mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
BLACK HISTORY MONTH ESSAY CONTEST 2020 GRADES 6-8
A. Donald McEachin (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2020-3-2

. Madam , I would like to take this opportunity to recognize exemplary middle and high school students from Virginia's Fourth Congressional District who were selected as winners of the Black History Month essay contest I hosted earlier this month. I am inspired by the words of these students, and I encourage young people across our country to reflect on what this month means to them personally. prgtoken Since its creation less than 50 years ago, Black History Month has been a time to honor prgtoken and recognize the remarkable achievements of the African-American community. Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing these distinguished students and their accomplishments in celebration of Black History Month. prgtoken I include in the Record Trenton Blake Townes' winning essay: What Black History Month Means to Me (By Trenton Blake Townes) As an African American male, Black History means a great deal to me. In todays society racism impacts the lives of my people in a number of ways and for me that is very scary. Black history means to me that no matter how the world views me, I am somebody and I stand on the shoulders of those before me. I can not think of what black history means to me without thinking of the years of slavery my ancestors had to endure. I think of the world we live in, and I don't understand why racism continues to exist today. The achievements of black people compared to the many pitfalls set before us should allow people to see how strong and resilient of a people we are, instead they only continue their attempts to destroy us and what we value and love. I wish black history month would mean to everyone what is means to me. Black history month means to me that in times of turmoil I have the strength to rise victorious. Black history month is a time where all can reflect, not on the narrative they want us to believe in, but one that is factual and full of strength, hope and promise. It's one where Mansa Musa was King of the Mali empire in 1312 and is regarded even today as the richest man in the history of the world. Black history month means to me even as an enslaved people, Harriet Tubman led about 13 missions to help many to freedom and shared she could have freed more if they only know they were enslaved. Black history month means to me we must pass the knowledge of the achievements of our ancestors like the establishment of what was known as Black Wall Street. Black wall street was a very prosperous and self-sufficient business district in Oklahoma where black people owned barbershops and stores, schools and even a local newspaper. Black history month means to me that I can help the advancement of the world like Dr. Gladys West who is a mathematician who grew up locally in Sutherla
REVERSING THE YOUTH TOBACCO EPIDEMIC ACT OF 2019
Peter A. DeFazio (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-3-2

. Madam , I will vote in support of H.R. 2339, the Protecting American Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2020. prgtoken Despite a previous years-long decline in youth tobacco use, we have witnessed a sharp rise in youth tobacco use and nicotine addiction in recent years. At the heart of this trend are flavored e-cigarettes, which Big Tobacco companies have marketed toward young people in their ongoing drive to increase their profits at the cost of public health. prgtoken I believe H.R. 2339 takes important steps toward tackling the youth tobacco epidemic and curtailing Big Tobacco's unfettered promotion of these highly addictive products, including closing loopholes in current law that cover traditional tobacco products but not e-cigarettes. prgtoken This includes H.R. 2339's provisions to prohibit the marketing, advertising, and promotion of e-cigarette products to individuals under 21 years of age; ban online sales of e-cigarettes; close a tax loophole for e-cigarettes by establishing tax parity with current tobacco taxes; apply graphic health warnings to cigarette packages; and provide funding for tobacco cessation research, therapies, and counseling, as well as for outreach and grants to medically underserved communities. prgtoken I also support provisions in H.R. 2339 which would waive Medicare's coinsurance requirements for colorectal cancer screening and increase access to asthma medications. While I will vote in support of H.R. 2339, I believe important improvements could have been made to strengthen the overall bill. prgtoken For example, in light of the legislation's ban on all tobacco flavors--including menthol--I strongly opposed the inclusion of a provision that creates a discriminatory exemption for premium cigars. This clearly unfair provision protects the tobacco habits of wealthier individuals--who use premium cigars at higher rates--while imposing new restrictions on tobacco products that low-income individuals and communities of color are more likely to use. prgtoken I also believe H.R. 2339 should have contained stronger provisions to alleviate criminal justice concerns that this legislation could disproportionately impact people of color, increase criminal penalties in state and localities across the country, and potentially encourage harmful police practices. prgtoken Additionally, while I am pleased H.R. 2339 takes vital steps to address the youth tobacco epidemic, this legislation unfortunately does not address the disturbing outbreak of vaping-related lung illnesses and deaths that we witnessed in recent months. The CDC found that these deaths and illnesses stemmed primarily from black market THC-containing e-cigarettes with vitamin E acetate--an additive that can damage lungs when inhaled. prgtoken Despite these concerns, I believe the clear public health benefits of this legislation outweigh its faults. There is no time to waste. I will not stand idly by while corpora
EMMETT TILL ANTILYNCHING ACT
Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2020-3-2

