mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STEP IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2020
Ross Spano (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-9-14

I always appreciate coming to the floor to talk about the good bipartisan work that we do in the Small Business Committee. It truly has been an honor serving on that committee this term. prgtoken I rise today in support of H.R. 6133, the STEP Improvement Act of 2020, which reauthorizes the SBA's State Trade Expansion Program, or STEP, for the next 4 years. prgtoken The program helps small exporters expand their markets, grow their businesses, and create new American jobs. prgtoken In fiscal year 2019, STEP helped small businesses export over $974 million in goods and services, which yielded a 54-to-1 return on investment. prgtoken The program enhances State and Federal export efforts, facilitates coordination of services, and expands the resources available to our Nation's small businesses. prgtoken Last year, the committee held a series of hearings to evaluate the STEP program. prgtoken In March 2019, representatives from the U.S. Government Accountability Office and the SBA's Office of Inspector General identified program management weaknesses and recommended reforms. prgtoken In June 2019, we received testimony from State administrators and small businesses that have successfully utilized STEP funds. prgtoken Our committee has carefully reviewed oversight reports and stakeholder feedback to determine the appropriate path in this reauthorization. prgtoken With these recommendations in mind, H.R. 6133 streamlines the program's administration from the application process to the reporting requirements. prgtoken Thousands of our small businesses are competing in the global economy through the STEP program. Now more than ever, we need to support small businesses as our economy is recovering. prgtoken In my home State of Florida, more than 55,000 small businesses export their goods and services, and this program will help them and their employees. prgtoken In passing H.R. 6133, we maximize the potential of our small exporters. prgtoken Thank you to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Ms. Finkenauer) for working with me on this piece of legislation and her commitment to bipartisan cooperation. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
STEP IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2020
Steve Chabot (Republican, OH) \u2014 2020-9-14

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in support of H.R. 6133, the STEP Improvement Act of 2020. This legislation will authorize the SBA State Trade Expansion Program--or STEP--for the next 4 years. This important program facilitates small business participation in trade missions and shows, international marketing efforts, workshops, and other promotional activities. prgtoken The Small Business Act of 2010 authorized the SBA to establish a 3- year STEP pilot grant initiative. The program has two objectives: One, increase the number of small businesses that export; and, two, raise the value of existing small business exporters. prgtoken The Associate Administrator of the Office of International Trade is responsible for overseeing the program and awards, matching funds to States and territories for participation in trade missions, international marketing efforts, workshops, export trade show exhibits, and other promotional activities. prgtoken The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 renamed the program the State Trade Expansion Program and provided a $30 million authorization through fiscal year 2020. The act allowed the Associate Administrator of the Office of International prgtoken Trade to give priority to STEP proposals from States that have a small number of small businesses that export or proposals that would assist rural, women-owned, and socially or economically disadvantaged small businesses. prgtoken This legislation will improve the implementation of the program by creating a standardized application process, increasing grant spending flexibility, improving communication between the SBA and States, and collecting performance metrics and reporting to Congress. prgtoken H.R. 6133 reinforces our commitment to seeing that the SBA fulfills its goals relating to the STEP program and maximizes every dollar to help small businesses reach their potential in the international market. The bill provides greater flexibility to State trade agencies and enhances accountability at the SBA--a balance that will greatly improve program functions. prgtoken , I thank the gentlewoman from Iowa (Ms. Finkenauer), and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Spano), for their leadership on this bill. And I especially thank the chair of the Committee on Small Business for her great leadership on the committee and the bipartisan work that we have done on this for such a long time. prgtoken Ms. Velazquez and I have had the opportunity to work on the committee for many years now, and it is truly one of the committees in this Congress that works because it is bipartisan, and that is why we have been able to pass such important legislation and work so hard on the PPP and other programs over the years. prgtoken , I thank the chairwoman, and .
Free Speech (Executive Session)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2020-9-14

