mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
RECOGNIZING SCOTLYNN USA DIVISION, INC.
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-10-22

as chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize a small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of our country. It is my privilege to recognize a small business with award-winning innovation that provides high-quality service and is active in its community. This week, it is my pleasure to honor Scotlynn USA Division, Inc of Fort Myers, FL, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. prgtoken Ryan Carter founded Scotlynn USA Division, Inc in 2010, the year after the Great Recession ended. Ryan worked for a Cincinnati freight brokerage firm and identified a market demand for reliable, customer- focused delivery of time-sensitive perishable goods. Together, Ryan and his younger brother, Brad, established Scotlynn USA in Fort Myers as a transportation and logistics provider in southwest Florida. The business grew quickly, moving in 2012 from their original 900-square- foot office into their current 12,000-square-foot building. prgtoken Today, Scotlynn USA has grown into an award-winning logistics firm operating a truck fleet and freight brokerage that distributes perishable foods nationwide. Ryan serves as the executive vice president, and Brad is in a managerial role. They foster a sense of community among their employees, resulting in high employee retention rates, and they prioritize hiring veterans. Ryan serves on a number of nonprofit boards and volunteers with several organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, and St. Matthews House. Uniquely, Scotlynn USA provides its employees 16 hours of annual leave to volunteer with local organizations. prgtoken Scotlynn USA has received industry recognition for its entrepreneurship and innovation. Notably, it received early help from the Florida Small Business Development Center--SBDC--located at Florida Gulf Coast University, FGCU. They provided Scotlynn resources, including mentorship, business planning, and access to capital advice to help them establish their business. In 2019, the Florida SBDC at FGCU awarded Ryan the Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year title. This year, Ryan was named as the 2020 U.S. Small Business Administration--SBA--Florida Small Business Person of the Year and was named first runner-up for prgtoken the SBA 2020 Small Business Person of the Year. prgtoken Like many Floridian small businesses, Scotlynn USA rose to the occasion and supported their community during the coronavirus pandemic. Working with Feeding America, they raised funds for charity and distributed more than 3,500 free meals. Partnering with Community Cooperative and Midwest Food Bank, Scotlynn USA donated logistical support and truck space, enabling these two food banks to distribute approximately 2 million pounds of food to Floridians in need. prgtoken As an essential business, Scotlynn USA managed to stay open, keep their employees safe, and pla
TRIBUTE TO DEAN A. COLLETT
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2020-10-22

today I offer my recognition of the great service of Dean A. Collett to countless Utah students. His service has spanned over six decades, starting in the fall of 1956 when he first walked through the doors of Highland High School. Today, at the age of 92, even through the difficulties of COVID-19, Dean sits at his desk making personal phone calls to each of his students, ensuring nothing less than their academic success. He is a true servant of the people of Utah and one who deserves the highest of honors. prgtoken Dean Ashton Collett was born on September 30, 1928, to Richard G. Collett and Amy Ashton Collett in Salt Lake City, UT. Richard Collett was a successful banker, but due to the economic turmoil of the Great Depression, the Collett family, with all five of their children, would move frequently around Salt Lake City looking for work, a hardship that would follow Richard and Amy for much of their lives. From those moments as a child, Dean would dedicate his entire life helping to support his family, working to keep food on the table and later taking care of his mother until her passing. Dean spent his youth working as a paper boy, doing yard work for hire, and later working as a grocery store cashier at Table Supply in the avenues of Salt Lake City. prgtoken As the family kept relocating in search of work, Dean attended Emerson Elementary School, Ensign Elementary School, and Washington Elementary School. He progressed through prgtoken his educational pursuits, graduating from East High School in 1945 and later from the University of Utah in 1956. Before completing his time at the University of Utah, Dean served a 3-year mission in Sweden for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon his return, he was drafted into the Korean war and stationed in Germany due to his knowledge of both Swedish and German. Once he graduated from the University of Utah, Dean was given his first teaching job at a then brandnew school called Highland High School in Salt Lake City. Little did he know at the time that serving this school would end up being his whole life's mission. prgtoken During Dean's time at Highland High School, he has taught the subjects of math, English, yearbook, student government, German, and Russian; acted as a cheerleading adviser; and is now a school counselor. His time at Highland has spanned more than 63 graduating classes and more than 30,000 students. He is an avid football fan and has yet to miss a single Highland High football game in the school's entire history. You will often see him selling tickets for sporting events, dances, plays, and any other community events at the school. He has been a father figure to thousands and helped students in need of clothing, food, and financial assistance, including for those serving a church mission. Dean never married or had children of his own, but instead dedicated his life to the children of Highland High School. prgtoken
Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett (Executive Calendar)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2020-10-22

