mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
AMERICAN DIABETES MONTH
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-11-13

. Madam , I rise today to recognize November as American Diabetes Month. prgtoken It is a personal issue for me, as I am one of 30 million Americans living with diabetes. This number is set to rise significantly. There are an estimated 84 million Americans with prediabetes, and it is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. In addition, people with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke. prgtoken The CDC estimates diabetes costs this country almost $330 billion per year. prgtoken I hope my colleagues can spread the word about diabetes this month. We need to do all we can to stop this deadly disease.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2019-11-13

I am proud to be here to advocate on behalf of a bill that has enjoyed, rightly, bipartisan support: the Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act. prgtoken We all know that the astronomically rising costs of prescription drugs are a burden--in fact a bane for Americans regardless of where they live, regardless of their party, race, religion, or age, but particularly for our seniors. The choice between paying the mortgage, putting food on the table, and buying prescription drugs has become a daily challenge for people across the country. prgtoken This bill offers a positive, solid step toward ending abuses in the use of patents--abuses that are called patent thicketing and product hopping--that all too commonly raise the cost of prescription drugs and preclude access for the people who need those drugs the most. prgtoken This effort has been a bipartisan one involving many of us in this Chamber. It passed from the Judiciary Committee unanimously. It is a testament to the still-possible bipartisan cooperation on an issue of paramount concern to the people of America that we have reached this point of bringing it to the floor of the Senate. prgtoken I am proud to have worked on this measure with my colleague from Texas who has really helped to lead this effort, Senator Cornyn, who is here on the floor with me, and him now.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-11-13

. Madam , I was unable to cast votes on the following legislative measures. If I were present for roll call votes, I would have voted ``Aye'' for the following votes: prgtoken Roll Call 610, November 12, 2019: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 4162, GI Bill Planning Act of 2019. prgtoken Roll Call 611, November 12, 2019: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 3224, Deborah Sampson Act.
Defense Appropriations (Executive Calendar)
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2019-11-13

I am here to speak about the topic of healthcare, but while my friend from Alaska is on the floor, I hope we can bridge the policy disagreements we have right now over the Defense appropriations bill, the appropriations process and the authorization bill. prgtoken I have been in Congress long enough to have heard this argument be trotted out over and over again that if you vote against a defense bill, then you aren't supporting the troops, even if you have a legitimate policy disagreement you are trying to work out. I have heard that enough to know that it just doesn't match up with reality. prgtoken I was told that because I opposed the Iraq war, I didn't support the troops. People in the 1970s were told that if they didn't support the Vietnam war, they were opposing the troops. The fact is, we have a legitimate policy disagreement that we are trying to figure out. don't think we should be taking money from defense construction projects that are housing and protecting our troops to be used to build a border wall with Mexico that doesn't do anything, in our opinion, to protect the United States compared to the benefit of the spending on military construction projects. We think that, ultimately, we are serving our troops by making sure those military construction projects get funded instead of this wall that doesn't make sense if not for the President's campaign speeches. prgtoken So we have some policy disagreements over the budget. I would hope that my colleagues wouldn't try to use this tired argument that if anyone here ever votes against a defense budget, then they somehow are opposing the troops. That is just irresponsible and disingenuous rhetoric.
CELEBRATING SIGMA GAMMA RHO FOUNDERS' DAY
Robin L. Kelly (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-11-13

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority's Founders' Day. prgtoken Founded November 12, 1922, Sigma Gamma Rho has been empowering women to give greater service to their communities and help bring about greater progress in our society for nearly 100 years. prgtoken We were first established at Butler University in Indianapolis by seven illustrious founders, all educators. Today, we boast more than 100,000 members from more than 500 chapters across the United States, Canada, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Korea, and Dubai. prgtoken Throughout our history, we have undertaken work on many causes, including Act Against AIDS; Operation BigBookBag; the March of Dimes; St. Jude; and Swim 1922, a partnership with USA Swimming to increase diversity and inclusion in the sport while reducing drownings in our community. prgtoken I am proud to be the third Sigma Gamma Rho elected to Congress, alongside Congresswomen Lindy Boggs and Corrine Brown. prgtoken Our membership also includes Alice Dunnigan, the first Black female journalist accredited to cover the White House and Congress; and Mary T. Washington, the first Black female CPA. prgtoken I want to give a special shout-out to our International Grand Basileus, Deborah Catchings-Smith. prgtoken Happy Founders' Day, sorors. Greater service, greater progress.
WELCOMING MS. VERNA TELLER
Debra A. Haaland (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2019-11-13

