mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS DISCUSSES COVID-19 DISPARITIES
Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-11-18

. Madam , I thank Congressman Espaillat for organizing this Special Order hour. prgtoken Madam , we are more than 8 months into the COVID pandemic, and I know that each and every one of us has been impacted. prgtoken For months, we sounded the alarm on the pandemic's disproportionate impact on Latinos, minority communities, and especially frontline workers. prgtoken It is no coincidence that the top five most impacted zip codes in Illinois are in my district. And as many as one in 15 Chicagoans has COVID-19, with a vast majority being either Latino or Black. prgtoken But this is a different moment. We are heading into a dark winter and working families cannot wait for Congress to act. prgtoken Unless we take immediate action, more will die. The sick are splitting pills to pay rent. Diabetics are rationing insulin to save money. People are going hungry or doubling up in homes to keep off the street. prgtoken This falls on us. Congress. The White House. prgtoken How can I continue to go back home and explain to my constituents again why Congress can't pass relief for families? prgtoken We expect everyone to do their part. Stay home or continue working the frontlines. It is way past time that we do ours. $1,200 is all people were given to get through the lockdown, and many of my immigrant constituents didn't even get that. Three, five, four. U.S. citizen-born children could not get their $500 checks. U.S. citizen spouses could not get their $1,200 checks because they may be married to someone who doesn't have a Social Security number yet. prgtoken We call them essential workers, but really, they are expendable as far as and the Senate are concerned. We call them essential, but they are expendable in the eyes of those who hold the keys to relief. prgtoken What do I tell the exhausted doctors and nurses working days at a time at hospitals quickly reaching capacity? How do I explain our inaction to the mother who had to wait 4 hours just to get tested? Or patients trying to figure out how they are paying next month's rent? Or children who won't have parents sitting at the table this Thanksgiving? prgtoken Most of my constituents don't have the luxury of working from home. They are essential workers. They are on the front lines making sure we keep this country running. prgtoken Workers are having to make tough choices these days. Go to work with fears of contracting or spreading COVID-19, or stay home and risk losing a job, health insurance, or their home. prgtoken All they are asking for is help to get by. People are afraid, frustrated, and worried. I am pissed off, and you should be, too. prgtoken What are we doing here? What the heck is the Senate doing sitting around confirming judges while 246,000 families grieve? prgtoken Yes, we are all exhausted. prgtoken But months of willful neglect and recklessness from the White House, most Governors and the Senate is devastating the Latino community a
FEDERAL EXECUTIONS DURING A PANDEMIC IS MORALLY BANKRUPT
Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2020-11-18

tomorrow, the Federal Government will execute a Black man named Orlando Hall in the middle of a deadly pandemic that is spiking toward unprecedented levels. The death penalty is cruel, unusual, barbaric, and immoral. prgtoken Mr. Hall will be the eighth prisoner executed under Bill Barr's leadership since June--eight expedited executions since June in this country--and the first by a lame duck President in a century, the eighth one being done tomorrow. prgtoken Carrying out Federal executions during a deadly pandemic puts hundreds of people at risk, from local community members, to Bureau of Prison employees, to lawyers and advocates. prgtoken The administration's choice to risk life in an expedited rush to take life is morally bankrupt. prgtoken To quote my dear friend and late colleague Elijah Cummings, we, as United States citizens, are better than this.
CELEBRATING THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Ed Case (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2020-11-18

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate and honor the longstanding friendship and continued alliance between two great nations: the United States and the Republic of Korea. prgtoken Seventy years ago, American and Allied servicemembers and civilians bravely came to the defense of South Korea, fighting alongside so many brave Korean citizens against North Korean aggression. While three long years of bitter conflict yielded only a stalemate, from the shared sacrifice and courage of millions emerged an enduring alliance and friendship between the United States and South Korea based on a common vision for the world and shared values for our peoples. The Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Republic of Korea endures to this day as a pillar of stability for the entire lndoPacific region. And in just the three generations since the Korean War, South Korea has emerged as one of Asia's great success stories, building a dynamic and diverse economy with a vibrant civil society and popular culture celebrated the world over. prgtoken However, the relationship between the American and Korean peoples goes even deeper than the Korean War. In 1882, representatives of the United States and the Joseon Dynasty established diplomatic relations between their countries through the Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce and Navigation. This was the first treaty Korea signed with a Western power, a treaty that first acknowledged Korea's status as an independent country. prgtoken My Hawaii has also played and continues to play a major role in the strong relationship between our two countries. In 1903, the first Korean immigrants arrived in the United States through Hawaii, and I am proud of Hawaii's history and present as the gateway for new generations of Korean American immigrants and as a major bridge between our countries and peoples. Today, there are over two million Korean Americans across the United States, with almost 35,000 residing in my home state of Hawaii. It is a true honor to represent such a diverse and accomplished community that has contributed so much to the richness of Hawaii. prgtoken Today, this House passed two resolutions recognizing the importance of the U.S.-South Korea alliance. H. Res. 809 expresses the importance of the United States alliance with the Republic of Korea and the contributions of Korean Americans in the United States, and H. Res. 1012 recognizes the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War and the transformation of the United States-Korea alliance into a mutually beneficial, global partnership. prgtoken I am proud to support both resolutions and will continue to pursue opportunities to strengthen this crucial relationship, as well as to support Korean American communities in Hawaii and across the country. prgtoken Thank you: (Gam-sa-ham-ni-da and mahalo)
Coronavirus (Executive Calendar)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2020-11-18