Amy Coney Barrett's first Judiciary Committee hearing back in 2017 has become infamous for the grilling she underwent for her religion. prgtoken Then, as now, she was an outstanding choice who received a rating of ``well qualified'' from the American Bar Association and praise from peers on both sides of the political spectrum. prgtoken But despite her superb qualifications, it soon became clear that more than one thought she couldn't be objective and thus shouldn't be confirmed to the court simply because she was a practicing Catholic who took her faith seriously. ``The dogma lives loudly within you,'' the ic ranking member on the Judiciary Committee said, ``and that is of concern.'' ``Do you consider yourself an orthodox Catholic?'' the ic whip asked, while the junior Senator from Hawaii suggested that Judge Barrett would use her Catholic faith rather than the law to decide questions. prgtoken And while toned down the anti-religious questioning in Judge Barrett's Supreme Court hearing last week, apparently realizing that openly displaying their suspicion of her religion might offend the tens of millions of American voters who take their faith seriously, their suspicion of her faith has still been on display. prgtoken Meanwhile, ' media allies haven't hesitated to trot out articles on Judge Barrett's beliefs, usually with the faint--or in some cases not so faint--suggestion that her adherence to the teachings of the Catholic Church cast doubt on her fitness for the Supreme Court. prgtoken Yesterday's AP article on the fact that Judge Barrett served as a trustee at her children's Christian school--not exactly breaking news, as it was something that Judge Barrett had already disclosed--was just one more example of the media's implicit suggestion that the nominee's religion makes her unfit for public office. prgtoken As a side note, I am still waiting for bipartisan condemnation of media coverage of Judge Barrett's adopted children. Somehow the New York Times felt that Judge Barrett's brief mentions of her adopted children at her introduction and hearing warranted an article full of unsavory insinuations. I am wondering if would have found this appropriate coverage of a ic nominee's children. prgtoken From the attitude displayed by and the media, you would think that Judge Barrett was a member of some remote and bizarre religious cult instead of one of the largest faith groups in the world. prgtoken And Judge Barrett has not been the only judicial nominee subjected to prgtoken scrutiny for her faith. The ' Vice Presidential candidate grilled one judicial nominee on his membership in the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic charitable organization known for dangerous activities like selling Christmas trees and providing coats for kids in need and partnering with other dangerous charities like Habitat for Humanity and Special
VOTE ON MOTION TO PROCEED
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2020-10-22

while we have another minute, let me just say on another topic, which is the coronavirus pandemic, I am deeply disappointed that yesterday we had another vote here on the floor of the Senate wherein we offered legislation which passed by a majority of the Senators but not the supermajority needed that simply focused on the coronavirus prgtoken pandemic and the economic consequences of it. Unbelievably, it was blocked. In other words, we were not able to move forward because the were not willing to at least get on the issue and begin to discuss and debate the issue. This is sad to me. prgtoken We are not out of the woods yet either in terms of the economy or in terms of the pandemic. In fact, we are in the third phase now of the pandemic in many of our States, including in mine, Ohio. We need help. This legislation had that help--as an example, $30 billion-plus for a vaccine. We need that funding to be able to get a vaccine as quickly as possible. We need money for therapies, money for our schools, and money for small businesses to be able to keep their doors open. prgtoken I am concerned that we are not using the same bipartisan approach we used four other times in this Chamber to help deal with the coronavirus pandemic. prgtoken . Vote on Newman Nomination
Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett (Executive Calendar)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-10-22

