mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EXPANDING ACCESS TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ACT OF 2019
Greg Walden (Republican, OR) \u2014 2020-9-23

. Madam , I want to thank my friend, the ranking member of the House Energy Subcommittee and the former chairman of the full committee, Mr. Upton, for yielding me this time. prgtoken Tragically, I have to rise in opposition to H.R. 4447. prgtoken This reminds me of the last time were in charge. This is now an 894-page bill. Some of it has been through committee. It has never been looked at in its entirety, and it has only been available for a few days within the rules, but certainly not long enough for the American people to fully digest and know everything about it. It is unfortunate because I think we could do a lot more to come together and agree on a package that would cause our economy to really rebound and to drive clean innovation the American way. prgtoken You see, Madam , the key to expanding clean energy and creating prosperous jobs in America is to actually reduce the barriers to building infrastructure, not increase them, and to deploy innovative new technologies that will ensure reliable, affordable energy for the economy. This will produce the economic rebound and the growth that we all want, growth that maintains environmental standards but creates economic opportunities, especially for the poor and the disadvantaged. It generates the resources for communities and families to prepare for their futures. prgtoken In recent years, Madam , s have led successful efforts to enact laws that enable more rapid licensing of hydropower facilities, zero carbon emission hydropower. We are talking small scale in irrigation ditches that are now piped. We are creating new electricity with no emissions. We are putting water into streams for fish. And we are pressurizing systems for farmers. prgtoken We did more of that under a Republic majority, and there is more we can do now, but we are not. prgtoken We want more seamless delivery and export of clean-burning natural gas. If you think of the conversion that has occurred from coal to gas, the reduction of emissions, we lead the world in reducing emissions. We have created enormous wealth and jobs in areas that had terrible poverty and needed economic development. We have increased private- sector use of carbon capture technologies. prgtoken I think there is great hope in the future with our brilliant scientists to do even more in this space and to streamline licensing to enable advanced nuclear energy production. America has always led in that category, and there are new opportunities out there to do small- scale nuclear energy. prgtoken We need to do more of that, but sadly, this bill doesn't get us where we need to go. These are all good things for the economy and, frankly, good things for the planet. prgtoken Madam , you won't hear it from the radical left, but the United States has actually been leading the world in carbon reductions. It shows the largest absolute decline in emissions of all countries since the year 2000. Frankly, we have red
Coronavirus (Executive Calendar)
Lamar Alexander (Republican, TN) \u2014 2020-9-23

I come to the floor to talk about COVID in two ways. The Senator from Tennessee, who is presiding today, will appreciate this. She and I have a regular call with Governor Lee, our Governor, and we just finished part of it. Her staff was on part of that. prgtoken He gave some very interesting information that I think would be important to all Senators and to our country, and that is the significant learning loss that occurs when children aren't in school. In Tennessee, Governor Lee and some national researchers have completed a study of the learning loss in the third grade for reading and math proficiency for children who were not in school from March through the summer. prgtoken Now, you always have a learning loss in the summer, but for March through summer, this is what they found. Preliminary data shows an estimated 50-percent decrease in proficiency rates in third grade reading and a projected 65-percent decrease in proficiency in math. That, in the Governor's words, is a dramatic decrease. It shows that the vast majority of students learn in person, the Governor said, with their teacher, and he is working to get a safe environment so that they can get back to school. prgtoken The good news on that is, according to the Governor, 1,800 schools in Tennessee are open, in person, and only 7 of those schools have any sort of closure incident today--in other words, one class or one school closed because of COVID. So, this problem we are just discussing, hopefully, will not be as pronounced this semester in Tennessee because, except in Memphis and except in Nashville, almost all of our schools are open in person to some degree. prgtoken The Governor went on to say that the March through the summer school closings produced a learning deficiency that is expected to be 2.5 times that of a normal summer rate. He also said the learning loss impacts early grades greater than later grades, placing those students further behind in the learning trajectory. Students with lower proficiency rates are also disproportionately impacted by learning loss. In other words, students who are already behind fell behind even further as a result of leaving school in March. prgtoken Then it shows that the research from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which worked with the Governor on these, shows that each additional year of schooling increases life income by an average of 7.5 to 10 percent. And with the loss of one-third of a year in effective learning--which is what we just heard about for just the students affected by the closures--that organization estimates it would lower a country's gross domestic product by an average of 1.5 percent for the remainder of the century. prgtoken I don't know whether those numbers are exactly accurate, but the message is clear. Children, especially young children and especially young children who are further behind already, need to be in school so that the
Agriculture (Executive Session)
Ben Sasse (Republican, NE) \u2014 2020-9-23

