mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SETTING EVERY COMMUNITY UP FOR RETIREMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2019
Elaine G. Luria (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-5-23

. Madam , with this momentum, we can fix a problem for so many heroic families and ensure security for their benefits. prgtoken I include in the Record a letter signed by 20 veterans service organizations in support of the Gold Star family tax provisions included within the SECURE Act. May 22, 2019. Hon. Elaine Luria, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Congresswoman Luria: As leaders of the major veterans, military, and survivor organizations, we are pleased to offer our support for H.R. 2481, the Gold Star Family Tax Relief Act. Surviving spouses of service members who die in the line of duty and military retirees who die from service-connected wounds, illnesses, or injuries are entitled to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Survivors who paid into the Department of Defense Survivor Benefits Plan (SBP) have a dollar-for-dollar offset of their SBP benefits by the amount of DIC benefits. To avoid the SBP/DIC offset, surviving spouses often sign over SBP benefits to their children to ensure the family receives both earned benefits. Due to a recent change in tax law, known as the ``Kiddie Tax,'' Gold Star families who were formerly obligated to pay 12 to 15 percent in taxes on their earned benefits are now being taxed up to 37 percent, leaving them thousands of dollars in tax debt. This important bill would rightfully repeal the Kiddie Tax and reinstate military survivor benefits to the previous tax rate. Thank you again for your leadership on this issue. We look forward to working with you and your staff to pass this important legislation immediately. Sincerely, Robert Wallace, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States; Bonnie Carroll, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors; Harriet Boyden, Gold Star Wives of America; Joseph R. Chenelly, AMVETS; Louis Celli, The American Legion; Joyce Wessel Raezer, National Military Famiy Association; Dana T. Atkins, Military Officers Association of America; Carl Blake, Paralyzed Veterans of America; Keith A. Reed, Air Force Sergeants Association; John Cho, AMSUS, the Society of Federal Health Professionals. James T. Currie, Commissioned Officers Assn. of the US Public Health Service, Inc; Norman Rosenshein, Jewish War Veterans of the USA; Vincent Patton III, Non Commissioned Officers Assn. of the United States of America; Randy Reid, USCG Chief Petty Officers Assn.; Jeff J. Schloesser, Army Aviation Association of America; Christopher Cole, Association of the United States Navy; Carol Setteducato, Chief Warrant Officers Association of the US Coast Guard; Thomas ``LPM'' Howlett, Marine Corps Reserve A
ALBERTO CURAMIL
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2019-5-23

. I want to bring to the Senate's attention the story and the example of Alberto Curamil, an environmental activist who is a member of the indigenous Mapuche people in Chile's Araucania region. The Mapuche are Chile's largest indigenous group, and since the 1800s they have struggled to protect their culture, territory, rivers, forests, and natural resources against encroachment and destruction by settlers and energy companies that have often acted with impunity and the backing of the government. Mr. Curamil has dedicated his life to this cause. It is the existential struggle of indigenous people in scores of countries as the insatiable global demand for energy, arable land, water, timber, oil, gas, and minerals threatens their ancestral lands and way of life. prgtoken Several years ago, during a prolonged drought in Chile, the Ministry of Energy announced a plan for two large hydroelectric projects in Araucania, without consulting the Mapuche people who live there. The projects would reportedly divert more than 500 million gallons of water for power generation, severely limiting water flow and damaging the ecosystem of the Cautin River on which many of the Mapuche people depend for survival. prgtoken Mr. Curamil, who has three children, lives on the outskirts of the town of Curacautin. He is a farmer who raises animals. His wife teaches the Mapuche language. Fearing what the harm to the river would mean for his people, he organized Mapuche and non-Mapuche, environmental organizations, lawyers, and academics to try to stop the projects. In public protests and in court, they argued that the government had ignored Chilean law which prgtoken requires free, prior, and informed consent of affected communities before approving such projects. Despite harassment, threats, and violent attacks, Mr. Curamil succeeded in uniting the opposition, and in 2016 the projects were canceled. prgtoken But that was not the end of it. prgtoken On August 14, 2018, Mr. Curamil was arrested by Chile's national police and imprisoned. He has been charged with assault during a bank robbery in which a guard was injured and hostages taken. An anonymous witness reportedly said that one of the robbers looked like a Mapuche, and they arrested Mr. Curamil. There have been no judicial proceedings, and Mr. Curamil remains in pretrial detention. prgtoken Mr. Curamil and his family say that he is a victim of retaliation for his environmental activism, that he was attending a meeting in a different town at the time of the robbery, and that multiple people can attest to his presence there. At the time of his arrest, his house was ransacked by police and left in a shambles. prgtoken In November 2018, another Mapuche, Camilo Catrillanca, age 24, died after being shot in the back by police. He was a member of the Mapuche Territorial Alliance, a grassroots organization that seeks to reintegrate the Mapuche people through reclaiming their langua
HONORING THE LIFE OF NATIVO LOPEZ
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-5-23

