mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
OPEN THE GOVERNMENT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-1-15

today reflects two interesting commemorations. First, it is the actual birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr who lost his life in a fight for justice for public employees. I wonder what he would say on this day while we are in the longest shutdown that is really against the Nation's proud and needed Federal employees across the Nation. prgtoken I think it is important for my colleagues to reflect that 80 percent of those impacted who work for the Federal Government are outside of the Capital of the United States. prgtoken The second commemoration is a founder's day for Alpha Kappa Alpha. That is the group of young women who organized in a segregated America at Howard University to stand for service to the Nation. They were African American young women. As I have said, in a segregated Nation, in the midst of Jim Crow-ism, these women stood up to be servants of change and good business. prgtoken As I mention this, I do it because of where we are today. It is important to note the tragic impact that we cannot see that are not the headlines of Federal employees, their families, but even those who are not Federal employees impacted by the lack of service, such as a disabled woman who may not get her payments from HUD and may be evicted from housing that she desperately needs. prgtoken So why are we here? It is interesting that for the 2 years that the President has served after convincing every voter in America that any wall will be paid for by the country of Mexico, our neighbor and our friend, he never found a pathway for that to happen, because it was a fantasy, untrue, and it would never happen. prgtoken But in the 2 years that he had the Presidency, the Party, the House and the Senate, he never made an issue of this wall. But when the Nation wanted a change and elected to the House of Representatives in the majority, all of a sudden in the close of the Mueller investigation and a number of other investigations going forward, indictments of various collaborators and close associates of the White House, all of a sudden the wall becomes a major national issue, rather than the crisis of dealing with the needs of the American people from gun violence, to jobs, to dealing with our disasters, it is that. prgtoken But, yet, we have worked as in the House to get the government open and to stop the shutdown. When we first were sworn in, we voted on every bipartisan bill that the Senate had voted on to open the government. That was the week of January 3. We then, in the last week, voted for every appropriations bill in order to send to the Senate for the government to be open. prgtoken Then there were ideas of extending the homeland security funding for a short period of time to February 8, 3 weeks. We supported that. We were even eager to hear from the Senator from South Carolina to open the government and then begin the negotiations. prgtoken None of these suggestions
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--Motion to Proceed
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-1-15

. Briefly, in response to the majority leader, the first priority should be reopen government. That needs to be our very first priority of business. prgtoken In regard to the legislation the leader is referring to, let me point out that those bills could have been passed in prgtoken the last Congress where s controlled both the House and the Senate. The majority leader made a decision on floor time that it was not a priority to be considered in the 115th Congress. prgtoken Let me also say, in regard to Israel, it will benefit from the foreign ops appropriations bill to be passed, which is part of my unanimous consent request of an additional $200 million, but that is being held up because of this shutdown that has been caused by the President and has now been assisted by the s in the Senate.
REJECTING WHITE NATIONALISM AND WHITE SUPREMACY
James E. Clyburn (Democrat, SC) \u2014 2019-1-15

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. prgtoken Madam , I want to say to my colleague, Mr. Collins, that I wish to associate myself with the sentiments that he expressed here today. However, I also rise today to speak of how the tale of two Kings has brought us to this moment in history. prgtoken If he had been allowed to live, today would have been the 90th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, this august body stands ready to vote to disapprove of Representative Steve King's recent comments and condemn the evil concepts of white nationalism and white supremacy. prgtoken White supremacy and white nationalism are evils, they are insidious, and are clear and present dangers to our great Republic. Reported hate crimes rose 17 percent last year, which was the third consecutive year that we have seen an increase in this insidiousness. This is appalling and unacceptable. prgtoken When elected representatives give cover and comfort to those who spread racial divisiveness, we embolden those on the fringes of our society, and we have seen some of the results: the massacre of nine parishioners in historic Charleston's Emanuel AME Church at the hands of a young man who believed he would be, in his words, ``rescued by white nationalists after they took over the government;'' the murder of 11 Jewish worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh by a gunman who believed the Jews were, in his words, ``waging a propaganda war against Western civilization.'' prgtoken The other term used by Mr. King in his comments to the New York Times; and we saw in Charlottesville, Virginia, at the white nationalists' Unite the Right rally, where they chanted the Nazi phrase, ``blood and soil.'' prgtoken Some have questioned the timing of this resolution. Why now? they ask. prgtoken My guidance, Madam , comes from Dr. King, who wrote in his letter from the Birmingham jail: ``Time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively. More and more I feel,'' continued Dr. King, ``that the people of ill will have used time much more effectively than have the people of good will.'' prgtoken Then he closed his thought with these words: ``We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right.'' prgtoken Now is the time to do right. We have reached a tipping point. Racial divisiveness is a fault line that is ripping our Nation apart. This body must speak out against this evil. The time has come to condemn those of ill will and say that no part in our great Nation can be had by them.
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MR. GREGORY J. LUCIEN SR.
Cedric L. Richmond (Democrat, LA) \u2014 2019-1-15

