mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Medicaid Saves Lives Act (Executive Calendar)
Raphael G. Warnock (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2021-7-22

since my first day here in the Senate-- and even before that--one of the issues I have been working to address is how my own home State of Georgia, where State leaders have been digging in their heels, refusing to expand Medicaid--how it is that citizens can somehow provide affordable healthcare to their families-- nearly 500,000 Georgians who are uninsured. They are in the Medicaid gap. prgtoken That is why last week I introduced the Medicaid Saves Lives Act, legislation that would create a program almost identical to Medicaid that is administered by the Federal Government and would allow people in States like Georgia who have not expanded Medicaid, an alternative path to health coverage because we know that Medicaid literally saves lives. prgtoken I was proud to introduce this legislation with my colleagues Senators Baldwin and Ossoff and that it has the support of healthcare stakeholders in Georgia and from across the country. Entities like the Georgia Hospital Association and the Grady Health System understand how expanding Medicaid in Georgia will improve health outcomes across the State, strengthen our rural hospitals and healthcare workforce, and create good-paying jobs. prgtoken Medicaid saves lives and also saves jobs. As it turns out, the right thing to do is also the smart thing to do. And so I am glad that this plan is on its way to being included in the forthcoming economic package, and I am going to do everything I can to keep pushing to make sure that it happens. prgtoken But today, I come to the Senate floor to talk not so much about policy as much as to talk about the people behind the policy efforts that we lift up. We should always endeavor to see the human face of the public policy we put forward. prgtoken So I want to talk today about Cynthia English. She is a truckdriver in Albany, GA. It is a town in the southern rural part of our State. Cynthia turns 46 in just a few days. Her birthday, actually, is this coming Saturday. prgtoken Happy birthday, Cynthia. prgtoken Cynthia, a hard-working woman, suffers from diabetes and hypertension. She says that she has previously applied for Medicaid and other healthcare programs but has been repeatedly denied because she does not have any children. She does not have any dependents. So she has been denied, in spite of her relatively low income. She is in the coverage gap. prgtoken She says that those denials made her feel like she couldn't get any type of help. In fact, Cynthia says that in the past, her diabetes and her blood pressure have had her in ``real bad shape,'' so much so that complications with her diabetes once sent her to the emergency room. prgtoken Think about the cost of that for her and for all of us, unable to get the kind of routine care that all of us need but especially if you have a chronic illness like hypertension or diabetes. It doesn't make sense for her or for us that she is in this situation. Without health insur
IN HONOR OF PRETRIAL, PROBATION AND PAROLE WEEK 2021
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2021-7-22

. Madam , today, I rise to recognize the Nation's community supervision professionals and the many vital roles they play in their work with justice-involved adults and juveniles. They identify opportunities and services to help individuals successfully contribute to society, while, at the same time, holding them accountable for their actions. They remain always mindful of their role in ensuring public safety. prgtoken In honor of Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week 2021, we salute all of those who have chosen this important career. In the District of Columbia, we especially thank the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia and the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia for their service. These agencies are models of excellence in community supervision. Their work reflects the theme of Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week, ``Restoring Trust, Creating Hope.'' prgtoken As was the case last year, community supervision officers have demonstrated great courage and resolve in continuing their work during the coronavirus pandemic. They have found innovative ways to remain connected with the individuals they supervise and to continue guiding them in the interest of safety. prgtoken Community supervision agencies are valuable partners of government agencies, nonprofits, neighborhood-based groups and all who strive to make our nation safer and stronger. We extend our gratitude to them and ask the House of Representatives to honor them and recognize their many achievements as we proclaim July 18-24, 2021, as Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week in Washington, D.C.
AVERTING LOSS OF LIFE AND INJURY BY EXPEDITING SIVS ACT OF 2021
Diana DeGette (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2021-7-22