the Constitution of the United States makes three references to religion. The First Amendment to the Bill of Rights says that we have the right to believe or not believe as a matter of personal conscience and, secondly, that there will be no established government religion in the United States. The only other provision is in article VI, where it expressly says there will be no religious test for public office--three simple assertions which for over 200 years have guided this Nation in dealing with religion. prgtoken The statement just made by the Senator from South Dakota really tells me that he didn't tune in to the hearings that were held just a week or two ago when it came to Amy Coney Barrett. I did. I was there for all 4 days, start to finish, with maybe 10 minutes that I stepped aside. So I know what was said and who said it, and I know what the said, and I didn't believe there was one instance--not one--where any raised the issue of this nominee's religion. We took seriously what article VI says in the Constitution: There is no religious test for office. prgtoken I will state that on the other side of the aisle, there were frequent references to her religion--express references to her religion. That is their right as Senators to decide how they want to handle this issue. But the suggestion that I heard from the Senator from South Dakota tells me he did not follow the hearing and he didn't listen to it. Had he done so, he wouldn't have made the statements that he just did on the floor. prgtoken As a lifelong Catholic, I want to state that I have voted for Catholics to serve prgtoken on every court, both the Supreme Court and other courts in the land, and I have voted against some as well. I take the admonition of the Constitution seriously. I don't take a person's religion into account when I cast a vote when it comes to a judge, nor should anyone if they follow this Constitution. prgtoken One last point I would like to make that was clearly wrong: When it came to the scurrilous and disgusting attacks on the adopted children of this nominee, the Senator from Louisiana spoke up against them, and so did I on the ic side. They are unacceptable on either side of the aisle, and for any Senators to suggest otherwise tells me he did not listen to the hearing itself. prgtoken I condemn the attack on her family, and I repeat that condemnation on the floor of the Senate today. For that Senator to ignore that fact troubles me greatly. I count him as a friend. I hope when he reads the record of the actual proceedings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, he will come and clarify and correct his remarks.
Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett (Executive Calendar)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-10-22

before I get into the substance of my remarks, I will briefly redress the leader. prgtoken He came on the floor and, with his typical vitriol, made all kinds of accusations. The bottom line is McConnell is angry. Why? Because we have exposed that he has defiled the Senate as an institution more than any person in this generation and many generations, because we have exposed the hypocrisy of holding up Merrick Garland because it was 8 months before an election and rushing through Amy Coney Barrett because it is ``something we can do.'' prgtoken The bottom line is Leader McConnell, of course, doesn't like hearing these things, but they are the truth, and they will live on in history. The man who defiled the Senate, the man who created one of the greatest hypocritical acts in the history of the Senate, sits in that chair. prgtoken Now, the majority is steering the Senate toward one of the lowest moments in its long history, and the damage it does to this Chamber may very well be irrevocable. prgtoken After thwarting the constitutional prerogative of a duly elected ic President to appoint a Supreme Court Justice because it was an election year, the majority is rushing to confirm a Justice for a President 1 week--1 week--before election day. prgtoken Four short years ago, all of our friends argued that it was principle--that is the world they used, ``principle''--to let the American people have a voice in the selection of a Supreme Court Justice because an election was 8 months away. prgtoken Those same s are preparing to confirm a Justice with an election that is 8 days away. What a stench of hypocrisy. prgtoken In the process, the majority has trampled over every norm, rule, or standard that could possibly stand in its way. It ignored health guidelines to conduct in-person hearings in the middle of a pandemic after s Members of the committee themselves had contracted COVID. prgtoken It has broken longstanding Senate precedent. Never in the history of the Senate has a Supreme Court nominee--a lifetime appointment--been considered so close to an election. The Presiding Officer of the Senate confirmed this yesterday in response to this Senator's inquiry. Never in the history of the Senate has a Supreme Court nominee been confirmed after July of an election year. prgtoken Before even we arrived at this sordid chapter, the majority broke the rules of the Senate to change the rules of the Senate, lowering the number of votes required for a Supreme Court nomination so that s could confirm whomever they wanted. prgtoken They changed the rules of the Senate again to limit the amount of time the Senate spends considering judicial nominations so they could pack the courts with their rightwing appointees even faster. prgtoken It is a hallmark of democracy that might does not make right, but the
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EMERGENCY NURSES ASSOCIATION
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-10-22

