mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE INNOVATIVE WORK OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS IN ILLINOIS'S 10TH DISTRICT
Bradley Scott Schneider (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-12-3

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the creative accomplishments of our local municipalities who have gone above and beyond to serve our communities. Innovation is alive and well in the cities, towns and villages of Illinois's Tenth Congressional District. Some of these local achievements were recently recognized by the Lake County Municipal League highlighting the commitment, vision and ingenuity of our civic leaders. The Village of Mundelein, Illinois won top honors for the ``Mayor's Cup STEM Challenge'', established by Mayor Steve Lentz. The program encourages Mundelein students' interest in fields such as mathematics and engineering, while promoting access to higher education. More than 1,000 students have participated, and 31 businesses have donated more than $80,000 to the program. Since the Mayor's Cup STEM Challenge was established in 2014, the program has grown significantly and serves as a model for how municipal governments can partner with local schools, students, and businesses for the greater good. The Village of Bannockburn was also honored for the creation of the Last Mile shuttle pilot program, which sought to solve the Village's transportation problem. The program's goal was to connect Bannockburn Lakes Office Complex with four Metra stations nearby and allow commuters a subsidized Lyft ride to prgtoken and from the Office complex and station. Since the creation of the project, more than 900 rides have been provided, and the program continues to see growth. The improvement earned an Honorable Mention at the awards dinner. Other Lake County municipalities made significant strides in the past year to bolster their local small businesses, improve public safety and beautify their communities. The Village of Beach Park earned an Honorable Mention at the awards dinner for their work with neighboring communities to create the Northern Lakeshore Trail Connectivity Plan, which would improve walking and bicycling connections between five northern lakeshore communities. We all strive to live in vibrant, healthy and dynamic communities. The work of these, and other, municipalities are helping to realize that dream. I proudly applaud these municipalities and the dedicated civil servants for their commendable efforts to serve our communities. I look forward to learning more about these innovative efforts, and to continuing to work closely together in the months ahead.
Nomination of Sarah E. Pitlyk (Executive Calendar)
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-12-3

I rise today in opposition to the nomination of Sarah Pitlyk to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Ms. Pitlyk's record is extremely troubling and raises a number of questions about her ability to be a fair and impartial judge. prgtoken Ms. Pitlyk was deemed by the American Bar Association to be Not Qualified, one of only 3 percent of people reviewed by the Bar over the past 3 years. This is the first that I have had occasion to review in total. A district court judge, as you well know, must hit the ground running. Ms. Pitlyk's lack of practical knowledge and experience would significantly disadvantage the litigants appearing before her. prgtoken I also want to acknowledge the highly unusual nature of a ``Not Qualified'' rating by the Bar; 97 percent of President 's nominees have been rated at least ``Qualified'' by the American Bar Association. This means that Ms. Pitlyk falls in the small minority--just 3 percent--of candidates deemed not qualified by the American Bar Association. This shows how rare that rating is. The ABA has been reviewing the qualifications, as you already know, of judicial nominees since 1989. They know what they are doing, and those of us on the committee take their evaluations very seriously. prgtoken Next, I want to discuss Ms. Pitlyk's record opposing women's reproductive rights and limiting access to healthcare. Ms. Pitlyk defended a State law banning abortion at 6 weeks, she opposed the Affordable Care Act's coverage for contraception, and she defended President 's Title X gag rule. prgtoken The administration's Title X gag rule prohibits referrals for abortion care and imposes onerous requirements on abortion clinics, among other things. The rule effectively pushed Planned Parenthood out of the Title X program, curtailing access to healthcare for millions of low-income women and families. prgtoken Ms. Pitlyk has also filed multiple legal briefs that contain misinformation. Last year, she argued without any credible evidence that ``racism plays a profound role in the delivery of abortion services.'' prgtoken In another case, Ms. Pitlyk claimed--again without evidence--that in- vitro fertilization leads to ``higher rates of birth defects, genetic disorders, and other anomalies.'' prgtoken I think it is disqualifying for any judicial nominee to make unfounded and unsupported claims, especially in a court of law. prgtoken Ms. Pitlyk has also made statements in her personal capacity opposing access to healthcare. Just last year, she called the Supreme Court's decision upholding the Affordable Care Act ``unprincipled.'' Earlier this year, she said that the Supreme Court's reproductive healthcare cases have ``gross defects.'' prgtoken These statements and Ms. Pitlyk's legal work raise serious concerns about her ability to apply the Supreme Court's important precedents fairly and impartially. I am deeply troubled by her recor
HONORING CHIEF JAMES ANTHONY SECRETO
Nydia M. Velázquez (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-12-3