on July 22, 2021, I was unable to be present to cast my vote on the Averting Loss of Life and Injury by Expediting SIVs Act of 2021 or the Allies Act (H.R. 3985) I wish the record to reflect that had I been present for rollcall No. 218, I would have voted ``AYE.'' Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Amodei (Balderson) Boebert (Gosar) Buchanan (LaHood) Comer (Arrington) DeSaulnier (Matsui) Frankel, Lois (Clark (MA)) Fulcher (Simpson) Garcia (IL) (Garcia (TX)) Granger (Calvert) Grijalva (Stanton) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Jones (Williams (GA)) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Lawrence (Beatty) Lawson (FL) (Evans) McEachin (Wexton) Meng (Jeffries) Napolitano (Correa) Payne (Pallone) Porter (Wexton) Reschenthaler (Van Drew) Ruiz (Correa) Rush (Underwood) Salazar (Cammack) Stewart (Moore (UT)) Titus (Connolly) Wilson (FL) (Hayes)
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2021-7-22

today I have introduced the Encouraging Americans to Save Act (EASA). This legislation makes common sense reforms to the saver's tax credit by making the credit refundable and restructuring it as a government matching contribution that is directly deposited into a taxpayer's retirement savings account. This bill would offer matching contributions for the first time to millions of middle and low income individuals not covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan, including those who save through an IRA under a state or local government savings program--such as workers in my home State of Oregon under the OregonSaves program. The government match is also available to middle and lower income savers who participate in an employer-sponsored plan. The government match provided by the bill would both encourage saving and help middle and low income earners build assets by providing an immediate, meaningful return on their personal contributions. The legislation would also establish a coronavirus bonus recovery credit that would provide an additional government match of up to $5,000 to workers on their retirement saving for a five year period. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE JERRY LEWIS
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-7-22

I rise today to honor the life of our former colleague Jerry Lewis. prgtoken My colleagues here have spoken to the mark he left on the House of Representatives. I'd like to take a moment speak to his legacy in the California delegation, where he was the longest serving in our state's history. prgtoken Whether it was as my counterpart as Chair of the California Congressional Delegation, during his tenure as prgtoken Conference Chair, or his time as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Jerry was always willing to work with his California colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address the needs of our state. prgtoken If Jerry had anything to say about it, California was getting its fair share. prgtoken During his time in Sacramento he helped establish the South Coast Air Quality Management District. He understood the need to deal with the horrific smog that was plaguing much of Southern California, and particularly the Inland Empire. prgtoken George Miller once pointed out that Jerry and he were on opposing sides of legislation to create the Mojave Desert National Park, but that once the park was created, Jerry immediately turned around and worked with the delegation to ensure that the public had access and that there would be improvements to the park. prgtoken That's the kind of legislator he was--instead of being consumed by what divides us, Jerry like to move to the next problem to solve. prgtoken We've missed his presence in the House over the last decade. Our thoughts are with his wife Arlene and his children and grandchildren.
AVERTING LOSS OF LIFE AND INJURY BY EXPEDITING SIVS ACT OF 2021
Greg Stanton (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2021-7-22

I stand in support of the ALLIES Act. prgtoken I believe, as my colleagues have stated so eloquently, that we have a moral prgtoken obligation and a duty to take care of those who protected and safeguarded American troops in Afghanistan. prgtoken Future allies will look at how we treated those who put themselves in harm's way: the thousands of interpreters and others who aided our mission when they are asked to help us in other times of need. prgtoken There is one particular group I would like to call special attention to: the Afghan Female Tactical Platoon. This small group of elite Afghan women sought a better future for their country. They were trained by our country's Special Forces and supported our special operation missions during the war. They gathered essential intelligence and helped protect the lives of innocent civilians and American troops. We owe these brave women more than our gratitude. We owe them what they gave us: loyalty and protection. prgtoken Because of their gender, they are marked for especially heinous retaliation and punishment by the Taliban. Without our help they will almost certainly be raped, sold into sex trafficking, tortured, or executed all because they helped the American people. prgtoken I want to thank Representative Crow for his steadfast leadership on this critically important issue, and I urge my colleagues to approve this essential bill.
CAPITOL POLICE
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-7-22

