mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Coronavirus (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-5-5

to date, more than 1 million people have contracted coronavirus in the United States--61,000 in the State of Illinois. Sadly, we are quickly approaching a death toll of 100,000 Americans. While more people continue to contract and prgtoken succumb to the virus, another alarming trend has come to light. The coronavirus disproportionately affects minority communities. Black Illinoisans make up less than 15 percent of the State's overall population. However, they account for 34 percent of all coronavirus deaths. In Chicago, Black residents account for 52 percent of the total coronavirus deaths despite their comprising only 30 percent of the city's population. prgtoken Recently, a survey of Latinos in Illinois, who make up 17 percent of our State's population, surpassed Black Illinoisans in confirmed cases of coronavirus. Now Latino Illinoisans account for 23 percent of confirmed cases in the State--the most cases of any race or ethnicity. Last week, on a call with the Illinois community health centers, I learned that, of the 34,000 African Americans who were tested in Illinois, 36 percent were positive for coronavirus. Of the 24,000 Latinos tested, 62 percent tested positive--62 percent. Compare that to the 73,000 White Illinoisans tested for coronavirus, wherein 18 percent tested positive. prgtoken Latino and Black populations in Illinois and across the Nation are bearing the brunt of this pandemic. As we continue to hit new, grim milestones during this public health crisis, these disparities are a sobering reminder of the historical inequities of our healthcare system in our country. Nationwide, Black and Latino Americans are more likely to have chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease, and are less likely to have health insurance than are White Americans. These health gaps are the result of historic and structural inequality, including their exposure to trauma, racism, stigma, and food deserts, and this pandemic magnifies the need to immediately address them. prgtoken Black and Latino Americans are also more likely to hold frontline jobs that have been deemed essential in the food, retail, and service industries. That increases their risk of contracting the coronavirus when reporting for work. I have spoken with many community organizations, such as the First Ladies Health Initiative and West Side United, as well as the Illinois community health centers, and they have all stepped up to help Illinoisans find solutions to these challenges. Yet we can't just talk about the problem. We need to put solutions on the table. prgtoken Congress needs to step up. I am working with the Illinois congressional delegation to improve our Nation's coronavirus data collection efforts so that we can better understand and address these racial disparities. It is unacceptable that not all States are currently reporting coronavirus incidents and deaths by race. We need these vital statistics
TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF SHELLY KNAPP
Anna G. Eshoo (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-5-5

. Madam , I rise to honor Shelly Knapp for her years of service to our nation. Her spouse, Colonel Lewis Knapp, is retiring on July 1, 2020 after 26 years of service and Mrs. Knapp's extraordinary service to the Army, Army Reserve, Army Families, Veterans and her community total over 4,500 hours of volunteer service. prgtoken From 2015 to 2020 Mrs. Knapp served as the Senior Volunteer Advisor for the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program Instructor/Facilitator, and Army Reserve Minuteman ROTC Scholarship Program Coordinator for the 63d Readiness Division, a two-star level Army Reserve Command located in Mountain View, California. She also volunteered in multiple capacities at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto, California. In these capacities she volunteered over 1,500 hours as documented in the Army's Volunteer Management Information System. prgtoken In her SVA capacity Shelly Knapp advised the 63d RD Commanding General on all Family Program activities. She trained and mentored Family Readiness Group leaders across the command, scheduling and conducting Family Readiness training, organizing and assisting with Family Days for the 63d RD Headquarters and subordinate units. This represents 390 hours volunteered. prgtoken Shelly Knapp served as a YRRP Instructor/Facilitator and Army Family Advisory Panel Member where she trained and facilitated courses and seminars, and mentored Army Reserve Soldiers and family members at numerous YRRP events that occurred before, during and after mobilization. This service represents 429 volunteer hours. prgtoken Shelly Knapp stepped up to coordinate the 63d RD's Army Reserve Minuteman ROTC Scholarship efforts for deserving USAR Soldiers and high school recipients on behalf of the 63d RD CG. Five candidates were awarded four-year or three-year Army ROTC scholarships. This service represents 236 volunteer hours. prgtoken While at the 63d Readiness Division, Mrs. Knapp was selected by Army Reserve Family Programs to attend and obtain certification as a Department of Defense Master Trainer--one of the select few chosen in the Army Reserve. This represents 296 volunteer hours. prgtoken Mrs. Knapp is currently employed as a Budget Analyst at the Veterans Administration Palo Alto Cooperative Studies Medical Research Program in Mountain View, California. prgtoken During her time at the VA she volunteered as an artist/vocalist in the VA Palo Alto Arts Session Band, performing at ten VA-sponsored events and recording an original song, `America Begins', by a fellow VA Arts Band Veteran that won the Bay Area VA Creative Arts Competition. She also volunteers as a Wellness Ambassador and Employee Engagement Committee Leader where she has led efforts for a Wellness Fair attended by over 100 VA employees from multiple Bay Area VA campuses. She also displayed many of her own paintings and drawings for the Women Veteran in Arts Program. This represents 203 volunteer hours. prgtoken Du
IN MEMORY OF AARON SHEPLEY
Sean Casten (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-5-5