I come to the floor today to raise the concern about the need to pass another package of assistance to address the coronavirus. prgtoken I had a chance over the weeks that we were in our home States in October and after the election to travel around New Hampshire and to talk with a number of our small businesses, representatives from nursing homes, from our hospitals, from so many of the people who are affected by what is happening with COVID-19. prgtoken And what I heard was that too many people are struggling; too many people are hurting, and they need help. prgtoken New Hampshire has a small business economy. It is an economy where over 50 percent of our workers are employed by small businesses, where about 98 percent of the businesses in New Hampshire are considered to be small businesses. prgtoken And I was very proud of being able to work with Senators Cardin and Rubio and Collins to design the Paycheck Protection Program as part of the CARES Act that has helped over 24,000 small businesses during the time after it was passed--small businesses and nonprofits. prgtoken That also was instrumental in bringing $2.5 billion into New Hampshire and keeping 200,000 people employed. prgtoken Many of those small businesses have bounced back to where they were before COVID-19, but too many of them still need help, and they are worried about whether they are going to be able to get through the winter. prgtoken Of special concern are businesses in the hospitality industry--our hotels and restaurants. Tourism is our second largest industry in New Hampshire. prgtoken Recently, I had a conference call with a number of folks from the Hotel and Lodging Association. One of the things that they told me is that they are not sure how they are going to get through the winter. prgtoken For many of our restaurants, about a third of their business has come over the summer from outdoor eating, and that, of course, is ending in New Hampshire as the weather gets cold. How they are going to make that up is a real question. prgtoken Restaurants were the first businesses to be shut down in New Hampshire; they were the last businesses to open up; and now we have a huge industry that is not sure how it is going to get through the year. prgtoken The second highest number of workers in this country are in the restaurant industry. We have got to provide some help for them, and it needs to be significant. We also have to look at the hotels. Again, a big piece of what we have got to address. prgtoken There was a recent report from the American Hotel and Lodging Association that showed that business travel over the holidays is going to be down significantly. That is a big source of prgtoken revenue for many of those businesses, and we have got to provide some help and some additional help for those businesses as we look at trying to get a package of assistance. prgtoken Another round of the PPP program is probably important. We know we ha
ETHIOPIA
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-11-18

I rise today to call upon the administration to take urgent diplomatic action to address the escalating conflict in Ethiopia, a country in the midst of what many in the international community, including myself, had hoped would be a historic political transition to democracy. Instead the country is sliding into civil war. Unless the international community acts quickly to forestall further violence, I fear that bloody and protracted conflict is unavoidable. prgtoken Ethiopians have long aspired to participate in a democratic system of government. For years, their leaders let them down, but in 2018, things appeared to change when in response to peaceful popular protests centered in Ethiopia's Oromo and Amhara regions, Ethiopia's ruling party elevated Abiy Ahmed to Prime Minister. Prime Minister Abiy undertook dramatic political reform in the first year of his administration, releasing thousands of political prisoners, inviting exiled opposition groups back home, and allowing the press to freely operate. Repressive laws like the Charities and Societies and Anti- Terrorism proclamations, which had long been used to stifle political dissent, were revised and replaced. The new government committed itself to free and fair elections and, for the first time in Ethiopia's history, introduced a gender-balanced Cabinet. Many Ethiopians and much of the international community rightly celebrated these achievements and looked to further democratic progress. Abiy himself was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. prgtoken Yet transitions from autocratic rule to democracy are rarely seamless, and Ethiopia's transition is no exception. The journey to democracy has been beset by the proliferation of ethnically motivated violence across the country. In 2018, IOM reported that Ethiopia recorded the third highest number of new ID P's anywhere in the world, fueled by ethnic violence and displacement in Gedeo and West Guji zones, and violence has continued. In June 2019, rogue regional security forces assassinated the president of Amhara region and the head of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, and in June 2020, the murder of popular Oromo singer Hachalu Hundessa triggered violence that killed at least 239 people. Sadly, Ethiopians of all ethnic and religious backgrounds have been victims of this endless cycle of senseless violence. prgtoken To be clear, there are some who have taken advantage of new-found freedoms to threaten or use violence to achieve political ends, engage in hate speech, and incite broader conflict. Such behavior is inconsistent with democratic practice and has further exacerbated the country's ethnic and political divisions in a profoundly damaging way. Ethiopian authorities have a responsibility to protect their citizens by holding the perpetrators and purveyors of such actions accountable through a transparent, credible legal process. prgtoken Yet the government's response to these chal
CARIBBEAN BASIN SECURITY INITIATIVE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Adriano Espaillat (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-11-18