. Madam , I am honored to have a fierce woman from my district to deliver a historic opening prayer. prgtoken Isleta Pueblo Chief Judge Verna Teller is the first Native American to deliver the opening prayer in the U.S. House. prgtoken This is a special time in our country's history and, in honor of Native American Heritage Month, a time to reflect on the contributions of Native Americans to this country. prgtoken Chief Judge Teller made her own history in New Mexico. She broke barriers when she was elected as the first woman Pueblo Governor. Because of the history of colonization, many Pueblos generally don't allow women to hold leadership positions, but that didn't stop Judge Teller from knowing her value as a Tribal leader. prgtoken I am proud to stand with Chief Judge Teller to highlight the resilience of indigenous women and our perseverance to uplift our girls and our women in all of our communities.
DREAMERS ARE AMERICANS
Darren Soto (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-11-13

. Madam , I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat), my dear friend, for yielding. prgtoken You know, we had a rally a while ago where I got to hear my dear friend from New York talk about, as he was addressing Dreamers, that they were the tears of their grandparents, they were the dreams of their parents, and how generations led up to the moment where their children can experience the American Dream. And it really got to me. prgtoken It was an emotional moment for all of us, thinking about that story that all of our families, other than our Native Americans, experienced at one time or another, that someone had to make a choice, someone had to cross an ocean or a desert, or so many other barriers to get here to the United States. prgtoken You know, as we look at what the Supreme Court, yesterday having their oral arguments, is set to rule upon, it is pretty clear that terminating DACA would not be in the best interests of the Sunshine State. It is pretty clear that ending DACA would be bad for Florida, President 's new home State. prgtoken When you look back, our State passed in a bipartisan fashion in the Florida legislature when I was there in-state tuition for Dreamers. We also passed a bill that I filed and was able to pass to admit Dreamers to the Florida Bar, all defined as DACA recipients. prgtoken So in a State that many people refer to as purple, being and s going back and forth on close issues and in close elections, we came together to protect our Dreamers. prgtoken So I hope as the administration is examining their arguments and working before the Supreme Court, that they recognize that this wouldn't serve in Florida's best interests. prgtoken In Florida, we have over 80,000 Dreamers, 30,000 of whom were DACA recipients. I wanted to spend a few minutes tonight talking about their stories, about my constituents. prgtoken The first Dreamer I would like to speak about, a DACA recipient, is Herman Younger, otherwise known as Herman to us affectionately. prgtoken Herman Younger grew up in the city of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Wanting to give him and his sister a better life, his family decided to migrate to Miami, Florida, in 2002. prgtoken During this time, his parents instilled in him a respect and curiosity for the law. This led him to join the Miami-Dade Police Explorers while in high school. prgtoken In 2012, Herman applied for DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which allowed him to pursue educational opportunities post high school. prgtoken After graduating, he moved to Gainesville, Florida, where he studied political science at the University of Florida with a focus on ethics and moral law. prgtoken During this time at UF, he joined the College ; prelaw fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta; and Assembly for Action, a conference that aims to build community relations with local organizations. prgtoken During his junior year, Herman interned for our office in D.C.
VERIFICATION ALIGNMENT AND SERVICE-DISABLED BUSINESS ADJUSTMENT ACT
Jason Crow (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2019-11-13

I rise today in support of the Verification Alignment and Service-Disabled Business Adjustment Act, or the VA-SBA Act. prgtoken I start by thanking my friend and colleague from Mississippi (Mr. Kelly)--or, as a former Army captain myself, I like to call him General Kelly--for his leadership and friendship and hard work on this bill as well. prgtoken Veterans are uniquely qualified and have a valuable perspective as they start and manage small businesses. prgtoken In my home State of Colorado, there are over 52,000 small businesses owned by veterans that continue to give back to the country, the community, and our economy every single day. These veteran-owned businesses have also proven to go above and beyond to hire other veterans, including those who have been injured in the line of duty. prgtoken Currently, service-disabled veterans who want to start a business have to go through a complicated, confusing, and redundant application process through both the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Small Business Administration. prgtoken The VA-SBA Act removes duplication in regulation and cuts red tape to ensure the Federal Government can provide the support and resources that our veterans deserve. It also ensures that data on service- disabled veteran-owned businesses and veteran-owned small businesses is located at the Small Business Administration, which is uniquely equipped to serve veterans who want to start small businesses. prgtoken This bill will greatly ease the burden on our veteran-owned small businesses by cutting unnecessary red tape. prgtoken I thank Chairwoman Velazquez and Ranking Member Chabot, as well as Mr. Schneider and all my colleagues on the Committee on Small Business. This truly is an example of bipartisan cooperation, as we have all come together to do the right thing by our veterans and our small businesses, a true win-win for the country and for our communities. prgtoken , I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.
IN SUPPORT OF H. RES. 660, IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY RESOLUTION
Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-11-13