. Madam , one hundred years ago, Missouri Congressman Leonidas Deyer introduced an anti- lynching bill in the 65th Congress. The legislation eventually died in the Senate in 1918. In the one hundred years since that failure, there have been over two hundred unsuccessful attempts to prohibit lynching in the prgtoken United States through legislative redress. Those one hundred years saw the advent of the civil rights movement and Jim Crow, but it also was marred by undercurrents of racism and random acts of violence. prgtoken As the Representative of the Fourth Congressional District of Georgia and a senior member of the House Judiciary, this legislation, which would finally make the act of lynching a hate crime, has particular significance to me and my constituents. Our district is home to Stone Mountain which is commonly known as the symbolic birthplace of the modem Klu Klux Klan. Since 1915, the Klu Klux Klan has met at Stone Mountain and as recently as 2018, white supremacist organizations sought to rally atop the mountain with Confederate flags. Over the years, many civil rights battles have been won in our district, but our fight for equality is not over. prgtoken Lynching is a vestige of slavery and America's views on race and racism in this country. It has long been a practice used to keep enslaved Africans, and later, free Black men, women, and children living in terror. The practice has irrevocably damaged the American psyche. It is time to formally distance our country from these heinous acts and raise the crime to the consideration of a hate crime. In doing so, we declare to ourselves and the rest of the world that we will not tolerate bigotry in the United States and that those who would harm others because of the color of their skin will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. prgtoken Rep. Bobby Rush's Emmett Till Antilynching Act will finally be considered by the Full House. This bill honors Emmett Till, a 14-year- old African American boy lynched in Mississippi in 1955. As we progress towards a more perfect union by recognizing lynching for what it is--a hate crime, we reflect on how this heinous practice has been wielded to oppress minorities throughout American history. prgtoken My good friend Rep. Rush brings this legislation to the House floor citing the riots that took place in Charlottesville in 2017 and during the deadly El Paso shooting in 2019. The lynching of black and brown people in our country is truly, as he says, prevalent in American society today. Its face may have evolved, but the crime of hate that it represents is indisputable. prgtoken The Senate passed a resolution in 2005 that apologized to victims of lynching crimes; however, lynching still is not classified as a federal hate crime. We honor, today, the herculean efforts from American heroes like my fellow Georgia Congressman John Lewis, who worked to mobilize our country against these violent acts. prgtoken
EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE THAT THE UNITED STATES CONDEMNS ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN GLOBALLY
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2020-3-3

even though we have made great strides in identifying and addressing much of the violence that affects children and young people around the world, the sad reality is that violence against children is still pandemic. prgtoken Every 5 minutes, a child dies of violence. Half of all children--1 billion--are victims of violence. Homicide is among the top causes of death in adolescents. prgtoken That is not just a shame, . That is absolutely unacceptable. prgtoken , 80 percent of those homicide victims are boys, and nearly one in five girls is sexually abused at least once in her life. prgtoken , sadly, violence can happen anywhere--in communities, in schools, in the home, in emergency and crisis situations, in churches, on the streets, online, and on the phone. It happens in the most idyllic-seeming neighborhood and in the midst of conflict and war. prgtoken Violence takes many forms: human trafficking, child marriage, child labor, murder, assault, beatings, psychological abuse, and online exploitation. And too much of the violence is based on gender. prgtoken We know that children who are exposed to violence at a very young age can be affected for life. Violence can impair brain development. It could damage the circulatory and immune systems. prgtoken Such violence can cause lifelong risks of being vulnerable to disease, illness, and disabilities. It can harm the ability to reproduce and engage in a full sexual life. It can severely affect the ability of a child to live up to their full potential. prgtoken Luckily, nations, healthcare providers, teachers, communities, and nongovernmental groups have come together to end violence against children. They have identified and agreed upon some solutions to ending violence against children. prgtoken We in this House should be proud that the CDC, USAID, World Health Organization, and others have developed what is called the INSPIRE package, which is a set of strategies to reduce and end violence against children everywhere. prgtoken So many of us in this Chamber are parents. I am the father of a son and a daughter. I know how we worry about our children's safety and well-being. This is true of all families everywhere. In many ways, each and every child is our child. We need to be concerned about their vulnerability, about their safety, about their care, and about their protection. prgtoken This resolution announces to the world that we are aware; that we do care; and, more importantly, that we want our health and aid agencies to take action. prgtoken , I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution, and s for their support.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Cory A. Booker (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-3-3

