NY; Dean Anderson, Saint Paul, MN; Sally Lopez, Northridge, CA; Deeda Seec, Salt Lake City, UT. Lourdes Vela-Arias, Bronx, NY; Sandy Kingcaid, Nazareth, PA; Regina Lynn Clement, Providence, RI; Linda Miles, Hopewell, NJ; Tarina Ahuja, Ashburn, VA; Tesia McLaughlin, Doylestown, PA; Brianna Morel, New York, NY; Jenna Curtis, Saint Cloud, FL; Catherine Hannah, Charlotte, NC; Marisa Dobson, Baltimore, MD; Nick Gothard, Ashburn, VA; Sheila Weiss, Alexandria, VA; Molly, New York, NY; Laura Mead, New York, NY; Amy Buss, Thousand Oaks, CA; Gillian Ladd, San Francisco, CA; Sydney Thomas, Fort Worth, TX; Yael Velvel, Silver Spring, MD; Elizabeth, Columbus, OH; Ana Ortiz, Miami,
HONORING FREDERICK WILLIAM RUSTEBERG
Filemon Vela (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-8-4

. Madam , I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the extraordinary life of Frederick William Rusteberg of Brownsville, Texas. Mr. Rusteberg played an instrumental role in the economic and educational development of the Brownsville community. prgtoken Born in Brownsville, Texas, on July 1, 1946, Mr. Rusteberg attended Brownsville High School and then Texas A&M University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in finance. He later attended Texas Tech University, where he completed his graduate studies and met his future wife, Frances Hill. prgtoken In his youth he trained as a Huey helicopter pilot and served in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant in South Korea. He later returned to Brownsville where he worked as the assistant Port Director at the Port of Brownsville. He then went on to become the Vice-President at First National Bank, and in 1984, became the founding President and CEO of IBC Bank in Brownsville, where he served for over 35 years until his retirement. prgtoken Mr. Rusteberg was not only a successful businessman; he was also a respected leader in his community. He served on many academic and city boards throughout his career where he helped to build the city of Brownsville's economy and raise millions of dollars to support education in the Rio Grande Valley. His family established the first scholarship endowment at the University of Texas at Brownsville, now known as the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. prgtoken Mr. Rusteberg was a man of great character who helped inspire and motivate those around him. In an interview with UT Brownsville Mr. Rusteberg said, ``I believe we have a certain amount of control over our destiny--you can either sit by and watch things happen, or you can help make them happen.'' Mr. Rusteberg made great things happen. prgtoken Mr. Rusteberg is survived by his loving wife Frances, his children William (Tammy) Rusteberg and Liz Rusteberg (Chad) Hainley, his two grandchildren Jessie and William Hainley, and his sisters Joy (Bill) Burns and June (Adolph) Dittman. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Mr. Frederick William Rusteberg. He will be remembered as a great banker, a great boss, a great mentor and a great friend. He was a fundamental part of the South Texas community and his legacy will forever be remembered. I join his family in honoring his exemplary life.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-8-4

. . I rise to speak in support of the bipartisan Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020, a bill that Senator Daines and I are introducing today to protect our constituents from the increasing threat of catastrophic wildfires. prgtoken As a result of climate change, California and other Western States are experiencing a growing crisis. Over my 27 years in the Senate, I have witnessed dozens of massive wildfires. But the level of destruction we have seen in recent years and the transformation of wildfire from a seasonal phenomenon into a year-round threat require bold, new action. Our bill would do just that by giving Federal, State, and local governments new tools to better manage wildfires and protect communities. prgtoken While California has always had dangerous wildfires, the particularly devastating fires in 2017 and 2018 were a wake-up call and a harsh example of the consequences of inaction on climate change. The latest National Climate Assessment found that, over the past three decades, the number of acres burned in the Western United States is double what would have burned if the climate weren't changing. Nowhere is this being felt more than in California. prgtoken The 2018 Camp Fire killed 86 people in town of Paradise and destroyed 15,000 homes. That fire spread as fast as 80 acres a minute according to some estimates. After the 2017 Tubbs Fire, I visited the Coffey Park subdivision of Santa Rosa, which was destroyed when wildfire swept through Napa and Sonoma. The devastation was unlike anything I have ever seen. prgtoken According to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection statistics, 10 of the 20 most destructive wildfires in California state history have occurred in just the last 5 years and 2018 was the most destructive wildfire season in recorded California history: nearly 2 million acres burned in our State, displacing hundreds of thousands and leading to billions of dollars of damage. prgtoken These problems will only grow worse as temperatures continue to rise as a result of climate change. But we can't simply wait for the world to roll back emissions to address our wildfire problem. Preparing for these challenges will require an all-of-the-above approach utilizing the latest science, even if some solutions aren't politically popular. prgtoken There are more than 150 million dead trees in California's forests, the result of both the historic drought and bark beetle populations that are thriving as temperatures warm. A single spark in the middle of those dead trees can lead to an inferno. And while 60 percent of the forestland in California is owned by the Federal Government, fires don't stop at the borders between federal, state, and private land, so any action must be coordinated. prgtoken I have joined California leaders and environmentalists in opposing the wholesale clearing of forests. There is a growing consensus around what appropriate forest manageme
HONORING THE LIFE OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS
Joe Neguse (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2020-8-4