. Madam , I rise today to honor the memory of Nativo Lopez, a long-time voice for the Mexican American community in Southern California and a champion of prgtoken immigrant rights. Mr. Lopez passed away on Sunday, May 20th. prgtoken Mr. Lopez grew up in Los Angeles County in a family that had lived in the United States for six generations. He studied Spanish literature at California State University, Dominguez Hills. prgtoken Nativo Lopez was best known for changing the political landscape in Orange County. His determination and ability to organize volunteers, workers, people who had never been active in politics, led the start of the Orange County blue wave. Nativo began advocating and organizing at an early age. At the age of 13, he joined picket lines to protest funding cuts at a community center in East Los Angeles. As an 18-year- old at Excelsior High School, he and his brothers led a walkout of more than 200 Mexican American students to raise awareness for educational reform. prgtoken As a young professional, Mr. Lopez was a court interpreter in Los Angeles County. Mr. Lopez founded a Santa Ana chapter of Hermandad Mexican National, a group that provides services to and protects the needs and rights of Spanish-speaking immigrants. Nativo Lopez led Hermandad Mexicana for more than 30 years. His passion for ensuring that immigrant workers and their families, with or without documents, were treated with dignity and respect often sparked controversy, but his commitment to the cause never wavered. prgtoken In 1985, his name made national news when he helped more than 500 Santa Ana families stage a successful rent strike. Mr. Lopez won a seat on the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Trustees in 1997. One of his most influential efforts was his creation of Assembly Bill 60, allowing unauthorized immigrants to apply for driver's licenses. Mr. Lopez was soon recognized as the undisputed champion of immigrant rights in Southern California. prgtoken Unfortunately, his life was cut short by cancer. Nativo Lopez leaves behind a legacy in fighting for civil rights, immigration rights, educational access, and community empowerment through civic engagement. prgtoken Madam , Mr. Lopez is truly a legend in the history of Latino leaders in Orange County and Los Angeles. His dedication and passion to serving the Hispanic community are truly unmatched. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of Nativo Lopez and his lifelong dedication to serving our community.
SETTING EVERY COMMUNITY UP FOR RETIREMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2019
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-5-23

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken Madam , I rise in strong support of the SECURE Act. I thank the chairman, Mr. Neal, and Pelosi for their leadership on this important bill. prgtoken America is facing a retirement crisis. Nearly half of all the people in America do not have any money saved for retirement. The SECURE Act before us today helps fix that. prgtoken I am glad we could reach this bipartisan solution to make it easier for workers, including home healthcare workers in California, to take advantage of important retirement savings tools. prgtoken As a combat veteran and the father of two first responders, I understand how important it is that this bill also reverses the harmful tax hikes included in the tax bill on survivor benefits. Hiking taxes on Gold Star families and families of first responders is unjust, and it insults how sacred these benefits are. It is just plain wrong. This bill reverses that harmful provision. prgtoken Madam , I thank Congresswoman Luria for her leadership in this effort. prgtoken Madam , I ask that all my colleagues join me in support of this very important bill.
SETTING EVERY COMMUNITY UP FOR RETIREMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2019
John B. Larson (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2019-5-23

. Madam , I rise today to support the SECURE Act and commend Chairman Neal and Leader Brady for the outstanding work on this, as well as our colleagues Ron Kind and Mike Kelly. I also would like to single out Dave Reichert, who is no longer here, and myself for the work that was done with regard to volunteers. prgtoken The provisions of this bill in terms of aid and assistance to rank- and-file citizens are legendary--and I thank Mr. Neal again for those efforts--but specifically for volunteer firefighters, for EMTs, and for those who give selflessly in an opportunity to serve their communities. For the meager amounts of uniforms and whatever they received in compensation, to have that taxed was an insult. So I am proud, again, to make sure that this piece of legislation included an opportunity for volunteers all across this country. Twenty-three communities in my State have volunteers. prgtoken I thank the chairman again for his leadership.
COMMEMORATING 19TH AMENDMENT CENTENNIAL
Denny Heck (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2019-5-23

it was, indeed, 100 years ago in this very room that the House of Representatives passed the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, granting women the right to vote. prgtoken The vote was here, but the work was out there, because the fact is the victory was due in no small part to the countless trailblazers who championed women suffrage throughout the decades. prgtoken Many of those trailblazers called home that which I call home: the Pacific Northwest. That included activists like Emma Smith DeVoe of Tacoma and Mary Arkwright Hutton of Spokane. It was because of their efforts that Washington State became the fifth State in the Union to enact women suffrage in 1910. These efforts built the momentum to pass and ratify the 19th Amendment nearly a decade later. prgtoken But the point is, as we celebrate this anniversary, let us not allow the progress we have made beget complacency; because the long, hard- fought battle for equality and representation spans generations and continues to this very day. prgtoken Let's continue to affirm those principles as we recognize and commemorate the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote.
MEMORIAL DAY
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2019-5-23

