mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2023-6-21

today, I am introducing legislation to remove ``Robert E. Lee Memorial'' from the official name of Arlington House. prgtoken This legislation is partially inspired by requests from descendants of General Robert E. Lee and people who were enslaved at Arlington House. This is an effort to promote a society that is more just and equitable for all, regardless of race, by moving on from a public symbol that honors a figure that fought to protect slavery. prgtoken Arlington House is the first name of the historic mansion, which sits on Federal land within Arlington National Cemetery. The property is administered by the National Park Service and overlooks the Potomac River and the Nation's Capital. The house was built by Martha Custis Washington's grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, as the Nation's first memorial to George Washington. Later, his daughter married Robert E. Lee and the couple lived in the home until the Civil War, when Federal forces occupied the house and surrounding property. During that period, the site was chosen to serve as a national military cemetery in part to prevent Lee from returning. prgtoken Only in the 20th century, in 1955 and again in 1972, did Congress add the commemorative text honoring Robert E. Lee to the site's formal name in Federal statute. This was part of a retrograde effort across the former Confederacy to bestow public recognition on prominent Confederate figures as heroes while minimizing or whitewashing their roles in taking up arms prgtoken against the United States to preserve slavery. As Senator from the State that has among the most difficult histories when it comes to slavery, civil rights, and Confederate monuments, I believe these symbolic proposals matter, that the Federal Government should reserve honorifics for individuals whose lives advanced American values and ideals, not detracted from them. prgtoken Today, the National Park Service is dedicated to telling the story of those who were enslaved at the Arlington House. I am hopeful that this name change will help to do just a little bit more to encapsulate the full history of the site, which included the presence of many families and generations throughout history, such as the Syphax, Burke, Parks, and Gray families. prgtoken I am pleased that companion legislation is also being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by my colleague, Representative Don Beyer, who has led this effort for years.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3564, MIDDLE CLASS BORROWER PROTECTION ACT OF 2023; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3799, CUSTOM HEALTH OPTION AND INDIVIDUAL CARE EXPENSE ARRANGEMENT ACT...
Teresa Leger Fernandez (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2023-6-21

I too rise in opposition to the rule and the underlying bills. As our ranking member pointed out, these bills do nothing to solve the problems that Americans are asking us to face. prgtoken For example, these bills will hurt the middle class. Let's take healthcare. Americans want quality healthcare that doesn't discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions and that does not discriminate against women. That is why we passed the Affordable Care Act. Today, we can proudly say that only 8 percent of Americans are uninsured. The lowest level in history. prgtoken s keep trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act. In fact, H.R. 3799 is yet another strike at that good bill. This bill that they are proposing, s would expand association health plans that are not required to cover maternity or prenatal care. prgtoken s rejected an amendment to require this essential care for women and their babies in all health insurance plans. How can you go back to our districts and look women in the eye and say, we have passed legislation that would not cover you when you are pregnant, waiting to give birth to the children of the future. prgtoken s would also pass H.R. 3564, which would increase mortgage fees for middle-income borrowers and decrease fees for the wealthy. Americans want to buy a home of their own so that they can start saving and build their own wealth. They want to be part of that middle class, and homeownership is a key part of that. prgtoken You know what? They called this bill the exact opposite of what it is. It does not protect middle-income workers. It increases fees for the middle class. prgtoken Lastly, H.R. 461. It is an opinion that contradicts Americans' basic sense of decency and humanity. Undocumented immigrants toil in the hot sun to pick the food we place on our table. They take the most dangerous jobs in our slaughterhouses and on our construction sites. prgtoken Extreme s will take their labor, but they would refuse education or shelter to immigrants and their children. Is this how we honor National Immigrant Heritage Month in this Chamber? prgtoken Scripture steers us in a more noble direction. In Matthew 25:35-40, it says: ``I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.'' prgtoken We should be more welcoming to those asylum seekers and refugees that are bringing so much pain, but also contributions to the American landscape. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to oppose this rule.
UNITED STATES-TAIWAN INITIATIVE ON 21ST-CENTURY TRADE FIRST AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT
Bradley Scott Schneider (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2023-6-21