. Madam , I rise today to remember the life of Aaron Shepley. The State of Illinois has lost one of its most capable and dedicated public servants with the tragic death of Crystal Lake's longtime Mayor. In his long service to the community, as both mayor and city council member, a founding member of the drumline group the Crystal Lake Strikers, and dedicated husband and father, Aaron led with quiet humility, approachability, and selflessness. prgtoken A resident of Crystal Lake since 1972, Aaron was passionate and unwavering in his advocacy for the city, and eager to work in a unifying and positive manner to assist its residents. In a time when politics more often divides us, Aaron was most professionally proud of the congenial relationships among his fellow council members and the work of the Crystal Lake city staff. He leaves a beautiful legacy of highly competent and unselfish public service that should inspire us all. prgtoken In addition to his civic work, Aaron was also a drummer dedicated to supporting aspiring musicians. After learning to play drums for his 40th birthday, Aaron and two friends started Strikers, a drum line for adult percussionists. In the decade since their founding, the Strikers have gained local and national notoriety, and created several educational programs to support the performing arts in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Aaron was the driving force behind the Strikers' Evening of Percussion fundraising event, and in the 11 years of awarding scholarships, the Strikers have provided over $50,000 to local students. prgtoken Aaron Shepley was a class act, and I am grateful to have known and learned from him. I extend my deepest sympathy to Aaron's wife Regan and their daughters Chase and Madison, and the people of Crystal Lake, for this tremendous loss.
NATIONAL DAY OF AWARENESS FOR MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN
Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-5-5

. Madam , I rise to recognize May 5, 2020 as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. prgtoken Today, we recognize our nation's devastating history of colonization and the disproportionate effects for Native women. The coronavirus pandemic has exposed health care inequalities in our country, especially the health care available to Native communities. But we must be equally concerned about the number of Native women and girls that face incredible violence in this country every day. In the United States, Native women face tragically high rates of violence, sexual assault, and murder. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, homicide is the third leading cause of death among Native women. These rates are ten times higher than the national average and far too often, families are left without answers. prgtoken I am a cosponsor of Savanna's Act, which will recognize Native women and make sure that their invisibility to law enforcement ends. The bill would create and improve procedures, communication, and cooperation among federal, state, tribal, and local agencies that may prgtoken share jurisdiction over crimes against Native women. We cannot allow the experiences of Native communities continue to slip through bureaucracy. Today, I am calling on House Leadership to quickly bring this bill to the floor. prgtoken I am thankful for the work of the City of Portland to shine a light on this issue by passing a resolution later this week calling attention to this urgent crisis. We need to all work together to demand action. prgtoken We must strive to better understand the institutional racism and systemic inequalities that Native communities face. I will keep fighting for justice for those who are missing or murdered, and I remain committed to taking action to prevent these crimes in the future.
HONORING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF BONITA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Josh Harder (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-5-5