on behalf of myself and Senator Wicker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Emergency Nurses Association. Made up of 51,000 members from all across the globe, the Emergency Nurses Association, or ENA, is the only professional organization dedicated to advancing excellence in emergency nursing and is the world's premier organization for emergency nurses. prgtoken Founded in 1970 to set standards for best practices in emergency nursing care, the ENA has provided continuing education programs for emergency nurses, as well as a united voice for nurses involved in emergency care. prgtoken Among its accomplishments, ENA has worked successfully to raise awareness and improve outcomes for the Nation's trauma patients. For Americans aged 44 years or younger, traumatic injuries--including car crashes, falls, head injuries, burns, and firearm injuries--are currently the leading cause of prgtoken death. Working to improve outcomes for those who have suffered a traumatic injury, ENA offers courses for emergency nurses that provide them with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on training needed to deliver high-quality trauma care. ENA's trauma nursing core course is one such course. Since its inception in 1986, this course has been taken by more than 1 million emergency nurses and is now considered the gold standard for the education of nurses in lifesaving trauma care techniques. prgtoken ENA was also at the forefront of supporting the MISSION ZERO Act, or the Military Injury Surgical Systems Integrated Operationally Nationwide to Achieve ZERO Preventable Deaths Act. When this legislation was signed into law last year, it created an innovative program allowing military trauma teams and professionals to work in civilian trauma centers to ensure the highest quality trauma care in both peace and war. prgtoken Finally, ENA has been the leader in raising awareness regarding the issue of workplace violence directed towards emergency nurses and other emergency department personnel. At the State level, it advocated for stronger criminal laws to hold those who assault healthcare workers in hospitals accountable for their actions. At the Federal level, ENA has fought for tougher workplace standards to ensure that hospitals provide a safe working environment for their employees. prgtoken On the occasion of the Emergency Nurses Association's 50th anniversary, Senator Wicker and I ask our colleagues to join us in extending our deepest gratitude to the ENA and all its members for their commitment to improving the quality of emergency care that has and will continue to save the lives of millions of Americans across our country.
USHER SYNDROME
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-10-22

I would like to talk about a genetic condition called Usher syndrome. Usher syndrome is a rare genetic disease that affects at least 25,000 people in the United States. Usher syndrome causes deafness or hearing loss, as well as a retinal disease that progressively leads to blindness. Some children may be diagnosed at birth, while others are diagnosed at later stages of adolescence, affecting education, employment, and quality of life. prgtoken Usher type 1 individuals are born deaf and then learn, often before adolescence, that they are also losing their vision. Usher type 2 individuals are born with moderate to severe hearing loss and then in the prime of their adolescent lives are told that they are losing their vision. Usher type 3 are usually diagnosed during adolescence, leading to the slow loss of both hearing and vision. prgtoken At present, there are no treatments or cure for Usher syndrome, but that could change with awareness and support. Finding a cure has never been more urgent or more achievable. Promising research and positive clinical trials are occurring right now at universities, medical centers, and private laboratories across the country. prgtoken Even though there is currently no cure for Usher syndrome, I am proud that Oregonian researchers are leading the way searching for treatments and therapies. The Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health & Science University--OHSU--is conducting the first human study of gene therapy for Usher syndrome, and researchers at the University of Oregon are generating animal models that represent the genotypes of the major Usher patient groups--both necessary steps towards the development of effective treatments. It is a privilege to serve a State that is home to such cutting-edge research into Usher syndrome. prgtoken To accelerate this research, the Usher Syndrome Coalition, including Emily Creasy from Oregon, is raising public awareness. Last month, on September 19, they helped recognize the 6th annual Usher Syndrome Awareness Day. The day fell near the autumnal equinox, which marks the start of days that contain more darkness than light, a powerful metaphor for the threat of Usher syndrome. I am proud to support the Usher syndrome community and am committed to doing what I can as Oregon's senior Senator to support researchers hard at work finding treatments and, hopefully, a cure. I am committed to working with my colleagues to raise awareness regarding this disease, and I applaud the hard work of the Usher Syndrome Coalition in making Usher syndrome research a priority at the National Institutes of Health.