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I am proud to join my and ic colleagues in both the House and the Senate in this effort to demonstrate our commitment to the people of Taiwan and to affirm Congress' constitutional authority on trade. prgtoken Every on the Ways and Means Committee has cosponsored this bill, and just last week, this legislation passed out of the Ways and Means Committee unanimously. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. prgtoken Before turning to the substance of the bill today, I remind my colleagues that the House improved the USMCA. Congress improved both the substance of the trade agreement, especially on matters related to labor, environment, and enforcement, and also the process. prgtoken Our commitment to building a modern, proworker deal led to a trade agreement that was endorsed by labor, the business community, and, most importantly, the American people. prgtoken Congress' fierce leadership on the USMCA brought about an agreement that reflects the priorities of House . For instance, we fought hard to establish new structure for aggressive enforcement of the USMCA and to back it up with funding for enforcement actions. prgtoken USMCA now stands as a powerful beacon for what is possible when it comes to durable, enforceable trade agreements. I credit that to the work and consensus building of Congress. It is the collaboration between Congress and the executive branch that allows trade policy to live up to its fullest potential and, in this critical moment, that cannot be forgotten. This brings us to the legislation before us today, the Taiwan Implementation Act. prgtoken This is a matter of standing up for the prerogatives of the Ways and Means Committee. Congress is charged with trade responsibilities, and trade falls to the Ways and Means Committee. I believe that you get better outcomes when Congress is included in the trade negotiations, and I believe that going forward making sure Congress is fully included is not only sensible but will lead to a better outcome. prgtoken In short, Congress, and within Congress the Ways and Means Committee, oversees trade policy. We should continue to defend that position. prgtoken I will now turn to our strong support for the people of Taiwan. Congressional are unwavering in their support for the people of Taiwan, a people who have built a robust and thriving democracy that serves as a beacon in the region. As Taiwan faces incredible pressure from its authoritarian neighbor, it is vital that this institution stand and support our ic partner. prgtoken Strengthening bilateral trade relations with Taiwan also strengthens our shared determination to preserve democracy at home and abroad. As we see growing aggression by certain countries toward ic values and troubling erosions of the rule of law, it is critical that American trade policy reflect our g
TAX CONVENTION WITH CHILE
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2023-6-21

. Just a few specific responses. First of all, this bill is very specific. It addresses health and location data, and, as I noted before, I continue to believe that we need Federal privacy legislation, in general, to address other privacy needs. But this bill is targeted at sensitive health data when it comes to location. prgtoken And I know it was the conservative members of the Supreme Court who actually issued the broad decision to overturn half a century of precedent on a woman's right to make her own healthcare decisions. And this bill is a targeted response on one issue, and that is to set commonsense limits on how companies can use people's personal data. prgtoken I just also wanted to respond to the issue of mifepristone, which was temporarily thrown out by one judge in the State of Texas, and that is now pending before several different courts. A different decision was made in another court, in Washington State. But I will note that the statute referred to, which would somehow limit this drug that was approved by the FDA decades ago and has been found safe in dozens and dozens of countries across the globe--that law that was referred to was actually enacted, the Comstock Act in 1873--1873--when they treated pneumonia with bloodletting, when the Pony Express existed, and, which I know, is 10 years before they even did the ``Yellowstone'' prequel. prgtoken So if my colleagues want to move backward to that time period, those are the laws they are citing. I believe the people of this country want to move forward. prgtoken .
PAPERWORK BURDEN REDUCTION ACT
Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-6-21

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , let me first thank Chairman Smith, not only for articulating the exact reasons as to why we must support the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act, but for sharing this opportunity to co-lead on such a commonsense measure that will benefit taxpayers, not just in my Congressional District, the 19th District in California, but so many people all across this country. prgtoken The bipartisan Paperwork Burden Reduction Act will ease confusion for taxpayers by reducing the paperwork that is necessary for filing taxes for small business employers and their employees. prgtoken Under current law, employers must send a 1095 tax form to employees to verify their health coverage for the previous year. However, for many employees, the IRS no longer requires this form for them to complete their taxes. So the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act would allow employers to provide a 1095-B or a 1095-C form upon request from employees, rather than mandating it and wasting time, wasting money, and wasting paper. prgtoken It is a bill that is popular, not just among taxpayers, but and prgtoken s alike, as demonstrated by its passage out of the Ways and Means Committee without a single vote in opposition. prgtoken It is understandable why it is so popular because the one thing that we can all agree on is that we need to reduce unnecessary burdens on taxpayers and small businesses. prgtoken Now, although the administration has already ordered this, I am proud to join Chairman Smith and put that order into statute, and I would urge my colleagues to vote for the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act. prgtoken , .
CUSTOM HEALTH OPTION AND INDIVIDUAL CARE EXPENSE ARRANGEMENT ACT
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2023-6-21

. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. prgtoken Madam Chair, I rise in support of this amendment. Association health plans have a long, well-documented history of cutting costs for themselves by cherry-picking the cheapest people to cover and leaving the more expensive behind. This raises costs for everybody else and causes premiums to go up in the rest of the market. s have been pushing this idea for decades, and experts have consistently found it to be harmful. prgtoken The Affordable Care Act made a number of reforms to commercial insurance markets, including a requirement that plans in the individual and small group markets cover essential health benefits such as maternity care and prescription drugs. The ACA also prevented these plans from charging higher rates based on health status and limited the premium amount that older people could be charged compared to younger people. This was a vital protection that ensured that an age tax would not make coverage unaffordable for older individuals. prgtoken This legislation has no protection without this amendment. The bill is entirely silent on discriminatory pricing against older people. In fact, by explicitly allowing associations to base premiums on risk factors of each employer within the group, it actually invites them to charge older Americans much more. prgtoken This amendment would ensure that older workers are protected by providing in this bill that it would not take effect until the Secretary of Labor certifies that it would not have the impact of raising premiums for older workers. prgtoken I thank the gentlewoman from Connecticut for her leadership on the Education and the Workforce Committee. prgtoken Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.
Digital Platforms (Executive Calendar)
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2023-6-21

I am sorry I didn't have the chance to say thank you to our colleague from Connecticut for his speech tonight about loneliness in the United States. I was grateful that he gave it and grateful that he is in the Senate and grateful to know that another parent of young kids has the perspective that he has shared tonight because I think it is so important. And strangely enough, I am here to talk about something similar tonight. prgtoken First, , I will put it away because it is not supposed to be on the floor, but I wanted to come here tonight to talk a little bit about this smartphone and the world of social media, the world of machine learning algorithms and generative AI that has now been put at our fingertips. prgtoken The rise of smartphones and social media is one of the most rapid, profound, and, I would argue, poorly understood transformations in American life in our entire history. prgtoken If you had asked me when I was the age of the pages who are here, when I was growing up, and you had said to me: Someday, Michael, there is going to be a device--well, here is the device--there is going to be a device that looks like this; it doesn't even have a wire next to it, that would have been astonishing in and of itself. How can an electronic device not have a wire? But it does not have a wire. Not only does it not have a wire, but you can FaceTime anybody on Earth the way Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock FaceTimed each other. prgtoken The Presiding Officer knows what I am talking about. These folks may not know who Captain Kirk was or who Mr. Spock was. But the idea that you could reach somebody and communicate with them on video, on a telephone, or a device that had no wires, that alone would have been shocking. prgtoken If you had said: Well, let me tell you something else about that device, I would say: OK. What else can you tell me about that device? prgtoken And you said: Well, you can buy any book that has ever been written by humans, basically, on that device. And if you want it, you can make a choice. You can have it digitally, and it will just download immediately on your device, or you can order it, and it can be at your house by tonight, if you would rather have a print version of the book rather than getting it digitally. And I will tell you something else, Michael, it will translate any language that you care to hear. prgtoken I was, today, with the CEO of Google who was in my office talking about how one of their projects now is to help recover and sustain lost languages or languages we are in danger of losing in this country and around the world, which I think is a worthy project. We definitely, in my State, are at risk of losing Native American languages that really are at risk. prgtoken But in any case, if you said to me: You can translate any language or you can translate yourself into any language, and somebody would ask: What do you think that device is worth? In 198
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2023-6-21

