mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Coronavirus (Executive Calendar)
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-12-18

reserving the right to object, my colleague Senator Scott has chosen an interesting point in this pandemic to object to public safety measures intended to protect human life and ensure scarce resources are not squandered. prgtoken Over 17 million Americans--17 million--have contracted COVID, that we know of, and over 300,000 of our friends and our neighbors and loved ones are no longer with us. Think about that. prgtoken September 11 was a great national tragedy. I know because I lost 700 of those 3,000 citizens, on that fateful day, from New Jersey. This is 100 times more than what happened on September 11. prgtoken The people we have lost are not just some nameless numbers but mothers and fathers and grandparents. Essential parts of our hearts are gone forever due to a pandemic that has been mishandled and mismanaged from the start. And now, when this virus is running unchecked through our communities, we have before us this resolution that is riddled with misstatements of fact that I find deeply concerning. prgtoken No Governor wants to see their constituents cut off from their daily lives, and I think we can all agree that the administration here in Washington--their inability to guide us through this crisis--has left our Governors holding the bag when it comes to securing resources, providing guidance, and making the difficult calls about the right public policy to prevent COVID-19 from rampaging like an unchecked bull in a China shop through our States because they know, the Governors of our States, that the lives of their residents--our neighbors, brothers, sisters, children, and parents--rest in their hands and these difficult decisions they must make. prgtoken We are still losing Americans from COVID-19 at an unprecedented rate. Hospitals throughout the country are providing an amazing level of care with exhausted providers and continued resource issues. And our economy is cratering because we cannot fully reopen it until it is safe. prgtoken I am deeply troubled to see a false claim about my State and the Governor banning indoor religious services. Let me be clear, houses of worship were never ordered closed--never. In fact, today, religious gatherings are allowed to have substantially higher capacity limits than most other gatherings. prgtoken While New Jersey restricted the capacity of indoor religious services, as they did with all indoor gatherings, religious gatherings were never--never--designated as nonessential or essential, as this resolution suggests. That distinction was only applied to retail businesses. prgtoken Perhaps religion is different in Florida, but our houses of worship are not retail businesses. Houses of worship and religious organizations have been subject to neutral restrictions that equally burden religious and nonreligious entities. They were put in place to do what? To save lives, not under the guise of doing so and certainly not for the purpose of targeting r
FURTHER ADDITIONAL CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021
Harley Rouda (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-12-18

I missed votes on Friday, December 18, 2020, at the recommendation of my physician. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Roll Call Vote No. 246 on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass S. 979: YEA; and Roll Call Vote No. 247 on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.J. Res. 107: YEA. members recorded pursuant to house resolution 965, 116th congress Allred (Wexton) Axne (Davids (KS)) Barragan (Beyer) Bera (Aguilar) Blumenauer (Beyer) Bonamici (Clark (MA)) Brownley (CA) (Clark (MA)) Case (Cartwright) Castor (FL) (Demings) Cleaver (Davids (KS)) Cohen (Beyer) Costa (Correa) Craig (McCollum) Davis (CA) (Scanlon) Dean (Scanlon) DeFazio (Davids (KS)) DeGette (Blunt Rochester) DelBene (Cicilline) DeSaulnier (Matsui) Deutch (Rice (NY)) Doggett (Raskin) Doyle, Michael F. (Cartwright) Escobar (Garcia (TX)) Eshoo (Thompson (CA)) Finkenauer (Underwood) Fletcher (Raskin) Frankel (Clark (MA)) Gaetz (Gabbard) Garamendi (Sherman) Gottheimer (Panetta) Grijalva (Garcia (IL)) Haaland (Davids (KS)) Hastings (Wasserman Schultz) Heck (Kildee) Jayapal (Raskin) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Kelly (IL) (Clarke (NY)) Kennedy (McGovern) Kilmer (Kildee) Kim (Davids (KS)) Kind (Beyer) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Lamb (Sherrill) Langevin (Lynch) Lawrence (Kildee) Lawson (FL) (Demings) Lieu, Ted (Beyer) Lipinski (Schrader) Lofgren (Jeffries) Lowenthal (Beyer) McEachin (Wexton) McNerney (Raskin) Meng (Clark (MA)) Moore (Beyer) Mucarsel-Powell (Wasserman Schultz) Nadler (Jeffries) Napolitano (Correa) Neguse (Perlmutter) Pascrell (Pallone) Payne (Wasserman Schultz) Peters (Kildee) Peterson (McCollum) Pingree (Cicilline) Pocan (Raskin) Porter (Wexton) Price (NC) (Butterfield) Richmond (Butterfield) Roybal-Allard (Garcia (TX)) Ruiz (Dingell) Rush (Underwood) Ryan (Kildee) Schakowsky (Underwood) Schneider (Casten (IL)) Schrier (Spanberger) Serrano (Jeffries) Sewell (AL) (Cicilline) Shimkus (Pallone) Sires (Pallone) Smith (WA) (Courtney) Speier (Scanlon) Titus (Connolly) Vargas (Correa) Veasey (Beyer) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Welch (McGovern) Wild (Scanlon) Wilson (FL) (Hayes)
SCHEDULE UPDATE
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-12-18