. Madam , I rise to honor James Anthony Secreto, a native Brooklyn son and longtime public servant. James, or Jimmy as his friends call him, has dedicated his life to helping the people of New York City, most recently as the Chief of Housing at the New York Police Department (NYPD). As he retires this week, I wanted to pay homage to the work he has accomplished on behalf of so many New Yorkers. prgtoken Jimmy was born and raised in Brooklyn's Albany Houses, a New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) development, in Crown Heights. He received his early education at St. Matthew's Roman Catholic Elementary School in Crown Heights for grades one through five. He joined the Robert F. Kennedy Incentive Program and later received an academic scholarship from the Brooklyn Catholic Interracial Council to attend Power Memorial Academy. prgtoken In 1979, he began his career with the NYPD on patrol in the 25th Precinct. He was promoted to Sergeant in December 1984 and steadily rose through the ranks. In 2014, Jimmy was promoted to Chief of Housing, his current position. In that capacity, he oversees the security of NYCHA, the largest public housing organization in North America, housing over 400,000 tenants. prgtoken During his 35-year career tenure with the NYPD, James has spearheaded a multitude of prgtoken food and clothing drives; an annual holiday toy drive he started in 1999, that continues today; a Thanksgiving community outreach initiative in which turkeys are distributed to families; and an annual Queens Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, which has successfully raised over $100,000 since its inception nine years ago. prgtoken For these and other achievements, Chief Secreto has been honored by countless community groups, as well as several NYPD fraternal organizations. In 2009, the New York State Shields honored him as Man of the Year, and in 2014, the Tri-State Law Enforcement Foundation honored James as Person of the Year. prgtoken A devoted family man, Chief Secreto has been married to his wife, Yvonne, for 35 years. They are the proud parents of three children. Kiesha, Shamieka and Chanel. The couple also have eight grandchildren. prgtoken Madam , the people of New York owe a debt of gratitude to Chief Secreto for his years of service. I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting him as he moves on to his next phase of life. I wish him and his family all the best and thank him for all he has done for Brooklyn, for NYCHA and all New York residents.
DISAPPROVING THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION'S INCLUSION IN FUTURE GROUP OF SEVEN SUMMITS UNTIL IT RESPECTS THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF ITS NEIGHBORS AND ADHERES TO THE STANDARDS OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES
Albio Sires (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-12-3

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I want to thank Chairman Engel, Ranking Member McCaul, and members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee for their unanimous support for H. Res. 546 during its markup, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. prgtoken In 2014, Russia was expelled from the Group of Eight as a direct result of its aggressive actions in Ukraine, including the invasion of the Crimea region. The remaining seven nations agreed that Russia's future inclusion would be conditioned on its respect of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. prgtoken Later in 2014, this international agreement was codified into U.S. law when the Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act was signed into law by President . prgtoken Within this legislation, introduced by my colleague from Kentucky, Congressman Hal Rogers, is a clause stating that continued Russian participation in the Group of Eight shall be conditioned on Russia respecting the territorial integrity of its neighbors and accepting and adhering to the norms and standards of free, democratic societies as generally practiced by every other member nation of the G-8. prgtoken In the time since this legislation was signed into law, Russia has not changed course. Instead, it has increased its aggression in Ukraine and has undermined democracy in numerous nations. In response to Russia's continued flouting of international democratic standards, I introduced H. Res. 546 to reiterate longstanding bipartisan congressional sentiment that Russia's actions should have consequences on the international stage. prgtoken If we allow Russia to participate in future G-7 summits without meeting the previously set conditions, we are signaling that Russia can continue to act with impunity and that the United prgtoken States will not stand firm in the face of Russian aggression. prgtoken It is my hope that the House of Representatives can, once again, come together as we did in 2014 to condemn Russia's actions in Ukraine, reaffirm support for Russia's expulsion from the G-8, and stress that future participation must hinge on respecting the territorial integrity of other nations. prgtoken , .
UYGHUR HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY ACT OF 2019
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-12-3