before Chairman Roberts leaves, I just wanted to come down and lend my voice to him and Senators Boozman, Thune, and Hoeven, and to Chairman Roberts and his staff for his work, and the Presiding Officer. Thank you for spelling me in the Chair momentarily. Senator Hoeven and his team have done great work as well. prgtoken As Chairman Roberts just said, there was no reason to have gone down this path and injected all of this partisan uncertainty, holding farmers and ranchers and their communities and their lenders and their welders and their truckers hostage over the last 48 hours. It served no policy purpose, and it continues to diminish public trust in this institution and our ability to serve our people. prgtoken So I just want to commend you and Senator Hoeven and your teams for the work that you have done.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ACT OF 2019
Brian Babin (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-9-23

. Madam , like many of my colleagues, I had what I believed to be an essential amendment ruled out of order. Simply put, my amendment ensured that fossil fuel power generation systems were not left behind as we try to navigate a clean energy future. prgtoken From schools to hospitals, too much of our critical infrastructure is currently dependent on the systems that we already have in place. No matter which side of the aisle you are on, you cannot argue against the fact that fossil fuels are the status quo right now and some of the very cheapest. prgtoken But we don't get the chance. We will not have the chance to express that support today. Instead, we will get this dream sheet forcefully passed, only to then die with no Senate interest. We are missing a golden opportunity for bipartisan solutions. prgtoken Rather than turn off the light switch and force our economy into a blackout-ridden future of renewable sources, we need to utilize what is still readily available to us. That is why I am supportive of carbon capture, utilization, and storage. prgtoken I believe that, when developed, these technologies stand to only improve our fossil fuel power generation and even hold the potential to make it a clean energy source. But, as written, the legislation before us lacks a focus on critical basic research that will advance these technologies. prgtoken Areas like advanced computing, manufacturing, and materials research will maximize our Nation's fossil fuel resources. Simply building more demonstration projects similar to those already in existence, like Petra Nova in Texas or the National Carbon Capture Center in Alabama, will not develop next-generation membranes for direct air capture or novel solvents for energy-efficient gas separation. prgtoken Additionally, this bill makes outrageous funding increases to the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy. Currently funded at $750 million for fiscal year 2020, this bill increases the office's budget to a whopping $3 billion in fiscal year 2025 and spends $15 billion over the next 5 years. prgtoken I am intrigued that some of my colleagues who have stated their goal to completely phase out fossil fuels in the next 10 years would support such a massive increase. At the same time, however, I am encouraged to see more folks on the other side of the aisle acknowledge the long-term necessity of fossil fuels in our clean energy future. prgtoken I am unquestionably a staunch supporter of fossil fuels and, specifically, the DOE Office of Fossil Energy, but we must act in a fiscally responsible manner. We cannot undertake this massive funding increase of 300 percent while simultaneously increasing applied energy programs like wind and solar. This is a disservice to the already strapped American taxpayer, and I urge its rejection. prgtoken I want to thank Ranking Member Lucas, my friend from Oklahoma, for his leadership on the Science Committe
Election Security (Executive Session)
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2020-9-23