it seems like every other week we turn on the TV only to hear a pundit declare that we are living in the most divisive time in the history of our Nation. Now, as I am sure many would point out, especially if we were having this discussion on social media, those who lived through the Civil War and other contentious eras might have something to say about that, but we can all agree it is a contentious time. prgtoken What I know for sure is this: Every single day I see the American people losing the hope they once had in the absolute inviolability of our fundamental right to free speech and expression. They may not be too worried about official action changing those rights, but what they do see is a dwindling respect for what those rights mean outside of the context of what lawyers and lawmakers understand as protected speech. They are not thinking about Supreme Court cases. They are wondering what changed in the hearts and minds of their countrymen to turn simple disagreements into all-out war. They long for the days when they would have friendly banter with their neighbors and with their friends and discuss the issues of the day. prgtoken Well, over the past few months, I have watched this national discourse spiral to the point where most people I talked to back home believe that civil debate is just about impossible, and it worries them. What happened to mutual respect? What happened to point- counterpoint? What happened to civil discourse in the public square? What happened to sitting around the table after a Sunday School class and talking about how what you have discussed applies to the issues of the day? Have we lost it? prgtoken I have witnessed obvious efforts to threaten and intimidate conservative activists. I have watched these go unchecked by powerful legal figureheads who should have known better. And what is worse, these threats and intimidation tactics have spilled over into the online platforms millions of Americans use to check the news, stay connected to friends, and share updates on the lives of their families. prgtoken Now, I think we can agree that most of our friends in Silicon Valley who are in charge of those platforms harbor some liberal bias. That being said, I think we can also agree that doesn't mean they can't be objective when it comes to things like content moderation. Of course, that is not how it works out in real life. The modern era's hostility toward debate provides those platforms with a perverse incentive just to flip the switch, shut down conservative voices, and then suggest that we had it coming all along: You shouldn't have been saying such. Well, we all know that this seems to be a one-sided argument. prgtoken Now, those in this Chamber who follow technology policy know that Big Tech uses the liability shield granted under section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to justify this type of censorship. In part, the statute reads: No provider or
Broadband (Executive Session)
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, WV) \u2014 2020-9-14

I rise to address broadband connectivity and broadband access in rural States like the Presiding Officer's State and my State of West Virginia. prgtoken Our Nation has experienced a very tough couple of months because of the coronavirus pandemic. With the new normal consisting of teleworking, virtual learning, and telehealth appointments, there is no question that this has forced us to recognize and to reckon with the digital divide in this country. The ability to have affordable and reliable service is more valuable than ever. prgtoken However, in 2020, my State remains one of the least connected States in the country. Over the last few months, I have heard from many constituents--hundreds of my constituents--who are having difficulties properly and efficiently working from home, helping their kids with their homework because they lack robust internet access. prgtoken You know, I think about those children who either don't have connectivity or don't have an adult in the home who can really help them do their digital learning. We have to get our kids back in school, but in the meantime we have to have this connectivity. prgtoken Some examples of this are Randy from Parkersburg, whom I spoke to recently during a tele-townhall meeting that I held with constituents. Randy expressed his frustration with not being able to access the internet, making it difficult for his kids to complete their homework. He was driving to a hot spot. prgtoken Laura from Wheeling expressed her concern that her children will fall behind in school without access to their homework online. prgtoken And Mandy from Elkins, who is a professor, needs internet because of required online learning at Davis & Elkins. prgtoken These are just examples of the few of the concerns that I have heard from my constituents, but, unfortunately, there are many, many more just like those. I am sure you are hearing them as well in the great State of Iowa. prgtoken The reality is that broadband buildout in rural areas of West Virginia and across our country are extremely expensive and take more time to complete because, in our case, we have those beautiful West Virginia mountains. I have always said that if we can communicate with somebody on the Moon, we can surely find a way to deliver broadband to individuals, families, and businesses all across this Nation. prgtoken Fortunately, the FCC Chairman, Ajit Pai, understands this and has been working with the other Commissioners at the FCC to structure the future of rural broadband deployment. The FCC's upcoming Rural Digital Opportunity Fund--which I am going to call it RDOF, which is how we address it--is the largest Federal investment aimed at closing the digital divide. prgtoken RDOF will award $20.4 billion over the next 10 years for broadband service in rural America, with a special emphasis at the beginning on those who are totally unserved and then moving to those who have some service, but it
Racism (Executive Session)
Marco Rubio (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-9-14