. Madam , I rise to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Gregory J. Lucien Sr a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. prgtoken Mr. Lucien was raised in the 9th ward in New Orleans. He graduated from George Washington Carver Sr. High School. After completing high school, he moved to Lafayette, Louisiana to attend the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL), which is now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. While attending USL he enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. In 1990 he returned to New Orleans. Upon his return, he was hired by the Orleans Parish Sheriffs office, where he has been employed for twenty-eight years. prgtoken In 1991, Mr. Lucien was activated to serve in Operation Desert Storm. Upon completion of his duty he again returned to New Orleans and the Sheriffs office. He was promoted to Sergeant within three years and then to Lieutenant. prgtoken Mr. Lucien was eager to make an impact in his community. He joined the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure club. In 2009, he became an associate member and the next year became a full member. Once in the Zulu club, he joined the Ambassador's Krewe. Additionally, he joined the Safety, Election, Carnival Activities and the Coronation Committees. prgtoken Mr. Lucien is an avid sports fan and was not fulfilled watching sports on television, therefore, he decided to become a high school referee. In 2012, he be came a football referee for the Louisiana High School Officials Association (LHSOA) and in 2013 a basketball referee for LHSOA. prgtoken Mr. Lucien has been married to the 2019 Zulu Ambassadress, Talana M. Suarez-Lucien, for 19 years. Their loving family consist of three children--Jasmine, Tayler, and Gregory Jr--and their first grandchild, Jaxson. prgtoken Madam , I celebrate the life and legacy of Mr. Gregory J. Lucien Sr.
FEDERAL INTERN PROTECTION ACT OF 2019
Elijah E. Cummings (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-1-15

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken The bill before us, the Federal Intern Protection Act, would close a loophole in Federal employment law that currently leaves unpaid interns open to discrimination and sexual harassment without any legal recourse. prgtoken The Committee on Oversight and Reform has held multiple hearings about sexual harassment and retaliation occurring in various Federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Park Service, and the Forest Service. prgtoken During these hearings, both my colleagues and I expressed our disgust at the exploitation of female employees and interns, and we demanded action to prevent future abuse. prgtoken Unfortunately, the act of harassing unpaid interns on the basis of race, religion, age, or sex is not currently prohibited by Federal law. Under existing law, victims rely on the discretion and integrity of managers to prevent this behavior. prgtoken One witness who testified before our committee told us that managers do not always address the problem as they should and may actually be, in fact, a part of the problem. prgtoken The witness stated: ``Even after finding out about the numerous harassment victims, the direct reporting manager continued to feed the harasser a steady diet of young women.'' prgtoken We saw at our hearings that allowing this kind of behavior to go unchecked can have serious consequences on the lives and careers of those who are interested in government service. Our bill will give Federal interns the same protections already provided to Federal employees. prgtoken This measure passed the House in previous Congresses, and I urge my colleagues to join me in ensuring that this legislation passes our Chamber once again today. prgtoken I want to speak to the Congressional Intern Protection Act, related legislation I introduced, which gives protections to congressional interns and which was passed at the end of the last Congress as a part of a package of reforms to the Congressional Accountability Act. prgtoken This is a great start, but more must be done. Along with the Federal Intern Protection Act, I introduced the Unpaid Intern Protection Act, which would provide these protections to interns in the private sector. prgtoken Madam , .
DISAPPROVING THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSAL TO TAKE AN ACTION RELATING TO THE APPLICATION OF CERTAIN SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION--Motion to Proceed
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-1-15

