mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EXPRESSING DISAPPROVAL OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S HARMFUL ACTIONS TOWARDS MEDICAID
Marc A. Veasey (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-2-6

I am proud to bring this resolution to the floor today which will fight against the administration's harmful Medicaid block grants. prgtoken I would like to take a moment to thank the chairman and the committee and their staff for working hard to protect healthcare for all Americans. prgtoken Today, we are here to shine a light on yet another one of the harmful and irresponsible policies designed by the administration. prgtoken These block grants are just the latest in a slew of attempts by his administration to gut the Affordable Care Act and the numerous coverage expansions that have been offered to millions of Americans of all ages and all backgrounds who were unable to gain coverage before, and the millions more who could gain coverage if States like mine would be smart and expand Medicaid in our own States. prgtoken They have been talking about these block grants in Texas for a while, and they are a hee-hee, ha-ha joke. Everybody knows that these are harmful. People in the healthcare industry in Texas know that these are harmful, and block grants would be harmful for the Nation. prgtoken This resolution on the floor today demonstrates our majority's strong opposition to removing the expanded protections that the Affordable Care Act provided to primarily childless adults and those parents who are living at or below the poverty line. prgtoken Millions of hardworking Americans have finally been able to gain affordable health insurance. Now the administration wants to take away the progress made by these Americans and undercut their access to healthcare. prgtoken They also want to chip away at the access to healthcare for millions of Americans who have and will be able to gain coverage through State Medicaid expansions. prgtoken That is why I am proud to lead this resolution today because affordable and accessible healthcare is a right. It should not be a privilege, . It should be a right for all.
PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE ACT OF 2019
Pramila Jayapal (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2020-2-6

. Mr. Chair, I also include in the Record a letter from the CWA on how unions reduce income inequality. Communications Workers of America, Washington, DC, February 5, 2020. Dear Representative: On behalf of the officers and 700,000 members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), I am writing to urge you to vote for H.R. 2474, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, when it comes before the House this week and to oppose any amendments that would weaken the bill. For CWA, this is the most important vote that has come before the House of Representatives in years and our members are watching it closely. The huge surge in economic inequality over the past quarter-century is related directly to many workers' lack of a strong voice on the job. Over that time, wages have stagnated for workers across the economy, while income has skyrocketed for CEOs and the wealthiest 1%. By 2012, the wealthiest 1% made 22.5% of national income, while the bottom 90% of families made less than half of national income--just 49.6%. During that same time period, union density has declined substantially. Since the early 1980s, the overall unionization rate has been cut in half. This harms workers who are unable to form unions directly, but it also hurts other workers, as research by the Economic Policy Institute shows that higher union density increases wages for all workers. Moreover, the harm to workers caused by the lack of an organized voice on the job is not limited simply to compensation. Workers who form unions have stronger protections against discrimination and retaliation, enhanced job security, better retirement benefits, and more effective ways of combating practices that jeopardize their health and safety on the job. Unfortunately, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) does not currently include protections strong enough to ensure that workers are able to effectively exercise their right to organize, bargain collectively, and have a strong voice on the job. The NLRA's penalties are ineffective and insufficient, amounting to little more than a vague threat of a slap on the wrist to employers who violate the NLRA. As a result, workers are routinely illegally disciplined or even fired for exercising their NLRA rights, with little to no consequence for the bad actors. Just as concerning is what is actually permitted under the NLRA. Employers can hold ``captive audience'' meetings, in which executives can and do force workers to attend hours- long meetings in which management berates and intimidates workers who want to organize. Employers can and do also fail to negotiate fair first contracts, preventing wor
RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF MRS. ANN KEYES
G. K. Butterfield (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2020-2-6

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the achievements of a great North Carolinian, public servant, loving wife and a friend to many; Ann Keyes. Mrs. Ann Keyes resides in Plymouth, North Carolina with her husband George Donnell Keyes. prgtoken Mrs. Keyes' passion and conviction have led her to serve in North Carolina's Washington County Government for more than 44 years. She currently serves as the Director of Planning and Safety in the Office of Washington County Emergency Management where she oversees the efforts of many local governments to implement comprehensive community plans that prioritize public safety. prgtoken Mrs. Keyes's strong commitment to public safety drove her to earn many professional certifications that include: Executive Level Certification in Emergency Management, State Certification for Floodplain Manager, Certification for Community Rating System Coordinator, and Certification for Chronic Diseases and Chronic Pain Self-Management Training Leader. prgtoken With the lifetime record of public service, Mrs. Keyes has been recognized for numerous achievements which include: 2003 Washington County Emergency Management Responder of the Year Award, North Carolina State Coordinator's Award for Floodplain Management, Colonel Phillip Nichols Waters Award, North Carolina Division of Emergency Management Regional Coordination Center's Award of Excellence, 97th North Carolina National Guard Civil Affairs Battalion's Outstanding Support Award, Washington County Employee of the Year, and North Carolina Community Emergency Response Team's Green Star Award. prgtoken In her nearly half a century of service to North Carolina, I applaud Mrs. Keyes for her years of dedication and commitment to emergency preparedness of our communities in North Carolina. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and the people of the First District of North Carolina, I express appreciation to Mrs. Ann Keyes for 44 years of committed service to Washington County. I thank for her for her perseverance and willingness to go the extra mile to ensure public safety in North Carolina. prgtoken Mrs. Keyes has, without exception, earned the right to be honored. It is my hope that God will continue to bless and keep Mrs. Keyes and her family in the years to come.
WELCOMING MONSIGNOR KEVIN SULLIVAN
Adriano Espaillat (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-2-6