the events of the last few months--what we have been seeing in the streets and the protests and all the issues that surround that--I think, have forced the country to grapple with our history on the issue of race and, in particular, what we teach young Americans about what that means and how it fits in the broader story of America. prgtoken Is America, in fact, a nation founded on racism, one that makes our very founding and its principles almost irredeemable? It is an important question. You can't ask Americans or any generation to sacrifice or defend a nation they believe is so deeply flawed, so it is one that I think we have to talk about. prgtoken This country was founded in the year 1776, and it was founded by this declaration that all men are created equal; that your rights come from God, from your Creator. Now, we take those words for granted today. They were extraordinarily radical ideas 244 years ago. Up until that time, every person on Earth was told that your rights are whatever the sovereign allowed you to have, whatever the King allowed you to have. You didn't have any rights that were natural to you. So the very principle itself was pretty radical. prgtoken The problem is that, from the very beginning, many people, including those who put their name on that document, and our laws at the time did not reflect that founding principle, and our story can largely be summarized as the 244-year journey to more fully live up to the promises made at our founding. prgtoken For our first 89 years as a nation, human beings were owned as slaves. And beyond just the horrors of slavery, they were the subject of torture, of rape, of seeing their children sold away--away from them--never to see them again. prgtoken When that horrible institution finally came to an end, it was followed by another hundred years of separate and unequal, where Black Americans were told where they could live, where they could work, where they could go to school, and more. They were told where they could eat, where they could sit or not, where they were allowed to stay overnight. They were even told what side of the road they would be allowed to walk on in many parts of this country. They were denied the right to vote, either directly or through intimidation and threats. prgtoken It was a time when, in many parts of this country, any Black man was one false accusation away from losing his life at the hands of a lynch mob. prgtoken This is a shameful truth, an undeniable part of our history, a stain on our legacy as a nation. But it is not the whole story. From the very beginning, it was clear that the promise of our founding and our failure to live up to it--these two things could not ultimately coexist. From the very beginning, within a year and even before the founding of our Nation, there were already Americans working to end slavery. Sometimes they paid for it with their lives. prgtoken Ultimately, it became the singl
Wildfires (Executive Session)
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-9-14

because of raging fires in my home State of Oregon, many communities in my home State have been reduced to ashes. A number of others are experiencing what is known as the ice box effect, where, in effect, smoke blocks out the Sun, and it gets quite cool. Virtually all of Oregon is now choking on smoke--that is whether you are inside or outside at this point. Countless thousands of Oregonians are under evacuation orders. Many are quite literally fleeing for their lives and abandoning their homes as the flames approach. prgtoken When I was home this weekend, I initially thought that a number of my communities had been hit by a wrecking ball. That really understates the situation because usually when you get hit by a wrecking ball, there is a little bit left that is not just ashes. Now thousands of people in my State have lost their homes. They have lost their businesses. They have lost lifelong memories. prgtoken I brought a flag to a family who lost in one of the fires the service flag of a loved one that they had cherished, and it just struck me that it is those kinds of memories, and losing them, that are as painful in many instances as losing houses and businesses. prgtoken The death toll has been rising. Others are still missing and unaccounted for. prgtoken Amid all the panic and loss, one of the aspects that left me, as I came back to Washington, with a bit of hope is that we lost so much, but we didn't lose our spirit. We didn't lose what we call the Oregon Way--neighbor helping neighbor, volunteers helping evacuees get food and water and shelter. Everybody steps up when a crisis arrives; nobody cares a whit about anybody's politics. prgtoken I have come to the floor today with a specific purpose, and that is to ask the prgtoken Senate to match the same standard I saw of volunteers, neighbors, and Oregonians helping Oregonians this weekend, to show the same kind of can-do spirit. prgtoken The Presiding Officer of the Senate is new to this body. He has a State with a lot of rural terrain. I am going to be asking him and every Member of the Senate, all 100 of us, to say: Let's make today the day when the Senate chose to finally get serious about fire that has harmed so many these last few weeks. Let's make this the day when the Senate chose to take a dilapidated and out-of-date fire policy and replace it with a modern strategy for the real, on-the-ground conditions that have caused fires to magnify the pain that is being felt by millions today. prgtoken The reason I am making this request of the Senate--that the Senate replace the way forest policy has been made in the past--is that those past processes--and, as my colleague already knows since he has been here now, the Senate moves often with glacially slow Senate processes, and those processes are now being totally overwhelmed by the massive infernos that are blanketing our communities and blanketing the West with smoke that is literally up
HONORING JOSEPH W. HESTON
Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-9-14