I have prepared remarks, but before I do that, I want to thank the pages who are in this class right now. They are hard at work, and they do so much for this institution. I just want it written in the Record of the U.S. Senate that on this day in March, the junior Senator from New Jersey recognized them for everything they do around here, even though they do not tell jokes that are very good. prgtoken Now, if I may start my prepared remarks, I rise today with other colleagues who are speaking, particularly my colleague from Connecticut, Senator Murphy, to speak on a bill that actually passed out of the House, which was something that was extraordinary. It passed out of the House of Representatives just over a full year ago, and we are waiting here in the Senate for it to come to the floor. prgtoken I am one of these folks who really believe that we have too much unnecessary partisanship around issues when there is so much common cause in our country and when there is so much common ground in our country. Yes, indeed, debate is important. Disagreement is important. It undergirds the ideals of democracy that we should form a national conversation and work through our differences--the idea that that actually produces a better whole and a better result. prgtoken But when we have a nation that has such extensive agreement on an issue, where 97 percent of Americans agree, where s and in the House of Representatives agree, and we can't get action here, to me, that is not adding to the strength of democracy. It is weakening our Republic. prgtoken It was almost exactly a year ago that the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. This legislation would require a background check before any sale or transfer of a firearm. Under existing law, you can go to a gun show and purchase a gun from an unlicensed seller without having gone through a background check. Think about this. You could be on a terrorist no-fly list; you could be a convicted felon; and you could be a spousal abuser. You can be a lot of things--anything--and be able to go to an unlicensed seller at a gun show and fill up a trunk full of weapons. This is a glaring loophole that allows dangerous individuals--who we all agree are dangerous--to purchase a gun in violation of Federal law. prgtoken Again, 97 percent of Americans wanted that loophole closed. The evidence is clear. A study found last year that States that have this commonsense, widely supported, bipartisanly backed background check law--when States have it in place, they get 10 percent lower homicide rates. This isn't speculation. Folks who have that law in place on a State level have 10 percent fewer homicides. prgtoken But today, over a year out of its passage out of the House, the Senate has failed to take up this commonsense bill, which we know-- which we know factually--would save lives. prgtoken What is one of the f
RECOGNIZING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-3-3

I rise today in recognition of International Women's Day on March 8 to call attention to women around the world who have risked their personal safety and freedom to speak out for the rights of all women. prgtoken I am particularly inspired by the example of three brave Saudi women who have spent nearly 2 years imprisoned or under house arrest because of their fearless advocacy. prgtoken These three women, Loujain Al-Hathloul, Nouf Abdulaziz, and Eman Al- Nafjan, are outstanding examples of the many Saudi activists who bravely fought to stop Saudi Arabia's male guardianship, fought to end its prohibition on women driving, and fought to open up female participation in elections and public office. prgtoken And although the government ostensibly granted such freedoms in 2018, these three women continue to face different injustices, including torture or threats of murder and sexual violence and limited access to family or legal representation. prgtoken Loujain has been particularly targeted for her courageous leadership within this women's movement. Her selfless commitment has paved the way for crucial social reforms, but unfortunately, the Saudi Government has attempted to undermine her contributions with politically-motivated criminal charges, a lengthy imprisonment, and inhumane abuse. prgtoken This incredible woman deserves to be honored, not jailed, which is why I recently led several colleagues in nominating Loujain for the Nobel Peace Prize and will continue to advocate for her through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project. prgtoken This Congress, we have already adopted a bipartisan resolution in the House to urge for the release of these women and other activists. Today, we call on Saudi Arabia once again to free these women and to lift the threat of their continued persecution. prgtoken To maintain our international leadership, the United States has a moral obligation to uphold democratic principles. The President, the Secretary of State, and the entire administration must increase its diplomatic pressure to demand the release of these women and hold the Saudi Government accountable for its appalling disregard of human rights. prgtoken As we recognize this International Women's Day, we are reminded to look beyond our borders; to continue to bring attention to the urgent and ongoing human rights violations that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is committing. prgtoken I ask that all women and their allies throughout the United States and around the world and all men join me in standing with these amazing Saudi feminists in demanding that they be freed.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-3-3

Samuel Johnson was a great thinker in the 19th century and was quoted many times for things that he observed even then. He did have one statement about nothing focusing the mind like the prospect of a hanging, and I would like to use that as an analogy to my comments this morning. prgtoken I do notice that the Senator from South Dakota has taken the floor. Let me yield to him because I think, in the order of speaking, he is next, and I will follow him. prgtoken .
TENNESSEE NEEDS EMERGENCY DISASTER RELIEF
Jim Cooper (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2020-3-3