I am proud to welcome Monsignor Kevin Sullivan as a guest chaplain here today. prgtoken Monsignor Sullivan is the Executive Director of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of New York. prgtoken Monsignor Sullivan also represents Catholic Charities agencies in public policy discussions about immigration, welfare reform, job development, and foster care. He joins us on a day when we welcome more than 500 Dominican Americans from around the country to celebrate Dominican heritage and discuss civic engagement and issues affecting the Dominican community across the country. prgtoken A native of the Bronx, the Monsignor served as a parish priest at St. Elizabeth's Church, my church, in Washington Heights, which is home to a historic and thriving Dominican American community. prgtoken We owe a debt of gratitude to Monsignor Sullivan for his service to our community and to all New Yorkers and I am proud to see him give the invocation in the House of Representatives today.
RECOGNIZING VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Donna E. Shalala (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2020-2-6

. Madam , this is National Gun Violence Survivors Week, and I rise to recognize the victims and survivors of domestic violence across the United States who have felt the effects of our weak gun laws. prgtoken Just last week in my community in Miami, a man killed his infant son's mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother with a high-powered rifle before abducting the days-old baby. The infant, Andrew, is still missing. prgtoken Stories like this are not unusual in this country. Women in the United States are 21 times more likely to be murdered with a gun than in other high-income countries. prgtoken When we don't take action, it is people like Andrew, his mother, his grandmother, and his great-grandmother who pay the price. prgtoken Andrew deserves to grow up with his family. He deserves leaders who prioritize his well-being over the violent whims of abusers. He deserves a chance at life not tinged with tragedy.
EXPRESSING DISAPPROVAL OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S HARMFUL ACTIONS TOWARDS MEDICAID
Ann Kirkpatrick (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2020-2-6

. Madam , I was absent today due to a medical emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yea'' on rollcall No. 38, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 39, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 40, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 41, ``no'' on rollcall No. 42, ``no'' on rollcall No. 43, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 44, ``no'' on rollcall No. 45, ``no'' on rollcall No. 46, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 47, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 48, ``no'' on rollcall No. 49, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 50, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 51.
THE TEMPORARY REAUTHORIZATION AND STUDY OF THE EMERGENCY SCHEDULING OF FENTANYL ANALOGUES ACT (S. 3201)
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2020-2-6

. Madam , I rise in opposition to S. 3201, The Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act. prgtoken Synthetic opioids such as fentanyl have caused tens of thousands of deaths in recent years and Congress has an obligation to continue to offer solutions to this ongoing public health crisis. Unfortunately, the measures taken in S. 3201 go too far in expanding mandatory minimum sentencing and would place further burdens on our already-strained criminal justice system. prgtoken S. 3201 extends the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) ``class- wide'' scheduling of fentanyl-related substances, causing more individuals to be prosecuted seeking burdensome and ineffective mandatory minimum sentences. This expansion of DEA authority raises civil liberty concerns and has the potential of reversing meaningful criminal justice reform. prgtoken In 2018, I was proud to vote in favor of the First Step Act (P.L. 115-391), bipartisan reform that overwhelmingly passed Congress and was eventually signed into law. Among other things, this bill addressed the growing bipartisan consensus that mandatory minimums are unsustainably costly and counterproductive. Rather than building on this success, S. 3201 expands outdated mandatory minimum sentences even for those caught with trace amounts of illicit fentanyl-related substances. This issue is particularly burdensome because according to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, roughly 85 percent of individuals charged with trafficking fentanyl were unaware that that they were in fact in possession of the illegal substance. prgtoken All levels of government must continue to strive towards removing illicit fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances from our communities. However, any legislation that addresses this issue cannot simply overcorrect the problem and must instead form a sustainable drug enforcement strategy. prgtoken Madam , I urged my colleagues to vote against The Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act.
HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF CAPTAIN RYAN PHANEUF
Ann M. Kuster (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2020-2-6