I am very proud to be in this Chamber. I am always enormously grateful to be in this body, but especially so at the beginning of this Memorial Day weekend, when we celebrate the patriotism and dedication of our brave men and women in uniform-- patriots who serve our country in so many different ways, as teachers and firefighters and police--and the values that bring us together always as Americans. What we share is a dedication to the rule of law, basic rights, which are the reason that our forbearers and this generation have fought in parts of the world whose names we can barely pronounce. prgtoken We celebrate those values and the rule of law in our Constitution on this day, as we do every day this weekend, as every weekend, because they guarantee the rights that enable us to march in parades when we wish, gather with our families, worship, and speak as we please. prgtoken They guarantee also the rights to privacy that are at the core of our Constitution--the right to be let alone from governmental interference; the rights that literally ignited the passion and fight for freedom in this country; the right of people to control their destinies, their futures, their bodies. prgtoken Those rights are imperiled today as never before. We are in a dark and dangerous time in this country with the passage of laws in Alabama and Missouri, Kentucky and Ohio, and in other States around the country, where the rights of women are under assault. prgtoken But let me say to the men of America, those rights are as important to you, and that assault on rights is as critical to you as they are to the women of America. Women's healthcare is under attack. Women's reproductive rights are under assault, and that means that all rights and all healthcare are gravely threatened. All of our rights are under attack. That is the reason today I am introducing the Women's Health Protection Act with my great colleague and friend Senator Baldwin of Wisconsin and, in the House of Representatives, Chu, Frankel, and Fudge, who led this effort there. We have actually reintroduced it. It has been a longstanding effort of mine and theirs, and my own commitment to this cause dates from my law clerkship to Harry Blackmun on the U.S. Supreme Court, the year after he wrote the majority opinion in Roe v. Wade. prgtoken I am proud to be a man standing for women's healthcare because women's healthcare rights are human rights, and the men of America need to hear loud and clear that their stake in this fight is as big as anyone's, because this fight and this debate and this war on women's healthcare endanger and imperil all of our rights in America. prgtoken The Women's Health Protection Act protects a woman's constitutional right to access an abortion. It is a right that is absolutely central to her economic well-being, her mental and physical health, and her freedom--no matter where she lives, no matter what her ZIP code is, no matter what
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Tina Smith (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2019-5-23

I thank Senator Collins for her leadership on this issue. I am very happy to have a chance to work with her on this. prgtoken Today, my colleague Senator Collins and I are introducing a bill to help fight Lyme disease, so we are introducing this bill today here in the Senate as many Minnesotans and Mainers get ready to head out to our beautiful national parks, lakes, and coastline to go fishing, hiking, and all of the things that we love, love, love to do. prgtoken In Minnesota, we have more than 10,000 lakes and a lot of space for outdoor activities, and we also have a growing tick population due to warmer summer months. With so many lakes and our excitement to get outside after a long winter, Minnesotans have become more at risk of contracting Lyme disease and other vector-borne illness. prgtoken A vector-borne illness means an illness that is carried by an insect, like ticks. Unfortunately, the number of Lyme disease cases in Minnesota is on the rise. Over the past 10 years, the number of reported cases has increased by nearly a third. prgtoken Our bill, the TICK Act, aims to reduce the number of cases by establishing an interagency office of oversight and coordination to target, prevent, and treat Lyme disease and other vector-borne illnesses. In our legislation, we made sure to enable collaboration between universities and public health agencies, and it is important we train and equip our public health first responders in how best to prevent and treat vector-borne illnesses. prgtoken The TICK Act is supported by a coalition of researchers, as Senator Collins just said, also frontline medical professionals and government officials from across the country, so I urge my colleagues to listen to the professionals on the ground fighting vector-borne diseases and quickly take up and pass this bill. prgtoken May is Lyme disease awareness month. We must be aware of and prepare for future vector-borne disease outbreaks, and this bill will be an important first step. prgtoken So I want to thank Senator Collins, my colleague on the HELP Committee, for her leadership on this important issue. I am glad we are able to work together on this bill.
IN CELEBRATION OF PEG MYRICK
Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-5-23