. Madam , very early this morning, my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, was terribly hard hit by a tornado. prgtoken At least 19 lives have been lost. Buildings were destroyed. Many, many homes were destroyed, and countless lives have been disrupted. At least 34,000 people lost electricity. prgtoken I have been in contact with our Governor, our mayor, our entire congressional delegation, including my good friend John Rose, to do all that we can to bring emergency relief to the area as fast as possible. prgtoken This is a genuine tragedy, and we need to praise our neighbors, friends, residents, first responders, firefighters, police, and EMTs who worked all through the night, despite fierce rains, to provide first aid. prgtoken Nashville is strong. We recovered so well after the terrible 2010 flood that many parts of America didn't even know we had been suffering. prgtoken Now is the time to beat this disaster.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-3-3

. Well, thank you, sir. I want to thank you indeed. As a matter of fact, as I was listening, I was saying to myself, after a good sermon, all that you really say is ``Amen.'' And I want to say ``Amen'' to you. prgtoken And I say that in all seriousness, because the number one advocate for an expanded Social Security in this House of Representatives is none other than Representative John Larson. I thank you for your diligence, for the consistency. prgtoken When you walk in my office, there is a photograph of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and that photograph has been there ever since I have been here. I had that photograph before I came here, because the work and the leadership, the vision that Franklin Delano Roosevelt had, has been transformed and passed on to people like yourself and to you. I am so proud to be able to say that I serve with you in this House of Representatives, on the Ways and Means prgtoken Committee, and that you chair the Social Security Subcommittee and the Social Security effort. prgtoken The only other thing that I really would need to say and would want to say, I have always been told that you can measure the effectiveness of a society, that you make an assessment by how well it treats its young, how well it treats its old, and how well it treats those who have difficulty caring for themselves. prgtoken I couldn't help but think of my father, as I listened to you, who was 92 years old when he died. But he had a good life. As a matter of fact, he spent the last 5 years living with me on the weekends whenever I came home. prgtoken He always wanted to pay for things. You know, we would stop for dinner, and he would say to my wife: Vera, I am going to treat you for dinner. prgtoken His Social Security check was $500-something a month, which obviously would not have been enough if he had to live alone and care for himself and all of that. But I would go ahead and let him pay. I would say: Okay. Well, if you want to pay for dinner, go right ahead--and he would pay. prgtoken When I stopped to get gasoline, as the tank was being filled, he would say: Here, let me pay for it. prgtoken He would reach and get his money. We were getting gas. At the time, gasoline was very high. It went up to $40, $50, $60, $70. He would say: I guess you better go ahead and pay for it. You don't have to worry.
HONORING THE CAREER OF DON PERACCHI
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-3-3

. Madam , I rise today to honor the service of Don Peracchi, whose term as president of the Westlands Water District has come to an end. prgtoken Don Peracchi was born and raised by second generation Northern Italian immigrants in prgtoken Fresno, California and attended California State University, Fresno. He comes from a family of farmers, working in Central California for over 100 years. Don's farming experience started in 1982 in Westlands, south of Three Rocks, California. He grows almonds, wine grapes, and pomegranates alongside his two sons and daughter. prgtoken He has been heavily involved in career-related board positions, including banking, insurance, agriculture and water. He served as a director of Westlands since 2008 and was elected president in 2011. Don served on the Valley Children's Hospital Foundation Board and has been actively involved with the Fresno Catholic Diocese. He chaired for the Step Forward campaign for San Joaquin Memorial High School for their new science wing and library. prgtoken As president of the largest public irrigation district in the United States, Don worked to promote more transparency and better decision- making. He helped develop a steady water supply to farms in Fresno and Kings counties, integral for farming. Under Don's leadership, the district negotiated revisions to the Coordinated Operations Agreement, converting the district's water service contract to a repayment contract, and developed a groundwater sustainability plan. Don crafted immediate solutions and worked directly with members of both the House of Representatives and Senate to find pragmatic solutions that benefit the state of California. For example, he assisted with the 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act), which helped improve the nation's drinking water infrastructure. prgtoken Without a doubt, Don Peracchi has made a big impact on resolving California water issues. Tom Birmingham, the general manager of the district, commends Peracchi for leading the district through difficult times, including the drought and regulatory that severely reduced water supply in Central California. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the service of Mr. Don Peracchi and wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.