I want to notify all the Members, and we will certainly do that by email as well, that the negotiators who are trying to come to an agreement between the two parties, and the House and the Senate as well, are still working very hard to reach agreement both on the omnibus so that we will be able to fund the government through September 30 of this coming year and on the response to COVID-19, both from a health standpoint and from an economic standpoint. We are hopeful that they will reach agreement in the near future. They have not reached one yet. There are still some significant issues outstanding. prgtoken In light of that, I am announcing that there will be no votes tomorrow. Even if an agreement were reached late tonight, the administrative work necessary to memorialize that agreement in a bill would take at least 18 hours or thereabouts, so that the first--next votes that would be anticipated would be at 1 p.m. on Sunday. prgtoken This is a change. Some people had heard 2, and I had used 2, but we are accelerating that to 1 p.m. on Sunday. prgtoken Members will receive 2 hours' notice for that vote, so that would mean, if it is at 1 p.m you will receive a notice at 11 a.m. That ought to give time for Members, obviously, most of whom are going to be staying in town if they don't live close by, to go to worship and then come to the House floor. prgtoken But no votes before 1 p.m. on Sunday, this coming Sunday, and notice will be given 2 hours prior to 1 p.m so by 11 a.m.
DON FOWLER
Joe Cunningham (Democrat, SC) \u2014 2020-12-18

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the wonderful life of Don Fowler. prgtoken Don Fowler fervently worked at improving and molding the South Carolina ic party to be inclusive, inspiring, and of strong moral ground. He served as chairman of the S.C. ic Party and ic National Party. Fowler served 30 years in the United States Army, was a member of the Washington Street United Methodist Church, and was a lifetime member of the NAACP. prgtoken Fowler loved politics and he loved people. His years of educating spanned over five decades and his teachings will be passed down by his beloved students for many decades to come. prgtoken For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 7:8. prgtoken Don Fowler lived to serve his loved ones, his community, and the party he cherished, and he now rests in Heaven. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, students, and anyone that was lucky enough to know the legend of Don Fowler.
HONORING THE LIFE OF ANDY MATSUI
Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-12-18

I rise to honor the life of floriculturist and philanthropist, Andy Matsui, who recently passed away at the age of 85. prgtoken After being born and raised in a family of farmers in Japan, Andy got an educational visa to go to California and study agriculture. He liked it so much that he bought some land and established a nursery in the Salinas Valley, in my district. prgtoken Andy produced orchids and pioneered the sale of potted orchids in stores. Today, the Matsui Nursery has one of the greatest selections of orchids in the entire world. prgtoken But Andy didn't just grow flowers; he grew the future for many. Andy said that education is the only way to change things in this world. That is why he and his wife established the Matsui Foundation to provide scholarships to countless students. Andy believed in our home by encouraging those students to not just study, but to stay and give back to the central coast of California. prgtoken Our prayers are with his family. May Andy Matsui rest in peace with the satisfaction that he left us with magnificent beauty from his orchids and magnanimous bounty for our community.
IN MEMORY OF MICHAEL CETINA
Sean Casten (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-12-18