. Madam , today I rise because the country has lost a true American hero. A giant whose sacrifices and relentless pursuit of equality paved the road for so many of us who stand here now. prgtoken One of the greatest honors of my life was serving with Congressman Lewis. Occasionally, I'd have the privilege of walking with him to this very Chamber. Along the way, there wasn't a single Capitol employee whom he didn't greet effusively, and often by name. Put simply, he was a truly generous, humble and decent man. prgtoken We find ourselves in times when we must struggle not only for the safety of our communities, but also the soul of our nation. prgtoken But as Mr. Lewis said, ``Freedom is not a state; it is an act . . . it is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society.'' prgtoken It is, indeed, difficult times like this for which we are made--times when we must embody the spirit and drive for freedom in every one of our actions. prgtoken Our fight continues while Mr. Lewis has earned his rest, and we benefit always from his life-long example and the paths he forged for each of us. prgtoken From an indebted nation, thank you to Mr. Lewis for his endearing spirit and example.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 4143
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-8-4

while my colleague is here, just a brief reaction--and I think my colleague knows that you don't go out and negotiate from the seat of your pants on the floor. prgtoken First, I want to be clear on this proposal. This is a proposal the ic leader and I, as the ranking on the Finance Committee, worked very closely together on. It is a proposal that many Senate think could be the basis of reform, and lots of people who look at the future of these kinds of economic challenges find this idea attractive. That is No. 1. prgtoken No. 2, my friend from South Dakota thinks that somehow the benefits can just be turned on with a snap of the finger. The National Association of State Workforce Agencies have said that the proposal offered by the Senator from Arizona would not get benefits that make rent and pay groceries to people anytime soon. prgtoken The question is, Are you going to solve a real economic challenge here? The economy has faced, last week, a staggering economic contraction. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the last numbers, there are four unemployed workers for every job. This idea that unemployed folks don't want to work is just insulting. prgtoken What unemployed people tell me at home is that if somebody offers them a job on Monday night, they will be there first thing Tuesday morning. prgtoken What is really needed are solutions to this question of unemployment insurance that ties the benefits to the real world conditions on the ground. In fact, when you have unemployment like this--well over 10 percent--the $600 extra per week coverage is clearly what is necessary to make rent and pay groceries. But make no mistake about it--I see my colleague from South Dakota leaving the floor--I listened when he said that there ought to be a benefit for folks when unemployment is high and that when unemployment goes down, the benefits would reflect that. That is the American Workforce Rescue Act. prgtoken If my colleagues are saying they want to back S. 4143, I would like to get that message in a direct kind of way. prgtoken With that, .
INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2020
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2020-8-4