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I first want to thank Chairman Engel for his leadership of the Foreign Affairs Committee and his role in passing this important bill. prgtoken I also want to thank my colleague, Mr. Rooney, a staunch supporter of the Caribbean, for leading this bill with me, and Ranking Member McCaul for his collaboration. prgtoken The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative is a vital tool to combat the illicit drug trade, promote good government, and improve civil society. The international narcotics trade has a devastating impact across our hemisphere, and much of the demand for illegal drugs, unfortunately, comes from right here in the U.S. prgtoken We have worked hard to stop drug trafficking and combat corruption in Central America and Mexico, but all too often, our allies in the Caribbean are overlooked. prgtoken The Caribbean is our third border and, for decades, has been growing as a hub for the illegal and illicit drug trade. Proper investment in the Caribbean will help to improve our allies' capacity to combat transnational crime, violence, and regional instability, while also enhancing our security. prgtoken Crime from the drug trade has rattled many of our allies in the region, and this funding will go to programs that interdict traffickers, provide programming for at-risk youth, and improve the independence of the judicial system in those Caribbean countries. prgtoken This bill also adds a focus on disaster resilience, given the increasingly frequent and worsening hurricanes in the region, which I believe is of primary importance as we continue to see the impact of climate change on national and regional security. prgtoken We have seen the success of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative over the last decade, and this bill will build on the success by authorizing $74.8 million per year for the next 5 years to further deepen our commitment to that region. prgtoken By partnering to increase the security and stability of our Caribbean allies as we combat the narcotics trade, we will also be reducing the flow of illicit drugs into the United States. prgtoken I believe CBSI is a crucial program, and I ask my colleagues to join in bolstering it. prgtoken , .
LIBYA STABILIZATION ACT
Eliot L. Engel (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-11-18

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in strong support of the Libya Stabilization Act, an important piece of legislation introduced by the chairman and the ranking member of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, Mr. Deutch, along with Ranking Member Wilson. prgtoken This bill responds to years of instability and violence in Libya, which has given Russia a new foothold in North Africa and contributed to the growth of violent extremist groups. prgtoken Though there is welcome news of an emerging ceasefire in Libya, facilitated by the United Nations, sporadic violence continues and dangerous militia groups remain active throughout the country. prgtoken The Libya Stabilization Act addresses these threats by sanctioning outside actors who fuel the conflict or perpetrate human rights abuses. The bill also directs additional U.S. support to humanitarian relief and assistance efforts to help strengthen democratic governance; build a better, peaceful future for Libya; and ensure the security of the U.S. and our allies. prgtoken It is in our interest to help prevent Libya from spiraling even further into lawlessness. A vacuum of leadership in Tripoli gives way to extremism, which poses threats to the United States, our allies, and partners. prgtoken I thank Mr. Deutch and Mr. Wilson for their work on this measure, and I urge my colleagues to support it. prgtoken , . House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC, November 9, 2020. Hon. Eliot Engel, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Engel: This is to advise you that the Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to review the provisions in H.R. 4644, the ``Libya Stabilization Act,'' that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. I appreciate your consulting with us on those provisions. The Judiciary Committee has no objection to your including them in the bill for consideration on the House floor, and to expedite that consideration is willing to forgo action on H.R. 4644, with the understanding that we do not thereby waive any future jurisdictional claim over those provisions or their subject matters. In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the right to request an appropriate number of conferees to address any concerns with these or similar provisions that may arise in conference. Please place this letter into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this matter and others between our committees.
SUPPORTING MOTION TO GO TO CONFERENCE ON H.R. 6395
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-11-18