. Madam , I rise today to honor and mourn the untimely passing of Michael Cetina of Wheaton, Illinois. Mike passed away unexpectedly on Thanksgiving Day. prgtoken Mike's full and productive life touched so many and he will be deeply missed. His family lost their beloved husband, father, and brother, many lost a great friend, and Wheaton lost a pillar of the community. prgtoken As a lawyer, Mike's work ethic and commitment to upholding the law and advocating for the vulnerable was an inspiration. Early in his legal career, Mike represented the people of DuPage County as an Assistant State's Attorney, and for the last 30 years he has advocated on behalf of those who were needlessly injured or killed through negligence or neglect. He was very active in the legal community, where he led, mentored, and taught other lawyers. Throughout his legal career, Mike demonstrated diligent, passionate and ethical professionalism. prgtoken Also an outstanding athlete, Mike gave his time and effort generously to the community through coaching youth sports, including more than a decade coaching and helping lead Wheaton youth football. Mike leaves a beautiful legacy of hundreds of young athletes who learned from his mentorship, colleagues in the law who were inspired by his professionalism, clients well-served by his advocacy, and an entire community who was enriched by his friendship. prgtoken Madam , Mike Cetina was an outstanding man, and I ask that the House join me in expressing our profound gratitude for his life and service, and our deepest sympathy to his wife of 33 years, Tammy, to their children, Danny, Tori, Allie, and Tommy, and to the people of Wheaton, for this tremendous loss.
TRIBUTE TO TOM UDALL
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2020-12-18

I want to take a moment to recognize and thank the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Senator Udall, for his years of leadership in the Senate, on our committee, and for his commitment and service to prgtoken our Tribal communities. It has been an honor to serve with him the past 4 years. prgtoken I want to thank Senator Udall for his wisdom, his mentorship, and the example that he has set for us through his many years in Congress and in the Senate. I also want to thank his staff for their support of all of our work in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Senator Udall's tireless leadership and ability to work across the aisle with Chairman Hoeven, each Member of the Senate, and our Tribal leaders has encouraged all of us to truly work together in a bipartisan manner to find solutions on behalf of our Tribal communities. prgtoken I am particularly thankful, for Senator Udall's leadership in helping ensure that Senator Murkowski's and my bills, the Not Invisible Act and Savanna's Act, became law. With their passage, we are finally beginning to address the serious epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. His commitment to combatting violence against Native women and children has been crucial for their success. prgtoken Senator Udall's achievements in the Senate stand as a testament to the spirit of the West, which we both call home. From conserving and protecting our public lands through the Great American Outdoors Act and championing the rights of Indian Country, to empowering our Tribal communities through introducing the Native American Voting Rights Act and ensuring vital coronavirus relief funds and care reach those who need it most, Senator Udall has always prioritized the needs of western communities. prgtoken Whether it is through finding creative solutions to address the homework gap through partnering with me to introduce E-Rate Support for School Bus Wi-Fi, or fighting for quality housing through reauthorization of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self- Determination Act, his work here has led to tangible benefits for rural and Native communities in my home State of Nevada and all across the country. prgtoken I have no doubt that Senator Udall's legacy of service here will continue to leave a powerful impact on the lives of many in our Tribal communities for years to come, so thank you again, Senator Udall, for all your contributions.
SAFEGUARDING TOMORROW THROUGH ONGOING RISK MITIGATION ACT
Stacey E. Plaskett (Democrat, VI) \u2014 2020-12-18