. Madam , today, I am proud to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the opening of Bonita Elementary School in Crows Landing, California. This campus and its educators have continued to provide amazing opportunities to students here in the Central Valley and should be applauded for the valuable work they have provided to our community over that past 150 years. prgtoken Bonita Elementary School is one of six traditional schools in the Newman Crows Landing Unified School District. While it is the oldest campus in the district, it is also the smallest of four elementary schools creating a tight knit community where parents and teachers can work together to provide a quality education for their students. The continued achievements of this campus should be credited to the teachers, administrators, and staff who are dedicated to ensuring the academic success of every student and to provide a safe and comprehensive educational experience. prgtoken I am honored to recognize the hard work and dedication of everyone who has contributed to the success of Bonita Elementary School over the past 150 years. I know we can look forward to more success for this campus and their students for years to come.
IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION MONTH
Jackie Speier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-5-5

. Madam , I rise to honor every teacher, administrator, employee and contractor in all San Mateo County school districts who together prepare our children to grow into educated and contributing members of our society. May is National Teacher Appreciation Month, but they deserve our gratitude and admiration every day. They rise to the occasion even under the most challenging and unprecedented conditions they are facing in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. prgtoken Working in education is more than a job, it's a passion. The dedication to guide and nurture our future generations is based on selflessness and wanting to create a better world. The impact an educator has on children is profound. The philosopher Plato once said: ``The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future life''--wise and true words. prgtoken Who doesn't have memories of a teacher whose words and actions will stay with them for the rest of their lives? My middle school teacher at South San Francisco's Parkway, Mr. Jex, called me ``chief'' when he appointed me editor in chief of the school newspaper. Mr. Jex gave me confidence and a purpose. He helped determine the direction of my life . . . like all teachers do. prgtoken Educators spend countless hours and their own money to prepare students for the future. They buy pencils, crayons, paper, snacks, toothbrushes, whatever it is the child is lacking. In the United States, we don't pay them anywhere near their value. They deserve more compensation and more recognition for the tireless and essential work they do, but it's not in the nature of teachers to give up and walk away, not even in the face of COVID-19. prgtoken The outbreak of the contagious novel coronavirus forced school and health officers to close schools on March 16th to prevent the spread of the disease. It did not shutter education, though. San Mateo County teachers, administrators, kitchen workers and custodians rose to the occasion. They created distance learning, providing students with Chromebooks and hotspots to connect in virtual classrooms. They designed innovative curricula to ensure engaging learning opportunities. Understanding the dependence of many students on breakfast and lunch, they continued to prepare and distribute meals. Striving to prevent the achievement gap from deepening, they provided additional support, tutoring and counseling for students and their families. prgtoken Facing unprecedented challenges, everyone from superintendents to principals to teachers to administrators to custodians came together and contributed. Now, everyone continues to adjust to the new reality. Schools will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year. prgtoken Madam , let us rise to acknowledge the remarkable resilience of our educators and to redouble our efforts as Members of Congress and as members of society to support them. They have our children's backs, so we must have theirs. To invoke
RECOGNIZING BLAUM BROS. DISTILLERY FOR CHANGING THEIR PRODUCTION TO HAND SANITIZER DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Cheri Bustos (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-5-5

. Madam , I rise today to honor Matt and Mike Blaum for transforming prgtoken their liquor distillery during the COVID-19 pandemic to make hand sanitizer, to be distributed at no cost to the community. These Hometown Heroes are being recognized for utilizing their business to contribute to those in need during these trying times. prgtoken Blaum Bros. Distillery was founded in 2013 by Matt and Mike with the hope of distilling beverages they could enjoy together. Since March 2020, they have pivoted their purpose to make hand sanitizer and even have a button on their website for hand sanitizer requests. I commend them for taking action during a pandemic, when supplies are in short supply. I thank them for their kindness and generosity to the Moline community. prgtoken It is because of leaders such as Matt and Mike Blaum that I am especially proud to serve Illinois' 17th Congressional District. Madam , I would like to again formally recognize the Blaum Brothers and their Distillery for their kindness and generosity.
Unanimous Consent Request (Executive Calendar)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-5-5