I come to the floor today in support of S.J. Res. 2, expressing disapproval of the administration's desire to remove sanctions from companies owned by Oleg Deripaska. In accordance with specific provisions in a law I helped write, Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act, the Senate has until Thursday to block this delisting; hence the urgency of this vote. If we wait, then under the law, we lose this important opportunity. prgtoken Mr. Deripaska is a notorious Kremlin crony who may have played a role in the Russian Government's attacks during the 2016 Presidential election cycle. At this point, we simply do not know enough about his potential involvement in the cyber attacks and malign influence campaigns carried out by the Kremlin on the American people, and we will not find out until we see the full report of Robert Mueller's completed investigation. Until then, I am not comfortable with any measure that diminishes sanctions pressure on a powerful Russian oligarch with deep ties to Vladimir Putin, including this recent deal agreed to by the Treasury Department. prgtoken I am a strong believer in the power of sanctions to incentivize behavioral change in support of our foreign policy priorities. I also deeply respect the skill, expertise, and dedication of the career officials at the Treasury Department who administer many of our sanctions against Russia. prgtoken Nonetheless, the deal before us is seriously flawed. First, we must be clear that it is not the American people but, rather, Oleg Deripaska who would benefit handsomely from this arrangement. After his partial divestment in En+, which is the holding company for aluminum giant RUSAL, the Treasury Department would allow Deripaska to use a portion of his shares to pay a very sizable debt to a Russian bank called VTB. So with the deal, Deripaska's overall balance sheet significantly improves. This massive benefit to Deripaska alone is enough to question the merits of this deal. prgtoken Moreover, VTB, the Russian bank, is already on a U.S. sectoral sanctions list, related to the 2014 Russian invasion of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. By allowing VTB, the Russian bank, to participate in this agreement, the Treasury Department is undermining our overall sanctions regime. In effect, the administration is signaling to every entity and individual that has had U.S. sanctions imposed in response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine that they can continue to undermine a sovereign nation without consequence. prgtoken Finally, this deal allows Deripaska to maintain a 44.9-percent ownership of En+. While this falls below the Treasury Department's automatic 50 percent threshold for ownership, it is still too high. Yes, perhaps Deripaska has given up control in a legal sense, a technical sense, but make no mistake--he will be the largest shareholder in En+. He will have the ability to appoint one-third of its board members, an
OPEN OUR GOVERNMENT
Brenda L. Lawrence (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-1-15

. Madam , day 25. There is no reason for President to keep the government shut down over his demands for an ineffective border wall. prgtoken On day one, the passed legislation to reopen our government. Today, we are taking further action, bringing forward a continuing resolution to fund the government through February 1, giving the President and the Senate GOP yet another opportunity to end the shutdown, while allowing time for us to do our work and negotiate. prgtoken President should stop holding the health, the safety, and the paychecks of the American people hostage. prgtoken We need border security, and stand strong on that issue, but we will not waste taxpayers' dollars. We will not waste billions of taxpayer dollars on an ineffective wall. prgtoken , Congress, open our government.
TRUMP SHUTDOWN
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-1-15

this weekend, the leader, Mr. McCarthy, went on ``Face the Nation'' and said the following: ``It is unacceptable that 800,000 U.S. employees are not being paid.'' He didn't add, but he should have, that 440,000 of them are being made to work while they are not paid. prgtoken But I agree that it is unacceptable that 800,000 U.S. folks are shut out. It is unacceptable that s and would shut down the government and deny paychecks to 800,000 Americans because they couldn't get congressional approval for an expensive and ineffective border wall, even when they controlled all levers of government. prgtoken Let me repeat that. They didn't get it done when they controlled all levers of government. prgtoken The leader went on to say: ``You know what we're arguing over? One-tenth of 1 percent of the Federal budget.'' prgtoken He is dead wrong on that. This isn't about a wall, or healthcare, or the debt limit, or spending levels. It is about whether it is appropriate policy for a President to threaten shutdowns and take the country hostage to get what he wants. prgtoken It is malfeasant and malevolent to hold 800,000 Americans and, indeed, the millions they serve hostage to the demands of a President who, days before he shut down the government, told us that is exactly what he intended to do. prgtoken That is why House , joined by several s, passed six of the seven remaining appropriations bills for fiscal year 2019, all of which had bipartisan support in the Senate, and a continuing resolution to reopen the Department of Homeland Security on the first day of the new Congress. prgtoken It is also why, last week, House passed, on an individual basis, four of those same appropriations bills to reopen portions of government that the Senate approved by a vote of 92-6, over 90 percent, almost 95 percent of the Senators. prgtoken Our colleague from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) was concerned that these were not products of the House. He is right. So vote to open up a government with a CR, which you will have an opportunity to do three times, my colleagues. Let's conclude the appropriations process by passing bills agreed upon by the House and the Senate. prgtoken What we have been saying all along is: Reopen the people's government. Shutting it down is an illegitimate, immoral act. prgtoken I disagree with the leader's characterization of ' position as taking a stand for a certain level of funding. prgtoken Just give us X amount of money for a wall, s and the President say, and the shutdown will end. prgtoken This is not about a wall. It is about trying to gain an end by threat, rather than by democratic debate. One side cannot, must not, continue to threaten shutdowns to get its way in a democracy. prgtoken Our research does not show us another democracy in the world that shuts itself down. That is not how the system should work. <
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACT OF 2019--Motion to Proceed--Continued
Mark R. Warner (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-1-15