. Madam , today, I introduce the District of Columbia Courts Improvement Act of 2020. This bill would make several important changes to improve the operations of the D.C. Courts. prgtoken First, this bill would remove the consent requirement for D.C. Superior Court magistrate judges in certain situations. Currently, consent from the parties involved is required for a magistrate judge to perform duties in the Civil, Criminal and Probate Divisions of the Superior Court. Removing this requirement from the Civil and Probate Divisions in certain matters will further the efficiency of the judicial process. The bill also authorizes magistrate judges to issue search and arrest warrants and gives all magistrate judges contempt authority. prgtoken Next, the bill updates several aspects of juror service in the Superior Court. First, it ties Superior Court juror pay to the pay jurors receive in federal court. Currently, the Board of Judges of the Superior Court has authority to set the pay of jurors, but it is capped at the rate paid to federal jurors. Despite this, Superior Court jurors are crrently paid less than federal jurors. The bill also modernizes juror summonses by allowing jurors to complete the questionnaire electronically, which will save the court money on postage and staff time. The bill further allows jurors who are 70 years old or older to be excused from jury service if the individual so chooses. prgtoken The bill also makes improvements for the employees of the courts. D.C. Courts nonjudicial employees and Public Defender Service (PDS) employees are deemed to be federal employees for the purposes of early retirement provisions in federal law, but the Courts and PDS do not currently have the permanent authority to make voluntary separation incentive payments or ``buyouts''--to employees who separate by voluntary retirement or by resignation, unlike the authority possessed by federal executive and judicial branches. The D.C. Courts and PDS currently have this authority in fiscal year 2020 under the fiscal year 2020 District of Columbia Appropriations bill, but this bill would provide permanent authority. prgtoken Next, this bill allows the D.C. Courts to pay attorneys appointed to represent indigent defendants in criminal proceedings and indigent children in delinquency and need of supervision proceedings up to the amount currently allowed in federal court. The D.C. Courts' current rate has not been updated in eight years, prgtoken and is $42 per hour less than the federal rate. Similarly, the bill eliminates the $25 hourly rate fixed rate for D.C. Criminal Justice Act investigators. Federal investigators in D.C. are currently paid $65 an hour, and up to $75 an hour in death penalty and other complex cases. prgtoken This bill also would move the appointment and removal of the Register of Wills (ROW) and supervisory responsibilities from the Superior Court and the Chief Judge of the Superior Court; respectiv
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF BRUCE WATKINS, JR.
Emanuel Cleaver (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2020-8-4

. Madam , it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Bruce Watkins, Jr. Mr. Watkins spent his days on Earth fighting to preserve, honor, and protect the stories of the African Americans who helped build and grow Kansas City, living a life that deserves both recognition and reflection. prgtoken Mr. Watkins was born in the time of Emmett Till and Rosa Parks, into a family with a profound and unwavering commitment to advancing the cause of civil rights in Kansas City. His father was both a co-founder and the second president of Freedom, Incorporated, Kansas City's local, Black political organization, as well as the first African American elected to the City Council of Kansas City. In 1966, his father was elected a Circuit Court Clerk, making him the first Black person elected to Jackson County government, and would later become the first African American to nearly win a KC mayoral race. As a former city council member and Kansas City's first African American Mayor, I know that the path I walk was planned, plowed, and paved by Bruce Watkins, Sr. It has been an honor to watch Bruce Watkins, Jr. valiantly carry his father's mission into the 21st century. prgtoken Mr. Watkins grew up alongside the African American Civil Rights Movement, went to Southeast High School, and then studied at University of Nevada-Las Vegas' College of Business, where he graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management and Services. Thirteen years later, he would return to school to earn his Associate degree at Kansas City Kansas Community College's School of Mortuary Science, before starting his career as a funeral director. prgtoken Mr. Watkins was a keeper of stories. As a funeral director at the Watkins Brothers Memorial Chapel, Mr. Watkins spent thirty-one years performing the unglamorous but noble work of honoring our community's dead and supporting their grieving families. As a leading member of the Watkins Foundation, he led the campaign to have Kansas City's East Patrol Crime Lab named after prominent civil rights leader Leon Jordon, forty-five years after his assassination. As a member of Freedom, Incorporated, Mr. Watkins aided in the group's mission to register African American voters in Kansas City, elect them to local office, and ensure that the voices of Black Kansas Citians were heard within the halls of government. And as eminent Kansas City leaders, he and his cousin Warren Watkins, Jr. fought to gain recognition for the slaves likely buried at the site of the City's new airport. Mr. Watkins was integral to that continued mission to make sure that those we welcome to our magnificent city also know of its painful past, etching a symbolic headstone of history for his ancestors whose graves remain largely unmarked. prgtoken I was proud to call Mr. Watkins a dear friend and am humbled not only by his life of service but also by the task of paying tribute to it. O