this has been one of the most difficult years ever for the Capitol Police here in Washington. These are men and women who have worked in this building and nearby in our office buildings and protect us to make sure we can come safely to work every single day and our staff and our visitors and tourists who come to the Capitol Building. These men and women are amazing. prgtoken We know that January 6, 2021, is a date that they will never forget. They were on the front lines of the violent January 6 insurrection that shocked this building, our Nation, and the world. Hundreds of Capitol Police literally fought for hours that day to protect this building and to protect me and other Members of the U.S. Senate. prgtoken The attack left one Capitol officer, Brian Sicknick, dead and more than 140 total officers from the Capitol Police and DC Police injured. Some members said it was the most savage fighting they have ever witnessed or been part of. Many of them thought they would die that day, yet they were back at their post the very next day and the day after that, and the day after that, and this morning too. prgtoken On April 2, the Capitol Police were still struggling to heal from the insurrection when their department suffered another devastating loss. A driver rammed his car into a barricade just outside the Capitol, a barricade I go through every morning. And one officer was injured and another officer, Billy Evans, was killed--killed. The memorial to him is still out at that barricade. prgtoken Only once before in the 193-year history of the Capitol Police had the department lost two members in the line of duty in the same year. That was on July 24, 1998. This coming Saturday is the anniversary of that event, the 23rd anniversary of the murders of Capitol Police Officers Jacob ``J.J.'' Chestnut and Detective John Gibson. prgtoken It happened on a Friday afternoon. I remember the day. Most Members of Congress had already gone home for the weekend, but the Capitol was still filled with staff and tourists. Officer Chestnut was at his post guarding an entrance on the east front of the building when a man with a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver and a history of serious mental illness walked in and shot him point-blank in the back of the head. The shooter then ran to the nearest opened door, seeking to escape. prgtoken On the other side of that door, Detective Gibson just warned congressional staffers to hide under their desks, and he was face-to- face with that shooter. For the first time in his career, Detective Gibson fired his weapon in the line of duty, hitting the man four times. The man shot back, hitting Detective Gibson twice. Both officers died. prgtoken John Gibson had 18 years with the Capitol Police. J.J. Chestnut, a Vietnam veteran, had 20 years in the Air Force before joining the Capitol Police. He was ready for retirement. He thought he was going to be able to take time off with his fa
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-7-22

I thank the gentleman for his comments. He is certainly accurate that the Hyde amendment has been in our bills for a very long period of time. What I think is not completely accurate is that it has been a bipartisan support, has enjoyed bipartisan support, and that there were who obviously supported the Hyde amendment. prgtoken And I realize that this has made it controversial, having been left out of the bill. I don't know what the Committee on Rules is going to do; we will have to see what they do. But in any event, I want to tell you that a large number on our side of the aisle believe that a constitutionally protected healthcare matter for women ought not to be determined by their financial ability. prgtoken So there is controversy with respect to Hyde. There is also controversy with respect to Federal employees as well, that I know well, because I chaired that subcommittee. We give to Federal employees the healthcare benefit, but then we say they can't use it for some things. Actually, that money is their money; it is not our money. It is given in compensation for their services. prgtoken But in any event, so there are controversies, I would tell the gentleman, and I am not sure exactly what the Committee on Rules is going to do and, therefore, don't want to speak for it.
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2021-7-22

I have 7 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. prgtoken Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Armed Services prgtoken The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at 9:30 a.m to conduct a closed hearing. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs prgtoken The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation prgtoken The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources prgtoken The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing on nominations. committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions prgtoken The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing. Committee on the Judiciary prgtoken The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session prgtoken of the Senate on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at 9 a.m to conduct a hearing on nominations. Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight prgtoken The Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight of the Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at 10 a.m to conduct a hearing.
REMEMBERING MacNOLIA COX
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2021-7-22