I rise to introduce the Supporting Mental Health for Military Children Act. This legislation would establish a routine mental-health and well-being checkup pilot program in Department of Defense Education Activity, DODEA, Schools. prgtoken In response to the growing youth mental health crisis in America, this bill would establish a biannual mental health screening program to ensure students have the resources they need to support their mental health, combat the stigmatization of seeking help, and promote healthy lifestyles. prgtoken Our Nation's young people are facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. An estimated 49.5 percent of American adolescents have had a mental health disorder at some point in their lives, with 50 percent of all lifetime mental illnesses beginning by age 14; 75 percent by age 24. This state of affairs was only worsened by the pandemic. prgtoken While these numbers are already staggering, military children are at even greater risk of mental/behavioral health problems than the general population given their unique vulnerability to adverse childhood experiences. As such, early screening and treatment are essential to decreasing the risk of suicide and improving management of/recovery from mental health conditions amongst this vulnerable segment of youth. prgtoken The evidence is clear: Ubiquitous mental health screening and education protocols, offered by 55 percent of U.S. public schools in 2019 to 2022, are well-tested, relatively low-resource, and high-impact ways to swiftly diagnose and treat mental health conditions amongst youth. prgtoken I would like to thank Congressman Moulton for his leadership and efforts on the House side. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Supporting Mental Health for Military Children Act as quickly as possible.
RAISING A QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE
Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat, MS) \u2014 2023-6-21

I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. prgtoken , with all the challenges our Nation faces today, why are we relitigating the ex-President's first impeachment from 2019? prgtoken After a similar resolution failed last week, why are extreme MAGA s hijacking this House yet again by devoting precious floor time to attacking my friend and colleague Adam Schiff? prgtoken Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the leader of their party is facing trial on 37 felony counts of conspiracy and mishandling of classified documents. The disgraced ex-President even stored some of the Nation's most sensitive secrets in the bathroom of his Florida club. prgtoken These attempts to censure Adam have been orchestrated to distract, but no one is fooled. prgtoken Extreme MAGA s are targeting Adam because he is everything they wish they could be. He is tough, principled, and effective. prgtoken I have stood shoulder to shoulder with Adam.
TAX CONVENTION WITH CHILE
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2023-6-21

before she leaves the floor, let me say to my seatmate on the Senate Finance Committee how much I appreciate her passion and leadership on this critical issue. prgtoken I note that the Presiding Officer is also one of the outspoken members on the committee on this issue. prgtoken This has been a terrific debate coming from our side, and for her comments. prgtoken It has been a year since the atrocious decision of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. I remember reading the leaked decision in the press early last May and realizing with dread that the Court was going to strike down Roe v. Wade. My first reaction was that the Court has set in motion a catastrophe for the health, safety, and privacy of American women. To the horror of the 36 million women living in States that have already banned abortion or are likely to ban access to abortion, unfortunately, my prediction was right. prgtoken The Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs tossed out half a century of legal precedent, curtailed the fundamental rights of women, and jeopardized the health and safety of millions across the country. The Court defied the American people, who are living with the grim reality that some of the Nation's most powerful people are eager to violate their privacy and their basic right to make their own decisions with respect to healthcare. prgtoken So the last year has been a nightmare for millions of women in America. It has been especially felt by those living in the more than 20 States that have passed laws banning or severely restricting access to abortion. prgtoken The personal stories that you hear if you spend time listening are gut-wrenching. Women in Texas who desperately wanted to be parents and suffered pregnancy complications nearly died trying to access lifesaving care. Yet they were told they weren't sick enough to get it. Far-right politicians prgtoken are suing healthcare providers for providing care to a 10-year-old who had been raped--raped--and was pregnant. The cruelty apparently is the point. prgtoken I am proud to be from Oregon, where abortion remains legal. We have some of the most pro-choice laws in the country for those seeking reproductive health care. That is because, in Oregon, we understand that people can make the best decisions for themselves and their families. But even in Oregon, you can't take freedom for granted. Extreme s won't stop until they pass a national ban on abortion, and they are trying. prgtoken A national 6-week ban was introduced in Congress right after the Dobbs decision came out. Anti-abortion advocates sought out a lone judge in Amarillo, TX, to ban mifepristone, which is widely and safely used in medication abortions nationwide. The FDA approved the safe and effective medication for dispensation more than 20 years ago. I organized the first congressional hearings about this drug as a Member of the other body in 1990. This effort was