I rise today to express my support for S.J. Res. 2, a resolution of disapproval on lifting sanctions against the energy and aluminum companies En+, RUSAL, and EuroSibEnergo. prgtoken To start from the beginning, the United States of America has had very good reasons for sanctioning Oleg Deripaska. There are a number of significant national security risks at play. That is why repeatedly-- not just in the current administration but in prior administrations-- this individual has been denied a visa and why he has been personally sanctioned by the Treasury Department. As a matter of fact, the Treasury press release announcing the sanctions noted that Deripaska ``has been investigated for money laundering, has been accused of threatening the lives of business rivals, illegally wiretapping a government official, and taking part in extortion and racketeering.'' prgtoken These are not the qualifications of someone who should get relief from the United States. I appreciate the fact that his company, RUSAL, has an enormous effect upon the aluminum markets. I appreciate the efforts the Treasury Department has tried to make in restricting his control. But any businessperson knows that if you take an ownership position from 70 percent to 45 percent, and even with the voting power of 35 percent, you still control a company, particularly when this company was founded and the management team was all created by Mr. Deripaska. prgtoken As we see continuing challenges coming out of the Russian Government, as we see continued efforts of Mr. Deripaska, being one of Vladimir Putin's closest allies and closest cronies, we would send absolutely the wrong signal if we in this body were to remove these sanctions. prgtoken I know my friend the Senator from Texas wants to speak in a moment. I simply want to refer to the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, Chairman Burr, who has frequently pointed out that Deripaska and his associates have come up a number of times in our Senate Intelligence Committee's Russia investigation. All those facts can't be laid out here right now, but I strongly urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution that will come up later today, that we don't send a signal that we are open for business with individuals who have the reputation of Oleg Deripaska, and that we maintain the sanctions on both him and his company, RUSAL. prgtoken to my friend the Senator from Texas.
THE PLIGHT OF AMERICAN WORKERS
Brendan F. Boyle (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-1-15

. Madam , I rise to praise what must be two corporate CEO superstars based on just how much they have made in compensation. prgtoken The first is Irene Rosenfeld who was CEO of Mondelez/Nabisco. Over the last 5 years she was paid over $100 million, and her successor--who makes Ms. Rosenfeld look poor by comparison--Mr. Dirk Van de Put in 41 days was paid $42 million. prgtoken Now, $42 million for 41 days of work, $105 million for the last 5 years' worth of work, you must think: What superstars these two are. What great achievements or great invention did these two CEOs come up with? prgtoken Here is what they have done leading Nabisco. prgtoken They closed the factory in Philadelphia in my district that employed hundreds of people for over 60 years. They closed a similar plant in Chicago that employed over 600 people. By the way, when I say employed, I am not talking about minimum wage jobs. I am talking about good, family-sustaining jobs. prgtoken Now, where did these jobs go? prgtoken To what other part of the United States did they go? prgtoken Salinas, Mexico, where workers, instead of getting family-sustaining wages, are getting paid approximately $1.50 an hour. That is wrong. When you wonder why there is such angst in our prgtoken economy today, despite the historically low unemployment rate, this is why. prgtoken In case you think that Philadelphia and Chicago might be exceptions to this Nabisco business model, they have also done it in Pittsburgh, Houston, Niles, St. Elmo, Buena Park, and as I have mentioned, of course, Philadelphia and Chicago. prgtoken This is greed on steroids. prgtoken So the next time you crave an Oreo or crave Chips Ahoy!--both Nabisco brands--Madam , I urge you to take a look at the back of the package and see whether or not it was still made in the United States or if it is one of the products that is now made in Mexico. prgtoken Madam , I also urge you to do this: contact your Member of Congress and say that you are not going to accept trade deals and tax policies that allow this sort of disgraceful behavior to happen--the hollowing out of American middle class jobs. prgtoken It is wrong, and we the elected officials of this country have to stand up for the American worker.