. Madam , I rise today in support of H. Res. 660, a resolution establishing procedures for the House of Representatives Committees investigating President to continue their ongoing impeachment inquiry. prgtoken No one is above the law, and the President must be held accountable for his actions. I first called for an impeachment inquiry in May, and witnesses have revealed even more evidence of wrongdoing. The President withheld Congressionally appropriated foreign aid money while asking a foreign government to investigate a political rival, former Vice President and his family. Congressional committees, including the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Oversight and Reform Committee, and the Judiciary Committee, have been leading investigations into the President's actions, and the Administration has obstructed those investigations at every turn. My colleagues on the committees of jurisdiction have been diligently working to bring the truth to light. It is clear from the evidence already uncovered, along with the President's own remarks, that he has betrayed his oath to the Constitution and threatened our national security. The investigation must continue. prgtoken The resolution on the floor today outlines the procedures for the next phase of the impeachment investigation. The next phase of the inquiry will allow Oregonians and people across the country to witness the process designed by our Founding Fathers to uphold our values and maintain the checks and balances that are essential to a functioning democracy. Although we do not know the breadth of the evidence that the inquiry will uncover, it is clear that this is a grave time for our democracy. We must use all the tools at our disposal, including this impeachment inquiry, to uncover the full scope and significance of the President's actions.
CELEBRATING ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF WOMEN IN TECHNICAL AND MANUFACTURING FIELDS
Marc A. Veasey (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-11-13

tomorrow is National Women in Apprenticeship Day, and today I celebrate the accomplishments of all women who are working in the nontraditional technical and manufacturing fields. prgtoken During World War II, we saw women across the Nation flock to factories to fill technical and manufacturing jobs that were vacated by men leaving to fight for our country. We saw it in Fort Worth at what is now the Lockheed Martin plant--just some great pictures that capture that time period that still exist today. prgtoken But, nearly 70 years later, we are struggling to give women equal representation in these fields. prgtoken That is why my fellow co-chair of the Blue Collar Caucus, Representative Brendan Boyle, and I are proud to introduce the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations Amendment Act that will break employment barriers that face women of all races and backgrounds entering into technical and manufacturing occupations. prgtoken Because the best way we can celebrate National Women in Apprenticeship Day is by taking action to ensure that all Americans have a fair shot at entering our workforce and achieving the American Dream. prgtoken I also want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, for her work on the legislation that we will vote on later this week, the Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019, which will honor any female individual who held employment or volunteered in support of the war efforts during the World War II time period back in the 1940s.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. RES. 150
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-11-13

over 104 years ago, the Ottoman Empire launched a systematic campaign to exterminate the Armenian population through killings, forced deportation, starvation, and other brutal means. Every year I join the Armenian community in honoring the memory of the victims who made invaluable contributions to sustain the Armenian people and preserve Armenian history and culture before their cruel, inhuman deaths. prgtoken At the time of the genocide, U.S. diplomats who witnessed it knew that the tragedy they were seeing was an intentional choice. Henry Morgenthau, the then-U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, said that the Turkish Government's deportation order for the Armenians was ``a death warrant to a whole race.'' Those are his words. They are ``a death warrant to a whole race,'' and an aim which ``they made no particular attempt to conceal'' in their discussions with them. prgtoken We know what to call such an intentional, highly organized effort to destroy a people on account of their identity alone: genocide. In other circumstances, no one questions this definition. prgtoken U.S. foreign policy must reflect an honest accounting of human rights abuses, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. We cannot turn our backs on the Armenian victims of genocide nor on any victims of genocide anywhere or anytime it occurs. If we do, we only empower those who seek to use genocide as a weapon of war for their own malevolent purposes. prgtoken The Government of Turkey has funded lobbyists willing to trumpet lies and make excuses for these atrocities. The Turkish Government and its sympathizers have advocated for restrictive laws on expression and against legislation that recognizes the Armenian genocide, initiated prosecutions and smear campaigns against those who study the Armenian community's experiences at the hands of the Turks, and even resorted to violence and harassment of journalists and human rights activists who bravely speak the truth. prgtoken These actions are unacceptable and speak volumes to both the crime and its coverup. prgtoken Thankfully, there are also voices speaking up against Turkey's efforts to silence the truth of the Armenian genocide. I have long worked in the U.S. Senate to push for this honest accounting and to ensure that anyone who represents the U.S. Government does the same. In every session of Congress since 2006, I have introduced or cosponsored resolutions affirming the facts of the Armenian genocide. When I was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I was proud to preside over the passage of an Armenian genocide resolution out of committee for the first time. prgtoken The U.S. Congress cannot stand idly by and let the truth of genocide be silenced. We must commit ourselves to learning the painful history of the Armenians as we seek to build a better world for our own and future generations. We must stand up unequivocally for truth, justice, an
ROSIE THE RIVETER CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT OF 2019
Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-11-13