I want to talk for a few minutes about securing our election process. prgtoken At various times, in the last 4 years, there have been different levels of reasons why the Federal Government needed to take over the election process. For a while, it was that the process was too easily infiltrated by outside influences, and then it was COVID-19, and it was important that everybody vote in different ways than they have ever voted before, and somehow only the Federal Government could manage that. prgtoken I would say that, in that, just as we look toward the 2020 elections, we have spent over $1 billion. I think it is $1.2 billion in funding from the Congress. We have had dozens of hearings in the Rules Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Homeland Security Committee. There was a 3\1/2\-year bipartisan investigation that I was part of as part of the Intelligence Committee, and we have looked at this about every way we can. prgtoken Right now, people across the country are beginning the process of casting their votes. This year, more than any other year up until now, we will have election day, but, really, we will have more like ``election month,'' and, in some States, it is going to be ``election 6 weeks'' or ``election 7 weeks.'' prgtoken So this process is starting right now. It is a process where people will decide who represents them in the White House and the Congress; or, in some cases, in city hall; in many cases, the Governor's mansion; and in almost all cases, the general assembly; and in all cases, the U.S. House of Representatives. prgtoken Confidence in the voting process is the thread that holds the fabric of democracy together. Every time we needlessly get into a discussion about whether this process is fair or safe, I think it is harmful. Every time we need to have that discussion about whether it is fair or safe, it is, of course, not only helpful but totally appropriate. prgtoken This is the time when we need to be sure that our work has brought us to a good conclusion, rather than talking about the fact that the system is not going to work. The system is going to work. As the chairman of the Rules Committee, where we have the principal election jurisdiction, or as a member of the Intelligence Committee, I spent a lot of time looking at this. I think we have been very serious in the Senate, particularly, in considering these issues and at looking at the threats to our election system itself. prgtoken I am not going to talk much in the next few minutes about false information and other things. In my view, all you have to do is turn on the television to find some false information and watch the campaign commercials. There is a nugget of truth, perhaps, but most of them-- many of them have little more than a nugget of truth in them. prgtoken Sure, I am concerned about false information. I am particularly concerned about it if it comes from foreign governments, from those who wish o
HONORING THE CAREER OF GRANT JAQUITH
John Katko (Republican, NY) \u2014 2020-9-23

. Madam , I rise today to honor the career of my good friend and former colleague, Grant Jaquith, who upon his appointment as a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, has resigned from the Department of Justice after serving 31 years. I was proud to serve alongside Mr. Jaquith while working for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York and have always known him to be a dedicated public servant, staunch defender of the law, a stalwart advocate for victims and their families, and a genuinely good person. prgtoken After graduating with a Juris Doctor from University of Florida College of Law in 1982, Mr. Jaquith began his career as a Judge Advocate on active duty in the U.S. Army. He then went on to join the Department of Justice, where he served as a line prosecutor, supervisor, and eventually, as the 49th U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York. prgtoken Over the course of his career, Mr. Jaquith prosecuted many high- profile cases that strengthened national security and helped combat violent crime, organized crime, the opioid crisis, and financial fraud. I had the privilege of working with Mr. Jaquith on a number of these cases and saw first-hand how his dogged determination and keen intellect spelled trouble for criminals. The impact he had on my career was profound and his guidance made me a better prosecutor and person. For his work, Mr. Jaquith earned a number of awards, including the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys Director's Award for Executive Achievement. prgtoken As a supervisor, Mr. Jaquith developed scores of young prosecutors, always stressing thoroughness, hard work, determination and above all ethical conduct. Through his efforts, the U.S. Attorney's office for the Northern District of New York became known as one of the premier offices in the country. As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Jaquith continued to take a leadership role in the many successes of the office. He also took a national leadership role by serving on several subcommittees of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee, including Border and Immigration, Native American Issues, and Servicemembers and Veterans Rights. He also served on the Attorney General's Advisory Committee's Healthcare Fraud Working Group. Outside of work, Mr. Jaquith is a dedicated husband to his wife Rosemarie. Together, they have six children, and five grandchildren. prgtoken Madam , I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing the highly distinguished career of Grant Jaquith. A dedicated public servant, I wish Grant the best as he enters the next phase of his career as a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
WILDFIRES BURNING IN CALIFORNIA
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2020-9-23

fire season continues to rage on in California and in the West, and it continues to underline the need for us to have active management of our forests, our wildlands, our grasslands, everything to do with fire season and the increased fuel loads that we are seeing. prgtoken We hear a lot of talk about climate change. Well, I keep coming back to, If the climate is changing, what are we doing about it? prgtoken We can argue over whether it is manmade climate change or nature caused, we are still allowing our forests, our grasslands, our wildlands to be overloaded with fuel, and that puts our towns, people's livelihoods in great danger and great peril. prgtoken I could list time after time the tragedies that we have seen in northern California with people losing their homes, portions of small towns, their livelihoods because we are not doing the job on our Federal lands, and we are not telling the environment groups to back off with their lawsuits that prevent the work from being done that so desperately needs to be done. prgtoken We have to get cracking on this and get our job done here as Federal representatives to help save our rural areas.
COMMANDER JOHN SCOTT HANNON VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2019
Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-9-23