over the past few months, both parties have worked together to provide historic levels of funding to help small businesses retain employees, meet payroll, and stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Paycheck Protection Program--the main instrument to help small businesses--received $349 billion under the CARES Act and another $310 billion in supplemental legislation. prgtoken The public has a right to know how this money is being spent. Oversight, transparency, and accountability are crucial because from the moment the administration began implementing these funds, it became clear that much of it wasn't going to those who needed it most. prgtoken Today, we are not taking any other action on the floor dealing with COVID. We thought we would take this opportunity to ask unanimous consent to get something real done that should have bipartisan support on both sides of the aisle. Who can be against transparency? Who can be against accountability? Who cannot want to know where close to $700 billion of the taxpayers' money is going? Is it going to the right places? prgtoken Unfortunately, today at least 200 publicly traded companies have managed to secure PPP loans, and most of those are not very small, including some companies whose owners are large contributors to President . Truly small businesses, however--the prgtoken hundreds of thousands of mom-and-pop shops with less than 20 employees, the proverbial restaurant owner or the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker--have been mostly shut out because they didn't have a standing relationship with a big bank. prgtoken There have been great disparities when it comes to minority-owned businesses. According to the Center for Responsible Lending, over 90 percent of African-American-owned and Latino-owned businesses were likely shut out of PPP funding. Women-owned businesses have also been neglected. We have tried to fix some of these problems in COVID 3.5, working closely with the Senators from Maryland and New Hampshire and the Senator from Florida, but much more needs to be done. We need data to help further inform who is being left out so we can continue to make the necessary fixes to see that all small businesses are helped. prgtoken My friends Senators Cardin and Shaheen have a bill they worked on to do just that. I want to thank them. They will talk more about this bill in a moment, but I want to make one point here. This is a very simple piece of legislation. It requires the kind of transparency expected from any Federal program of this size and importance: regular public reporting of how and where taxpayer dollars are spent. prgtoken This is something my colleagues have always believed in. I hope that my colleagues will not object to this legislation when I ask unanimous consent in a few minutes, after Senators Cardin and Shaheen have spoken. I hope they will not object just because it comes from this side
Unanimous Consent Request (Executive Calendar)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2020-5-5

I am pleased to be able to join my colleague Senator Cardin, who is the ranking member on the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, as well as Minority Leader Schumer. I am pleased that the chairman of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, Senator Rubio, is also here because Senator Cardin, Senator Rubio, Senator Collins, and I all worked on the Paycheck Protection Program and the small business provisions that are in the CARES package that we passed over 5 weeks ago. I am proud of our efforts to negotiate in a bipartisan way to help small businesses get through this crisis. prgtoken Not only did we pass, in that first CARES package, $350 billion to help small business, but just a couple of weeks ago, Congress also came together to pass an additional $370 billion prgtoken for the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. prgtoken Our intent in passing that legislation was to deliver relief to small businesses that are truly hurting. Small businesses are the lifeblood of this economy nationally, really, and certainly in New Hampshire, where 99 percent of our businesses are considered small businesses. They employ over 50 percent of the New Hampshire workforce. prgtoken In New Hampshire, 20,000 small businesses and nonprofits have received over $2.5 billion in low-interest, forgivable loans under the Paycheck Protection Program. There have been challenges. We have heard some of those stories from small businesses that weren't able to access this assistance because some larger businesses got into the queue ahead of them--some of those large, publicly traded companies that had a relationship with their lender, and so they were able to get in early. We need information if we are going to correct the things that haven't been working about this program. That is why the legislation that Senator Cardin, Senator Schumer, and I are introducing, I think, would be so helpful. prgtoken The administration and Congress need to be held accountable for implementation of these programs. In order to do that, we have to have oversight, as Senator Cardin said. Transparency is fundamental. We need to ensure that assistance is going to the small businesses and nonprofits that need it most. prgtoken Senator Cardin listed off a number of those companies: the women- owned companies, minority-owned companies. We also need to think about those businesses that have fewer than 10 employees--those mom-and-pop shops that really need help, that may not have as long a relationship with their lender or may not have any relationship with a lender. prgtoken All we are asking for today is a measure that would provide the bare minimum that this administration should provide to ensure that these programs are functioning as Congress intended. prgtoken This is commonsense legislation. All it would do is require the Small Business Administration to provide daily reporting on PPP a