today I am proud the House of Representatives is considering S. 178, the ``Uighur Intervention and Global Humanitarian Unified Response Act'' or the ``UIGHUR Act.'' prgtoken In the last year, Chinese authorities have expanded their network of mass internment camps, where it is now estimated that 1.8 million or more Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims have been involuntarily detained in approximately 1,400 extrajudicial internment facilities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). prgtoken Detainees are subjected to torture, extended solitary confinement, and political indoctrination. Many scholars and human rights groups argue that these practices may amount to ``crimes against humanity.'' prgtoken Over the last month, leaks of highly classified Chinese government documents uncovered operations manuals for the mass internment camps and exposed details about the mass detention and surveillance systems in Xinjiang. Among the findings in the Chinese government's own documents: prgtoken Reeducation centers are designed to ``wash clean the brains'' of those interned in them; prgtoken Those who show signs of resistance are subjected to ``assault-style re-education'' efforts; prgtoken Children of detainees are reportedly often placed in orphanages, welfare centers, and boarding schools; prgtoken Special security measures are mandated to ensure detainees cannot ``escape,'' thereby refuting Chinese government assertions that detainees are there voluntarily; and prgtoken The establishment and expansion of the mass internment camps are part of a systematic policy directed by General Secretary Xi Jinping and carried out by XUAR Communist Party Secretary Chen Quanguo as well as other senior officials at the central and local levels. prgtoken Further, we also have become more aware of the widespread use of a government-subsidized and large-scale system of forced labor in both mass internment camps and in factories throughout the Xinjiang region. prgtoken Satellite imagery, personal testimonies, and official documents indicate that detainees in camps, and some who have been released, are forced to work in food production, textile, and other manufacturing jobs. Products reportedly produced with forced labor include: prgtoken Textiles, such as yarn, clothing, gloves, bedding, and carpet; Electronics, including cell phones and computers; Food products, shoes, tea, and handicrafts. prgtoken Current U.S. law prohibits the import of any product made with forced labor. Any U.S. or international company that produces or has a supply chain in Xinjiang may be complicit with forced labor and human rights violations. Customs and Border Protection rightly stopped the import of some goods from Xinjiang, but much more needs to be done to ensure that Americans are not purchasing products made with forced labor. prgtoken The UIGHUR Act is an essential update and strengthening of U.S. policy in response to gross human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
ADVANCING MUTUAL INTERESTS AND GROWING OUR SUCCESS ACT
David N. Cicilline (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2019-12-3

the balance of my time. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, which will strengthen the really important and historical relationship between the United States and Portugal, which will help to promote economic growth in both of our countries, lead to the creation of good paying jobs, and really strengthen the long and important economic relationship between our two great countries. prgtoken , .
Impeachment (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-12-3

as the House of Representatives continues to hold hearings as part of the impeachment inquiry into President , it is incumbent on all of us here in the Senate to review the evidence, keep an open mind, and avoid prejudging the case. If impeachment articles are served to the Senate, Senators must act as judges and jurors, take an oath to do impartial justice, and see to it that the Senate conducts a fair trial. prgtoken So I have been hugely disappointed in the partisan conduct of some of my colleagues on the side, who, in their rush to defend the President, have attacked career public servants and former members of the armed services because they didn't like their testimony, and then they spread baseless conspiracy theories and use their powers of a congressional office to play defense for the President. prgtoken The chairman of the Judiciary Committee, for example, has attempted to send the State Department on a wild fishing expedition for documents to support an already debunked rightwing conspiracy theory. prgtoken Meanwhile, the State Department is blocking or delaying the production of documents related to several legitimate and ongoing investigations, many of which were requested months ago. prgtoken I would expect that Senator Graham's request, outlandish as it is, would go at the back of the line. It would be another total debasement to the process if Secretary Pompeo were to further politicize the production of documents to Congress and say it is OK to release the documents that Senator Graham wants but not the ones that the House committee wanted. Privilege is privilege. I don't believe it applies in each case, but it is privilege. You can't do it to one and not the other. prgtoken Also, it is appalling that, in recent days, certain Members on the other side of the aisle have repeated the lie invented by Vladimir Putin's intelligence services that Ukraine was somehow involved in 2016 election interference. prgtoken I have a simple message for my colleagues: Stop spreading Putin's propaganda. prgtoken By spreading the false and unsupported narrative that Ukraine, not just Putin, was responsible for interfering in the 2016 elections, s are endangering our democracy and empowering Vladimir Putin at the same time. Even wondering aloud about the debunked Ukrainian interference theory helps Putin muddy the waters and deflect the blame away from his country, which our intelligence services have all agreed--I think it is 17 of them--that he interfered in the election. He is trying to create a diversion, and our colleagues are going along. prgtoken s need to stop putting the wind into the sails of Putin's propaganda. More than that, s need to forcefully and unequivocally refute the lie that Ukraine had anything to do with election interference in 2016.
IN SUPPORT OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-12-3