. Madam , I thank the chairman for putting forth this bill, and I also thank my good friend Ranking Member Roe, who does an outstanding job. He has really done excellent work. It has been an honor to serve with him on behalf of our veterans. I thank him so much for his service, his continuing service to our country and our true American heroes. prgtoken Madam , I rise today in strong support of S. 785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act. prgtoken This bill will help prevent veteran suicide by expanding access to care, services, and support for at-risk individuals within the VA healthcare system and their local communities. It contains the IMPROVE Act, a bill by my friend General Bergman that I was proud to support as one of the first cosponsors. prgtoken This section creates a grant program for community providers to collaborate and assist in suicide prevention services and is modeled after the bipartisan SSVF program, which has been very successful in reducing veteran homelessness. We need new and innovative ways to tackle this tragic problem that our veterans are facing today. prgtoken Tragically, 20 servicemembers and veterans take their own lives each day, not in combat, not by violent crime, but due to suicide. We must do everything to stop this, Madam . prgtoken We know, too, that many of those 20 per day are not currently using VA services. That is why this grant program may be particularly helpful, since it specifically targets to reach those veterans who are actively suicidal or at risk of suicide who are not current users of the VA health system. prgtoken Madam , the status quo is unacceptable, and none of us should stand idly by and allow this epidemic of veteran suicide to continue. When we called on them, our heroes, these servicemembers and veterans answered the call to serve. It is time for us to answer the call and support our heroes and get them the help that they have earned and deserve.
TRIBUTE TO RHONDA ZIMMERMAN
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2020-9-23

I rise today in celebration of Rhonda Zimmerman, the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming's 2020 honoree. prgtoken Since 1978, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming has worked to make a positive difference in the lives of children. Their mission is to inspire all youth, especially those who need them the most. They strive to help young people reach their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. The programs, leagues, and activities serve the children in our community by cultivating academic success, healthy lifestyles, and good character and citizenship. prgtoken On October 21, 2020, the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming will host the 22nd Annual Awards and Recognition Breakfast. Every year at this event, the Boys and Girls Club honors a member of the community who has made outstanding contributions to their organization, Wyoming youth, and the city of Casper. It is an inspiring celebration. prgtoken This year's honoree is Rhonda Zimmerman. She is an ideal choice to receive this honor because of her lifelong dedication to our children and families. With this award, the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming shows their gratitude for Rhonda's work, which mirrors the Club's important mission. prgtoken Rhonda has given of her time and talents to the youth of our community for her entire life. Being raised in the Zimmerman family, she was taught the value of hard work and giving back to others. She grew up in Casper, the oldest of her siblings, Mitch, Michael, and Renee, and with her loving parents, Gail, Lois, and later Anne. Their character contributed greatly to Rhonda's Christian values and giving nature. Rhonda attended Casper College, earning an associate's degree in criminal justice and social work and later earned her bachelor's degree in social work from the University of Wyoming at Casper College. prgtoken Rhonda's passion for her community and the well-being of her neighbors has shown time and again through her work as a counselor at the Youth Crisis Center, the Wyoming Behavioral Institute, and Central Wyoming Counseling Center. In 2011, Rhonda cofounded Casper Family Connections. Their mission is to provide children who are unable to live with one or both parents a safe and conflict-free environment. They provide also for healthy contact with the noncustodial family. They offer parenting classes as well as mental health services on top of their important mission, giving children and families a strong foundation on which to build. prgtoken Family holds a particularly special place in Rhonda's life. She raised two children, Greg and Kendra. Together, Greg and Rhonda own and operate E&F Towing and Transport in Casper. She also serves on the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming board of directors along with her brother Mitch. prgtoken Rhonda sets an example everyone can follow. She is the first to offer a helping hand and shows a passion for improving