. Madam , s, and while I am happy to support measures to improve resiliency in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, a committee on which I serve, I am disappointed that this bill is not inclusive of U.S. territories other than Puerto Rico in the normal operation of this new resiliency program. prgtoken Under the Stafford Act, the Virgin Islands and all other U.S. territories and the District of Columbia are defined and treated as States. This legislative amendment to the Stafford Act should be no different. That is why the House version of this bill was amended in committee, so that this new program is equally inclusive of all jurisdictions that are already treated as States by the Stafford Act. That was not what was approved by the committee but passed by this House in H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. prgtoken Madam , the Virgin Islands and the other smaller territories have been devastated by unprecedented natural disasters in recent years. All of these American jurisdictions have tremendous need for hazard mitigation projects that reduce risks for homeowners, businesses, nonprofits, the cost of insurance claims, and Federal relief payments from extreme weather-related disasters. prgtoken I believe it is unfair to have a program that first makes grants to Indian Tribes, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia to improve resiliency, and then tells the four remaining smaller jurisdictions, defined as States already, that they get to have what amounts to pennies maybe left over from the 2 percent set aside of funding that first is going to be spent on administrative costs and technical assistance to give the resiliency program to everyone else. prgtoken Madam , as a practical matter, of course, that will amount to nothing left for the people of my district, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Marianas, and the smaller territories. prgtoken Madam , I understand and have been told that the committee is willing to work and try to find a technical fix to this both in the House and the Senate. I urge that that occurs. While I support this measure, once again, you cannot continue to forget the smaller territories.
SUPPORTING EVICTION RELIEF IN COVID PACKAGE
Mary Gay Scanlon (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2020-12-18

. Madam , I rise in support today of eviction relief, which we expect to see included in the COVID package we vote on soon. prgtoken While we need to do more, this bill provides a meaningful start to addressing the eviction crisis caused by the pandemic. In Pennsylvania alone, nearly one-quarter million households are behind on their rent and facing the real threat of eviction. prgtoken This bill will allow, as an authorized administrative expense, funds to be sent to civil legal aid organizations to help keep people in their homes. Under this crucial legislation, legal aid organizations, including faith-based groups, can represent tenants in eviction cases, improve access to utilities, and ensure housing conditions meet necessary standards. prgtoken Rental assistance alone will not help the thousands of people facing eviction; families often need access to legal advice to protect their rights. Legal counsel should not be a privilege saved for the wealthiest in our country. It is a basic necessity for navigating the difficult problems facing Americans who are on the bottom rungs of our economy. prgtoken I will continue advocating for the families hardest hit by the COVID pandemic, and s for their hard work on this legislation.
Coronavirus (Executive Calendar)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-12-18

. I will speak briefly. And . prgtoken I join my friend Senator Sanders to support his amendment to give $1,200 in direct financial support to the American people in the yearend emergency relief bill. prgtoken Now, this effort should not subtract from any other program already in the bill, like enhanced unemployment, aid to small businesses, education, healthcare, or any other provision. We don't need to offset the cost or cut from elsewhere in the bill to make sure the stimulus checks are $1,200 for each adult and then money for children and others, as he will elaborate. Much of the money will go back into the economy anyway. prgtoken The reason for the amendment is simple. Over the course of this pandemic, working Americans have taken it on the chin. Millions have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Twenty-six million have had trouble putting food on the table in the last 5 weeks, bread lines stretching down American highways. Twelve million Americans will owe an average of $6,000 in rent and mortgage payments. So we have an opportunity in this emergency prgtoken relief bill to give financial aid directly--directly to those Americans. It could mean the difference between Americans paying the rent or not, affording groceries or not, the difference between hanging on until the vaccine helps our country get back to normal. prgtoken Now, the only objection we have heard is that this will add too much to the deficit. That is why a Senator rejected a similar request earlier today--to push a baseless agenda of austerity. Please. prgtoken By now, objections over the debt and deficit are comical. They added $2 trillion to the debt with a massive tax cut for corporations and the wealthy, and that was during a steady economy. But now the economy is on life support. Americans are queuing up on bread lines and filing for unemployment. Just as a ic President is about to take office, all of the sudden the deficit scolds are back prgtoken It is ludicrous. Chairman Powell--hardly a big liberal--of the Federal Reserve insisted: ``The risk of overdoing it is less than the risk of underdoing it.'' prgtoken The quickest way to get money into the pockets of the American people is to send some of their tax dollars right back where they came from. So let's step up to the plate and deliver the $1,200 survival checks to millions of Americans before the holidays. prgtoken I support Senator Sanders' request fully and hope the Senate will consent. prgtoken .
RECOGNIZING THE EXEMPLARY SERVICE OF MAIA HUNT ESTES
Anthony G. Brown (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-12-18