. Madam , I rise to speak in strong support of all the Jackson Lee Amendments made in order for consideration of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. prgtoken I thank Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Thornberry and their staffs for working with me and my staff in consideration of several Jackson Lee Amendments. prgtoken I offered several amendments to H.R. 6395 to improve the bill. prgtoken Jackson Lee Amendment 180 directs the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress the extent, if any, of the threat to national security posed by domestic terrorist groups and organizations motivated by a belief system of white supremacy, such as the Boogaloo and Proud Boys extremists. prgtoken The threat posed by accelerationists and militia extremists--a range of violent anti-government actors, movements, and organizations, some of which branch out of decades-old ideologies and others which are relatively new has led to violent engagement of law enforcement. prgtoken My concern is that aftermath of a historic national election, the activity of violence influencers like Boogaloo Boys or Proud Boys will increase and lead to attacks becoming more frequent. prgtoken In 2018, we saw too many instances of violent extremists searching for opportunities to sow violence and disrupt democratic processes. prgtoken Boogaloo and Proud Boys are targeting constitutionally protected activity for cooption or to provide cover for attacks. prgtoken Under the guidance that produced this report, there should not be any activity directed at groups that are not known for violent activity or have a history of engaging in violence directed at the United States government. prgtoken Jackson Lee Amendment 182, directs the Secretary of Defense to report on the number of military bases, installations, and facilities that are named after African Americans; and directs each Secretary responsible for a branch of the military to establish a review process to consider the naming of military installations and covered defense property under the jurisdiction of that Secretary after African Americans who served in the Armed Forces with honor, heroism, and distinction and are deserving of recognition. prgtoken s Representatives Bennie Thompson, William Lacy Clay, Gregory Meeks, A. Donald McEachin, Marc Veasey, Stanford Bishop, Andre Carson, and Jahana Hayes for joining as cosponsors of this Amendment. prgtoken In every war waged from the Battle of Lexington to the Battle for Fallujah, African Americans have honorably answered the call to duty, and served with valor and distinction in America's armed forces. prgtoken The fact that military bases have been named after Confederate military leaders or soldiers is hard to imagine given that they were fighting to end the United States. prgtoken The Confederacy was not something that should be held up for honor by the United States or our nation's military. <
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2020-11-18

I rise today to introduce the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative Act. This legislation would formally establish the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative--or SVI-- within the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, DOJ. While the SVI was created in 2015 as an initiative within the DOJ, this legislation is needed to give the initiative authorization to protect the legal interests of servicemembers, veterans, and their families. I thank Representative Escobar and Representative Taylor for introducing this important legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. prgtoken Our Nation owes a tremendous debt to our servicemembers, veterans, and military families for the sacrifices they make to protect our freedoms. Deployment can seriously compromise a servicemember's ability to meet obligations back home and protect their legal interests. Servicemembers and prgtoken their families have been charged unlawful lease termination fees when they receive permanent change of station or deployment orders. While deployed overseas, some have been denied voting rights, while others have had their property unlawfully sold. Members of the Reserve forces and the National Guard have been unjustly discriminated against and denied employment because of their military service. Servicemembers, veterans, and their families continue to be targeted by financial scams and fraud schemes. They deserve better than this, and we must ensure that our government protects their civil rights during deployment, transition back home, and as they settle into their civilian lives. prgtoken The DOJ recognized that, while there are laws on the books to protect servicemembers, veterans, and their families, more is needed to be done by the Federal Government to improve education about what those laws are and what rights they protect and to increase Federal enforcement actions to ensure those rights are protected. To that end, the DOJ announced the creation of the SVI to further its efforts to enforce statutes that protect the civil rights of servicemembers, veterans, and their families. The SVI works closely with the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Judge Advocate General offices at military installations to educate servicemembers, veterans, and military families about their rights and how to report abuse. It also serves as a resource for anyone looking to obtain legal assistance and legal practitioners seeking information. prgtoken Through the work of the SVI, the Department of Justice has brought a number of successful claims, including one against the city and county of Honolulu in February 2018 for illegally auctioning cars belonging to servicemembers. DOJ launched an investigation into the city's actions after receiving information from a military legal assistance officer and two Navy legal assistance attorneys that Honolulu had on at least three occasions failed to obtain court orders