today I rise to celebrate my friend, my constituent, and my role model, Peg Myrick. I celebrate Peg here on the floor of the House of Representatives because her life and her example is one I would like to share with you, my colleagues. prgtoken Peg began her career as a teacher, reaching kids, impacting lives, but on Halloween 2016, Peg was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. With a life-changing terminal diagnosis, Peg committed herself to continuing her role as an educator, now acting as an ambassador for Fight Colorectal Cancer and educating others on the importance of screenings and understanding this disease. prgtoken As she has battled for her life, she shares her exuberant positivity with everyone, and she demonstrates in her daily life what it is to live for the minute, what it is to show life and love to those around you--to her family, to her friends--and she demonstrates a lesson I think we should all learn from, which is that we are all in this together. Through her positivity and her friendship, she endeavors to lift up everyone around her.
NOMINATIONS
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-5-23

once again, our colleagues are spending another week rubberstamping President 's extreme nominees. prgtoken Daniel Collins, nominated to a California Ninth Circuit seat, received a vote over the objection of both of California's Senators. prgtoken Before this year, a judicial nominee had never been confirmed over the objection of both home State Senators. Mr. Collins's confirmation marked the sixth time it has happened this year. prgtoken This Senate has effectively killed the blue slip for circuit court nominations. This is a precedent that could come back to haunt each of our States. My colleagues who are voting repeatedly to override home State Senators' objections may come to regret those votes someday. prgtoken I opposed the Collins nomination. I agree with Senators Feinstein and that Collins has ``a history of taking strong litigation positions for no reason other than attempting to overturn precedent and push legal boundaries.'' prgtoken I am particularly troubled by his extensive representation of the tobacco industry and his inadequate recusal commitment when it comes to matters involving his former tobacco industry clients. prgtoken The district court nominees scheduled for votes this week also have a long history of advancing extreme ideological views. prgtoken When it comes to abortion, North Carolina district court nominee Kenneth Bell once wrote in an op-ed, ``There is no middle ground.'' Missouri district court nominee Stephen Clark has spent much of his legal career litigating against reproductive rights and access to contraceptives. prgtoken Utah district court nominee Howard Nielson wrote a memo for the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, arguing that the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit torture, do not apply to civilians captured abroad. prgtoken DC district nominee Carl Nichols has advanced extreme views of Executive power, including arguing that Presidents and Presidential aides have absolute immunity from congressional process. prgtoken I opposed these extreme nominees, and I regret that the Senate's advice and consent process has become an exercise in rubberstamping. This institution can and should do better.
AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN DAY
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-5-23

in 1902, a little known machinist by the name of Charles Edward Taylor began working for Orville and Wilbur Wright at the Wright Cycle Company in Dayton, OH. Over the course of 6 weeks, using only a metal lathe, drill press, and hand tools, Mr. Taylor built a 12-horsepower engine that was used to power the Wright brothers' first successful aircraft in 1903. prgtoken Today, Charles Taylor's May 24th birthday is observed as Aviation Maintenance Technician Day to recognize the thousands of men and women who follow in Mr. Taylor's footsteps and fulfill a critical safety role in the U.S. aviation industry. Whether maintaining military, commercial, general aviation, private, space, or experimental aircraft, aviation maintenance technicians use their specialized knowledge and skillset to ensure that all aircraft are safe and reliable. prgtoken I want to thank aviation maintenance technicians across Illinois and throughout the Nation for their hard work and dedication. Their expertise and integrity ensures the U.S. aviation system will remain the safest and most reliable in the world.
IN HONOR OF CHIEF ROBERT PFANNES FOR HIS EXEMPLARY SERVICE
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-5-23

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Police Chief Robert Pfannes for his dedicated service to the city of Ann Arbor. His exceptional work ensuring the safety of his community is worthy of commendation. prgtoken A graduate of Madonna University and the Eastern Michigan University School of Police Staff and Command, Chief Robert Pfannes committed his career to protecting the community. Initially serving in the Detroit and Garden prgtoken City Police Departments, Chief Pfannes joined the Ann Arbor Police Department in 1998 as a patrol officer. He worked in the patrol, major crimes, and narcotics divisions, before being promoted to Detective Lieutenant in 2012, where he served as the commander of the Detective Section. Beyond his work in public safety, Chief Pfannes has dedicated numerous hours in service of education, teaching at the Western Wayne Regional Police Academy for the last 23 years. prgtoken Chief Pfannes' efforts demonstrate a deep commitment to justice, public safety, and education. His critical work has been instrumental in protecting the Ann Arbor community. Chief Pfannes' 21 years as a member of the Ann Arbor Police Department exemplifies the selflessness of public service. We are grateful for the exceptional work he has done protecting the Ann Arbor community, and we congratulate him on his retirement. His dedicated leadership will be missed, and we wish him good health and every happiness in his retirement years. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Police Chief Robert Pfannes for his many years of exemplary service. He has effectively served Michigan and its residents through his selflessness and leadership.