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Joseph W. Heston for his 45-year career in broadcast journalism, including more than 20 years on the central coast of California, and congratulate him on his retirement. prgtoken Joe's early career began with Westinghouse Broadcasting in 1976 at WJZ-TV in Baltimore. Over the next eight years, Joseph held various production positions at WJZ-TV, WBZ-TV in Boston, and KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh. In 1984, Joe began working with Hearst Television, where he would spend the rest of his career. He joined Hearst at WCVB-TV in Boston, where he was executive producer of programming and assistant program director, before moving to WBAL-TV in Baltimore, where he was vice president and station manager, and WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, where he also served as vice president and station manager. prgtoken Joe's career took him to the California in 1999, where he began his role as president and general manager of KSBW-TV, the Heart Television station serving the Central Coast. His time at KSBW has been marked by a number of milestones. In 2001, KSBW launched its official website, which now averages over 6 million pageviews a month with over 500,000 unique users and is the region's most visited local site. In 2002, Joe oversaw the construction and launch of the market's first HDTV station. In April 2011, Joe oversaw the launch of ``Central Coast ABC''--the first local ABC affiliate ever on the Central Coast. In April 2016, he helped launch KSBW's second channel, the Spanish-language network Estrella. During Joe's time as president and general manager, KSBW has been recognized with Radio Television Digital News Association regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for Best Newscast and Breaking News, and regional Emmy Awards for Best Newscast and Best Breaking News Coverage. prgtoken Throughout his time on the Central Coast, Joe has always had the priority of giving back to his community personally and through his work at KSBW. Joe is a former member of the Board of the United Way of Monterey County and oversaw KSBW's launch of the early prgtoken childhood initiative ``Success By 6'' with the United Way of Santa Cruz County and Monterey County to create opportunities for low-income infants, toddlers, and young children to receive high-quality education. In 2005, he led the development of the teacher recognition project, the KSBW Crystal Apple Award, and in 2012, he led the implementation of KSBW's Golden Whistle award for outstanding high school coaches. Heston is also a former member of the Board of Trustees of York School and the Board of the Monterey County Regional Health Development Group. Most recently, after identifying the critical need due to the ongoing public health crisis, Joe led KSBW in raising more than $525,000 on behalf of area food banks to aid COVID-19-distressed families throughout the Central Coast. prgtoken Joseph W. Heston has tirelessly served the central coast of California by providing m
DR. C.O. SIMPKINS, SR., POST OFFICE
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-9-14

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 5384 to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 Crosby Street in Mansfield, Louisiana, as the Dr. C.O. Simpkins, Sr Post Office. prgtoken Born and raised in Mansfield, Louisiana, Dr. Simpkins attended Wiley College and Tennessee State University for his undergraduate studies before earning a degree in dentistry from Meharry Medical College. prgtoken Following his undergraduate education, he joined the U.S. Air Force, obtaining the rank of captain before being honorably discharged. prgtoken After his military service, he returned to Shreveport, Louisiana, to open a dental practice. During this time, he became very involved with the civil rights movement and was a close friend of Dr. Martin Luther King. prgtoken This drew the attention of racist organizations like the Ku Klux Klan, and his home and office were firebombed. Fearing for his safety, Dr. Simpkins moved to New York, where he continued to advocate for civil rights. prgtoken After living in New York for 26 years, Dr. Simpkins returned to Shreveport, reopened his dental practice, and pursued a career in politics. He won a seat in the Louisiana State House of Representatives, where he served for one term before returning to his dental practice full time. prgtoken He retired from his practice in 2011. Dr. Simpkins passed away on December 4, 2019, at the age of 94. We are pleased to honor his legacy and memory by naming a post office in his honor. prgtoken , I thank Representative Johnson, the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Liberties, for this bill to honor this community and civil rights leader. prgtoken , .
IN HONOR OF CORPORAL WESLEY A. RODD
Lizzie Fletcher (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-9-14

I rise today to honor United States Marine Corps Corporal Wesley Alexander Rodd, who was killed during a training accident off the coast of Southern California on July 30 of this year and was just laid to rest last Saturday. prgtoken Born in Houston, he was a resident of Cypress for 17 years. Just 4 months ago, he became a father. After graduating from Cy-Fair High School in 2016, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and he served as a rifleman with the Bravo Company. prgtoken We are grateful to him for his service to our country--for his dedication and for his sacrifice--and it is fitting that we, the people he defended, honor him today on the floor of this House, in this Chamber. And as we do so, we honor the loss and the grief and the sacrifice of his wife, Jamie; his 4-month-old son, Ezra; his mother, Valarie; and all of his family, his friends, and his fellow marines. All Americans are forever in their debt--and he will be forever in our hearts.