I rise today to honor Officer Katie Thyne, a Newport News police officer who died while serving her community on January 23, 2020. prgtoken Katie spent her formative years in New Hampshire and attended Alvirne High School in Hudson, New Hampshire. Her commitment to service began early. While at Alvirne, Katie participated in the Junior ROTC program, where she gained a reputation for hard work and kindness. prgtoken After high school, Katie enlisted in the Navy, serving her country with distinction and receiving commendation for her good conduct. Upon completing her service in the Navy, she continued to serve and joined the Newport News, Virginia police force. prgtoken Tragically, on January 23, Katie was killed in the line of duty. Her sacrifice is a reminder of the tremendous risks police officers take every day when they put on their uniform and go to work keeping our communities safe. Because of the service and sacrifice of members of law enforcement, all our communities are better for it. prgtoken Katie was irreplaceable, and she is dearly missed. She will always be remembered for her kind heart, her radiant and constant smile, and her love of family and friends. prgtoken We will keep Katie, and her family, and the Hudson community in our thoughts and prayers.
REMARKS OF SENATOR MITT ROMNEY
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-2-6

I know that Senator Romney does not need to have his words further edified, but there is something about courage and something about his words that struck my heart. prgtoken So if I might, in the remarks that Senator Romney made yesterday in his decision to cast a vote for article I, he said, briefly: The Constitution is at the foundation of our Nation. We each take an oath to defend it. Paraphrasing, he said: We arrived at different judgments, and he hoped that we would respect each other's good faith. Senator jurors swore an oath before God. prgtoken He said: ``I am profoundly religious. My faith is at the heart of who I am.'' And he knew his decision would be hard. prgtoken I thought we lived in a nation that respected the heartfelt decisions and deliberation that Members have to make. But after his decision and vote there was an onslaught of ugly and nasty comments, individuals calling him weak, #ExpellMitt. prgtoken I want to live in a nation that is better than that, that when we have to make hard decisions, we will be respected by all of America. prgtoken We all love the Constitution. I want to thank Senator Romney for his profile in courage. There needs to be more of that. He voted the right way. We all did who voted ``aye'' on article I and article II.
GUN VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO BRING AGONY TO COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES
Juan Vargas (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-2-6

. Madam , like many of my colleagues, I rise today in support of National Gun Violence Survivors Week. prgtoken Every year, over 36,000 Americans are killed in acts of gun violence, and almost 100,000 more are shot and injured. This includes nearly 3,000 children and teens who are shot and killed and nearly 15,600 who are shot and injured. prgtoken Firearms are the second leading cause of death for children and teens and the first leading cause of death for African American children and teens in the U.S. prgtoken Gun violence overly affects people of color. African Americans represent most gun homicide victims and are 10 times more likely than White Americans to die from gun violence. prgtoken Gun violence continues to bring agony every day to communities and families around the country. While we cannot bring back the many loved ones lost to gun violence, we must act to prevent more casualties. It is past time for the Senate to act to save American lives.
PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE ACT OF 2019
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-2-6

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken I have not been on the floor to hear all of the debate, but it is interesting to hear how proworker the debate is from a party that has been responsible for opposing workers' protections, workers' wages, minimum wages, and almost every other thing that lifted workers up. prgtoken I will remind my friends on the other side of the aisle that the best times for the middle class were when the unions had the largest number of members. Why? Because employers could not just tell them: You are going to get this. No, there had to be a bargaining saying: Look, we are making a lot of profits. We want to share in those profits because we enabled those profits. prgtoken So, yes, we are for giving workers the right to organize. We are for everybody who benefits from that, paying part of the taxes for that. There are a lot of people who don't like the policies we pursue. But they have to pay taxes because the majority decides that that is what we are going to do. And that is the policy of the United States. And you can't say: Well, I don't like the policy, so I am not going to pay. prgtoken I rise in very strong support of this bill. This is a bill about the middle class. This is a bill about working people. You talk a lot about working people. This is what lifts up working people, giving them some ability to negotiate on somewhat of an equal plane. prgtoken , I rise in strong support of this legislation which will protect workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively. That right is at the heart of American opportunity. Furthermore, I would suggest there is not a robust democracy in the world that does not have a trade union movement. It is what made prosperity possible for generations of working people and their families. prgtoken This administration and s in Congress have been working to undermine that right and erode the protections won by the workers' rights movement. Today, I am proud to bring this legislation to the floor to make it clear that will not allow that to happen. prgtoken We stand with the men and women of organized labor, and all workers who benefit through their efforts, and we will fight on their behalf to protect workers' rights. prgtoken I want to thank Chairman Bobby Scott of the Education and Labor Committee for introducing this legislation and shepherding it through the committee where Members helped strengthen it and ensure broad support across our caucus. prgtoken In addition to banning employers from forcing workers to participate in anti-union activities--perhaps my friends in the House who believe in freedom think maybe that is wrong. I don't know. We will see--the PRO Act ends the practice of management misclassifying workers in order to deny them benefits and fair pay. I challenge anybody to get up and say that doesn't happen. prgtoken It puts the National Labor Relations Board back on the side of worke
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.RES. 826, EXPRESSING DISAPPROVAL OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S HARMFUL ACTIONS TOWARDS MEDICAID; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2474, PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO...
Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-2-6