. Madam , I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I thank the Congressional Black Caucus and Representative Adams in particular for dedicating this time to discuss an issue affecting so many communities across the country, and particularly Representative Adams for her leadership in congressional support for historically Black colleges and universities. prgtoken Since their conception, HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions have played a vital role in expanding access to higher education for low-income students and students of color. prgtoken Many present leaders, like physicians, dentists, lawyers, judges, and other professionals, and many elected officials, would not be where they are today but for the opportunity provided by HBCUs, especially the two in the Third District of Virginia, Hampton University and Norfolk State University. prgtoken That is why earlier this year, the House unanimously passed the FUTURE Act, a proposal to preserve funding for these institutions that expired on September 30. The FUTURE Act is fully paid for, and it would provide an immediate 2-year extension of funding, averting a financial crisis that could eventually result in lost jobs, program cuts, and reduced financial support for students. prgtoken A month later, the Committee on Education and Labor advanced the College Affordability Act, a comprehensive overhaul of the Higher Education Act that would increase access and affordability to higher education and specifically would increase and permanently reauthorize mandatory funding for historically Black colleges and other minority- serving institutions. prgtoken HBCUs and minority-serving institutions collectively serve more than one-quarter of all undergraduate students each year. That is more than 6 million students, including many from our Nation's most underserved communities. prgtoken It is important that we pass legislation extending the funding for these colleges and universities so that they can continue to fulfill their mission.
SUPPORT FOR THE GLOBAL FUND TO FIGHT AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS (TB), MALARIA, AND ITS SIXTH REPLENISHMENT
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-12-3

I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership, and also Chairman Engel as well as Mr. Smith for their commitment on this and so many issues. prgtoken , I rise in strong support of H. Res. 517. This important resolution reaffirms our commitment to ending AIDS and calls on our government to maintain its historic contribution to the Global Fund. prgtoken As one of the original authors of the Global Fund and as co-chair of the HIV/AIDS Caucus, I am pleased that we are moving this bill forward. prgtoken This legislation has one of the greatest impacts on lives of people around the world. Since 2002, the Global Fund and PEPFAR have saved 32 million lives. That is 32 million lives. That is unbelievable. prgtoken What is more, the Global Fund has cut the number of AIDS-related deaths in half since 2005 and helped to reduce TB deaths by 37 percent. prgtoken , our country's strong support of this program, which has been bipartisan, coupled with new scientific advances, has helped us turn the tide on achieving an AIDS-free generation. prgtoken Just this year, during the Global Fund's Sixth Replenishment Conference, the United States maintained its strong commitment to $1.56 billion a year. That is a 33 percent contribution to this important fund. prgtoken I am glad that we are here today to reaffirm our commitment to the Global Fund and its sixth replenishment fund. The bipartisan and multilateral commitment to this program cannot be overstated. prgtoken Finally, , I want to close by lifting up the legacy of my predecessor, a great statesman, Congressman Ron Dellums, who inspired my legislation to establish the framework for the Global Fund. prgtoken , I thank my partner, Congressman Jim Leach, for his spirit of bipartisanship in helping me get this bill through the Banking and Financial Services Committee; former President Bill Clinton, who signed the Global AIDS and TB Relief Act of 2000 to establish the Global Fund; and, of course, the late Kofi Annan, who served as Secretary General of the United Nations and who boldly took this idea to the U.N. and led the global effort for support. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution, vote ``yes'' to saving lives. prgtoken , again, I thank everyone for being here today. Sunday, of course, was World AIDS Day, and we led a delegation to the United Nations. We had high-level meetings, and everyone applauded the United States for its leadership.