s for their leadership on this and my friend from Texas for yielding. prgtoken I rise today as a proud sponsor of the Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act and thank my colleagues again for their bipartisan leadership on this bill. prgtoken During World War II, thousands of women joined the war effort at the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, California, now home to the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park, as part of the National Park System, where they produced over 700 ships, the most productive shipyards in history. prgtoken These brave and dedicated women broke barriers by taking jobs as riveters, welders, and electricians, forever changing the role of women in the workforce. They embodied the ``We Can Do It'' motto. prgtoken Among them is Betty Reid Soskin--a constituent, a friend, and a pillar of my local community--who is now the National Park Service's oldest serving ranger and works at the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park at the age of 98. prgtoken She has been instrumental in educating thousands of visitors about the Rosies and sharing her experience as a young Black woman working on the home front. prgtoken I am so proud to have this important piece of history in my district, and I urge my colleagues to support this tribute to the Rosies' invaluable service to this country.
RECOGNIZING THE 5TH ANNUAL NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK
Mark Pocan (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2019-11-13

. Madam , during the 5th annual National Apprenticeship Week, I recognize the success of the Registered Apprenticeship system, which has been the model workforce development policy in the United States for over eight decades. prgtoken Over the next decade, 45 percent of all jobs will require more than a high school diploma, but won't necessitate a bachelor's degree. Registered Apprenticeship programs hold the key to preparing a new wave of working people for these jobs and ensuring all people have the adequate resources for economic stability. The Registered Apprenticeship program model has proven success in skilled trades and service industries for both workers and employers, with every dollar invested in a craft apprenticeship yielding up to $3 in return for employers. prgtoken My state of Wisconsin has been a leader in Apprenticeship training since 1911, when we established the nation's first apprenticeship law. That first year, Wisconsin had 625 apprentices, and its state law became a model for the National Apprenticeship Act in 1937--the first federal apprenticeship law. Building on a century of success, Wisconsin now has over 11,000 active apprentices and 2,500 employers in construction, industrial trades, utilities, healthcare, service trades, and IT. prgtoken Congress should continue to build on the Registered Apprenticeship system to extend workforce training opportunities to more workers-- especially women, people of color, and those from disadvantaged communities. Congress should also seek to integrate apprenticeship readiness programs, secondary and post-secondary education systems, and support services to ensure that more workers and employers can participate successfully in Registered Apprenticeships. Most importantly, Congress must uphold the strong standards for Registered Apprenticeship so that apprentices have confidence that they will have their rights protected and receive transferable, nationally recognized credentials.
MARKING 550TH ANNIVERSARY OF BIRTH OF GURU NANAK
Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-11-13

. Madam , across central Virginia, our Sikh neighbors are celebrating the 550th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh guru. prgtoken They are celebrating the man whose teachings have shaped the core beliefs of their families throughout the centuries, and they are remembering Guru Nanak's unwavering commitment to the plight of the poor, his push for equality for all, and his fight against discrimination. prgtoken Amid constant threats of invasion and disease, Guru Nanak encouraged his followers to focus on what united their people, not what divided them. In a world consumed by lies and deceit, he taught them to pursue truth. While others sought to destroy and disregard the Earth's resources, Guru Nanak taught his followers to be responsible stewards of the land. prgtoken In central Virginia, we have a warm, vibrant, and strong Sikh community. To them, I say happy Gurpurab. prgtoken I hope all of our district's Sikh community members will have the opportunity to enjoy these special festivities alongside family and friends, and I thank you for your rich contributions to our cultural, business, and faith communities. prgtoken Together, we thank you for incorporating Guru Nanak's principles of generosity, grace, and compassion into your daily lives. We are stronger because of you. prgtoken Madam , ``Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguruji ki Fateh.'' Purity belongs to the Creator, all victory belongs to Him.