earlier this month, Zaila Avant-garde became the first Black American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. It is kind of discouraging in the year 2021 that barrier still needed breaking. prgtoken Her achievement is an inspiration for so many students around the country. She drew strength and courage from another trailblazer who had gotten significant less attention, whose story has not been told and honored the way that Zaila was. prgtoken In 1936, 13-year-old MacNolia Cox from Akron, OH, became one of the first two Black students to compete in the National Spelling Bee. She qualified after winning the regional competition that went 60--6-0-- rounds, sponsored by the Akron Beacon Journal. Black communities across the country cheered her victory. They looked forward to her joining the national competition. She was celebrated at churches and clubs, talked about by celebrities, and even politicians. At the RKO Palace in Cleveland, band leader Fats Waller, tap dancer Bill Robinson, whom we know, whom history knows as Mr. Bojangles, brought her on stage. prgtoken Three thousand Ohioans came to Akron's Union Station to send MacNolia off on her journey to Washington. She had little idea the treatment she would endure at the tip of the Jim Crow South. She was forced to ride-- she is, essentially, Ohio's representative at the National Spelling Bee, a 13-year-old Black--I was going to say Black young woman--Black girl from Ohio. She was forced to ride in segregated train cars. She was forced to stay at a private home instead of at the Willard hotel. prgtoken Nine years later, my parents--my dad came from overseas, my mom from Mansfield, GA--met at the Willard hotel at the end of his service in World War II. prgtoken She could not stay at the Willard hotel because she was African American, while all the other White competitors did. At a dinner for the finalists, she and her mother were forced to enter through the kitchen door of the hotel and sit at a separate table segregated from the other finalists. How shameful that was. prgtoken Despite it all, MacNolia Cox made it far in the competition. There were only five students left when the judges gave her a proper noun to spell. She hadn't studied it. Proper nouns were supposed to be off limits. The judges had had enough of a Black girl getting that far. They wouldn't listen to the Beacon Journal reporter, who covered her to report on the competition. She pointed out to the judges that the judges--the judges--weren't following their own rules. She was eliminated. Of course, she was. Her achievements, her story soon faded from memory until now. prgtoken Zaila Avant-garde talked to the media about scrolling through pictures of national spelling bee contestants with her father, seeing face after face that didn't look like hers. prgtoken It reminds me, yesterday, I had breakfast with the Secretary of the Treasury at the Treasury Department. To get to her office--
AVERTING LOSS OF LIFE AND INJURY BY EXPEDITING SIVS ACT OF 2021
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-7-22

I support the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program, and I support its increased numbers. I ask my colleagues: Don't stop here. Let's keep going. These are our friends, and democracy must prevail. prgtoken , against the backdrop of a war that has demanded sacrifice and summoned patriotism, I rise in unequivocal support of H.R. 3985, ``The Allies Act of 2021,'' which honors the contributions of our allies in Afghanistan by strengthening the Afghan Special Immigration Visa (SIV) Program. prgtoken I wish to recognize my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Colorado, Congressman Crow, who valiantly served three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, for leading this bipartisan effort to uphold our commitment to our partners in Afghanistan. prgtoken This piece of legislation, which I am proud to co-sponsor, comes as we conclude a multigenerational war that has accomplished its principle objectives: rendering justice to those responsible for 9/11 and making sure that no attack on the homeland ever emerges from Afghanistan. prgtoken Over the course of achieving this mission, we found critical allies and made invaluable friends, among them those who leveraged their skills and knowledge to protect our troops from harm. prgtoken The Afghan Special Immigrant (SIV) Program, created in 2009 to provide safety for Afghan interpreters, contractors, and security personnel assisting U.S. efforts in the country, is more than a program. prgtoken It is a promise--a promise to our allies that when they have our back, we have theirs. prgtoken Specifically, the bill improves the SIV application process by: prgtoken amending the credible threat requirement; prgtoken aligning applicant standards; prgtoken clarifying eligibility for certain Afghans; prgtoken streamlining duplicative procedures, and, prgtoken increasing protections for surviving spouses. prgtoken Reports on the ground indicate those Afghan nationals who worked on behalf of the U.S. Government face extreme danger. prgtoken Time is of the essence, and this bill removes our friends and allies from the bureaucratic barriers of additional lengthy paperwork to establish a credible threat, when we already know that such a threat exists for individuals with verified ties to the U.S. government. prgtoken Additionally, to qualify for the Afghan SIV Program under the current law, Afghan nationals who were employed by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) or Resolute Support (RS) must have performed ``sensitive and trusted'' work. prgtoken This employment requirement was removed for U.S. Government employees in the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act, but it remains for individuals employed under ISAF and RS. prgtoken All current applicants must also submit an I-360 petition to USCIS after completing the State Department's Chief of Mission process. prgtoken This redundancy creates duplicative applications and introduces a gap in the process that allows for fraudulent petit