. Madam , on the Medicaid block grants, I would just say, from my experience, as someone who was very involved in the adoption of the ACA in the California State Senate, both chairing the committee of jurisdiction and being involved in what we look back on as a very successful rollout, doing the block grants sets the threshold lower than is necessary. Remember that the Federal thresholds are only a base level. States can put more contributions from the State and local level in, which we have done in California. It has been successful at getting millions of Californians into insurance, as opposed to being in indigent care. prgtoken On the organizing aspect, this has come up in the Rules Committee, the secret ballot and privacy. A reminder, as Chairman Scott said last night: Secret ballot is still sacrosanct. It only comes up that it will not be if the National Labor Relations Board sanctions the employer for violating organizing rules. prgtoken Our research shows that 45 percent of employers threaten workers in meetings, threaten them if they are trying to organize. Seventy-five percent of employers hire consultants to run antiunion campaigns, and one in five employees who try to organize their fellow workers get fired or threatened with termination. prgtoken Madam , I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin), a distinguished member of the Rules Committee.
REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF LEO GOLDNER
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2020-2-6

. Madam , I rise today to remember the life of an extraordinary man, Leo Goldner. Leo lived a full life, brought joy to so many, and served as a valued member of the Toledo community. Today his family and friends gather to eulogize him, and I would like to read his obituary into the Record on this day: ``Leo Goldner was born in Toledo Hospital on July 3rd, 1923, son of Herman and Margret Fleichocher Goldner and brother to his beloved sister. For many years the Goldner's lived above their family dry goods store called the Chicago Bargain House. ``He lived in a Hungarian immigrant neighborhood in East Toledo and learned to speak fluent Hungarian. He was an avid Stamp collector and a Yo Yo champion. ``Leo was the only Jewish boy in his elementary and high school and learned to defend himself against neighborhood bullies by learning Judo and quickly worked his way up to Black Belt 5th degree status. He had release parochial time in elementary school, but instead of taking two buses to go to his synagogue, he agreed at the request of the Monsignor of St. Stephen's Church to become an altar boy at St. Stephens Church, an interesting choice for a Jewish boy. ``There are pictures of Leo hanging in Waite High School and in St. Stephen's Church where he donated the bronze statue of St. Stephen, which still stands there out front today on Genesee Street. He graduated from Waite High School as a member of the National Honors Society. ``Leo attended the University of Toledo to study pre-law, was on the wrestling and tennis team, and joined the Lamda Chi fraternity. Upon the invasion of Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. There, as a lowly private, he was eventually sent to officer's candidate school to become a Lieutenant. ``In the Army, he served under General George C. Marshall as chief of staff and helped liberate the Philippines under General Douglas MacArthur where he was injured in hand to hand combat. He had no less than 12 medals and five decorations, including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. ``He served as director of USO Camp Shows in the Western Pacific after being wounded in battle. He was an expert Magician and Hypnotist. ``During the time he was an infantry officer, he used two three day passes to marry the love of his life Marian Rachel Baron, to whom he was married for 76 years. ``After being discharged from the Army, he worked at the family dry goods store, but really wanted to have a store of his own. He accepted a job offer from his brother-in-law, Jerry Baron at Baron Steel Company. There he flourished as a salesman, making an unheard-of million dollars for the firm his very first year. Later, he and his brother-in-law Sidney Baron, started Ty
DON'T BE FOOLED
Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-2-6

. Madam , the new Medicaid proposal from the White House is a reverse Robin Hood on steroids, a coordinated effort to steal from the poor and give to the rich campaign donors at Mar-a-Lago and other places. prgtoken This White House has put Medicaid on the chopping block, Medicaid, the program specifically put in place to provide healthcare to our most vulnerable citizens, our seniors, our veterans, the working poor, and their children. prgtoken My colleagues will tell you, no, this is merely about giving States greater flexibility. That is nonsense. Federal law already gives States flexibility. This is about taking away healthcare to pay for their tax cuts. prgtoken This is the latest in the GOP's long war on the working people and the poor people of this country. They have cut the Children's Health Insurance Program. They have cut food stamps. And now they are cutting Medicaid. prgtoken Don't be fooled. This has long been in their plan.