I want to recognize the exemplary service of my now former chief of staff, Maia Hunt Estes. prgtoken Maia has been an indispensable adviser and confidante to me for more than a decade, including my first days in Congress and during my tenure as Maryland's Lieutenant Governor. It is fair to say that I wouldn't be here today without her extraordinary counsel. prgtoken I could count on Maia day and night to get the job done. Maia brought an unmatched level of commitment to every issue, every challenge, every single fight, every constituent case, no matter how big or small. prgtoken Throughout our time together, Maia has provided strategic advice and clear-eyed leadership on national security and defense, transportation and infrastructure. prgtoken Maia served as my key liaison to the Congressional Black Caucus and ic leadership on core issues to me and the people of Maryland. Her deep understanding of the issues, candid advice, insightful opinions, and passionate drive for serving others has helped me deliver for my State, my constituents, our servicemembers, and our country. prgtoken Maia served as a mentor for my team, both in my district office and on Capitol Hill. She led my staff to always put the needs of our constituents first and work hard to enact real change. prgtoken I look forward to seeing the great work that Maia will do as she takes on new challenges and, no doubt, excels. prgtoken Maia, thank you very much for your years of service. You have made a difference in the lives of many, and I know you will continue to do so in the years ahead.
SUPPORTING THE JOHN LEWIS TOD LOOP
Kwanza Hall (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2020-12-18

I rise to celebrate the lives of four great Georgians important to Georgia's Fifth Congressional District and to greater metro Atlanta who have recently passed away. prgtoken Mrs. Celestine Bray Bottoms was a pillar of the greater Atlanta community. As a longtime educator with the Atlanta Public Schools system, Mrs. Bottoms touched the lives of thousands of students, parents, and fellow educators throughout Atlanta. prgtoken Celestine Bray Bottoms was a graduate of Atlanta's illustrious HBCU Spelman College, was the mother of Derrick and Darian Bottoms, the mother-in-law to Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a beloved grandmother, a community activist, and a friend to many. prgtoken Today, District Five honors the life of Mrs. Celestine Bray Bottoms. prgtoken , Joseph Arrington, Sr was a third-generation native of Atlanta, a graduate of the historic Booker T. Washington High School, and a graduate of Atlanta's Morehouse College. prgtoken Attorney Arrington obtained his law degree from North Carolina Central University and a master's degree in public health from the University of Pittsburgh. prgtoken A member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and president of Morehouse College National Alumni Association, Joseph Arrington, Sr will forever be remembered as a man of honor. prgtoken , Dr. Jane Smith was a beloved third-generation Atlantan. She attended Charles Harper High School in Atlanta, Georgia, where she held the distinction as the school's very first homecoming queen. prgtoken Dr. Smith's commitment to bettering the lives of fellow Atlantans was unmatched. prgtoken Dr. Jane Smith and the Smith and Browning families are some of the original native families that have strengthened and elevated Black communities in greater metro Atlanta and beyond. prgtoken An unmatched beauty on the inside and out, Dr. Smith will never be forgotten. prgtoken , last and certainly not least, we remember Dilcie Sledge Ragsdale, who passed away 1 week ago today. prgtoken Ms. Dilcie hailed from Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was a graduate of Spelman and Atlanta University. prgtoken As a lifelong educator, she dedicated her life to teaching and enriching the lives of others. She lived a full life. She was a gardener, an enthusiastic cook, and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. prgtoken She is survived by her children, Valerie and Renard. prgtoken I know I speak for the Fifth District of Georgia when I say she will be dearly missed. prgtoken May the memories of all these departed souls be a blessing.