mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Introductory Statement on S. 2008
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2019-6-27

half a century ago, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, who were tired of being accosted and abused and assaulted just because of who they were or whom they loved, took a stand to say ``enough is enough'' and pushed back against the forces of history that said they were anything less than. prgtoken Thanks to the sacrifice of freedom fighters like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and so many others both named and unnamed who dared that day to live their entire truth, countless others today have been set free. Now, 50 years later, through dogged persistence and sacrifice, we have been able to pass laws and create policies that respect and protect members of the LGBTQIA+ community--from challenging hateful bans against lesbian and gay relationships, to securing landmark civil rights protections against hate crimes, to, finally, making marriage equality the law of our land. prgtoken This year, as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall protests that sparked the modern movement for LGBTQ equality, I am very proud to stand here on the floor of the Senate as an unapologetic ally for this vibrant community. prgtoken As we close out this month's annual celebration of Pride, I come to the floor today to reintroduce legislation to further protect gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and gender nonconforming individuals from the dogma of our Nation's homophobic and transphobic past because, even as we reflect on the progress we have made, we have a lot more to do to achieve equality. prgtoken In the Senate, I have been very proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the community in Washington State and around the country in order to continue our progress and work to expand protections to help members of the community thrive, from our efforts to reduce bullying and harassment at colleges and universities through legislation named after Tyler Clementi--a student who tragically died by suicide in college--to reducing the epidemic of harassment and discrimination in workplaces through the Be HEARD Act, which is a bill I recently introduced that would hold businesses accountable for harassment and discrimination, give workers the resources and support they need to seek justice, and clarify that discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity are unlawful under the Civil Rights Act. prgtoken I am very grateful to my colleague Senator Booker and our friend Representative Lieu for joining me today in reintroducing the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act--the first Federal ban on so-called conversion therapy--because, in 2019, we know that being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community isn't an affliction, a disease, or some chronic condition that requires medical treatment; rather, the politicians who say it is are on the wrong side of history. prgtoken In fact, we know that conversion therapy is a painful and discriminatory practice. The American Psychological Ass
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020--Resumed
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-6-27

I rise to explain the context in which I will vote for the Romney amendment. prgtoken First, I am grateful for Senator Romney's substantive contributions and his collegiality as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken The plain text of the amendment states the obvious--that funds authorized by the NDAA may be used to ensure the ability of our Armed Forces to defend themselves and U.S. citizens. prgtoken I believe every Member of this body certainly shares the fundamental understanding that our Armed Forces must have the ability to defend themselves and our citizens against foreign enemies. Indeed, the purpose of the NDAA is to provide the authorizations that are necessary to ensure the Department of Defense is in a position to defend the United States and our citizens. prgtoken In my opinion, in that respect, this amendment is not necessary. For anyone who argues that the Romney language is somehow necessary because of the Udall amendment that we will be voting on tomorrow, I say reread the Udall amendment. It includes an explicit exception for self- defense. prgtoken I am concerned that this administration will seek to twist the Romney amendment into something that is completely unrecognizable, something that we are not voting on today, and something that has no basis in law. As a legal matter, the amendment does nothing more than to explicitly provide the authority to use funds under the act to ensure this ability. prgtoken Let me be clear. This amendment does nothing more than that. Either implicitly or explicitly, it does not authorize the use of military force. Let me repeat. It is not an AUMF. An explicit authorization would have to come to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee following serious and substantive engagement by the executive branch. prgtoken It is no secret that there are some in this administration who are eager to engage militarily with Iran. This week, the President himself argued that he does not have to go to Congress to seek authorization. But those who don't want to completely bypass our congressional prerogative will be grasping at any purported source of authority that could justify, in their minds, that Congress has authorized these actions. prgtoken Look no further than the Secretary of State, who is purportedly pushing the bogus legal theory that the 2001 AUMF, which Congress passed in the wake of 9/11, somehow provides authority to use force against Iran. Apparently, Secretary Pompeo is not dissuaded by the facts. The plain language of the 2001 AUMF does not extend to Iran. Congress did not intend for the 2001 AUMF to cover Iran, and neither nor ic Presidents who have operated pursuant to this AUMF have claimed such authority. prgtoken Against this backdrop and a President who has evaded Congress in unprecedented and unlawful ways, we must make crystal clear that the Romney amendment cannot be abused by those in this administration wh
SECURING AMERICA'S FEDERAL ELECTIONS ACT
G. K. Butterfield (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2019-6-27

. Madam , I thank the chair of our committee for yielding me time this morning. prgtoken Madam , I rise this morning in strong support of H.R. 2722. It is past time that this Congress act boldly in response to the foreign interference that took place in our 2016 elections, and that is exactly what this bill does. prgtoken The gentleman from Ohio, the ranking member of the committee, I say to him it is disingenuous to point the finger at the administration. That may or may not be accurate, but let us look forward. prgtoken This legislation provides $600 million in grants to State and local officials to secure election infrastructure and replace aging voting machines with voter-verified paper ballot voting systems; $175 million to States every 2 years to maintain elections infrastructure. It requires States to implement risk-limiting audits; it prohibits internet accessibility or connectivity for devices on which ballots are marked or tabulated; and it sets long-needed cybersecurity standards for vendors. prgtoken I ask my colleagues, let us look forward. Let us protect the right to vote. Let us protect the ballot of every American citizen.
HONORING 2018-2019 CHAMPIONS: HILLSIDE BASKETBALL ALL-STARS
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-6-27

. Madam , it is my pleasure to commend the Hillside Recreational Basketball All-Star teams for their incredible successes this past season. prgtoken These young athletes and their coaches traveled all over the great State of New Jersey to compete in the New Jersey Basketball Association League. prgtoken The sixth and seventh grade athletes trained hard with their dedicated coaches which resulted in both teams winning 14 games. The teams then went on to win an additional four games during their championships. The seventh grade team maintained their 2-year champion streak. prgtoken These successes were accomplished thanks to each member's commitment to teamwork that allowed them to reach the height of their potential. prgtoken Madam , I am proud to say congratulations to the Hillside Basketball All-Stars.
PUBLIC SERVICE FREEDOM TO NEGOTIATE ACT
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2019-6-27

conservative, rightwing forces in our country are engaged in an all-out assault on working people. Their target? Private and public sector workers and the unions who are fighting on their behalf. While private sector unions at least have some protections under the National Labor Relations Act, public employees have been historically forced to rely on Supreme Court precedent to protect their basic rights. prgtoken That is why the Court's decision last year in Janus was so damaging. In one fell swoop, the Court overturned more than 40 years of precedent from the Abood decision and barred public sector unions from collecting fair share fees from employees who had opted out of the union but whom the union is still legally required to represent. prgtoken The Supreme Court's decision in Janus was not unexpected. Its decision was the culmination of decades-long efforts by groups like the Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation to undermine settled precedent in Abood in order to weaken public sector unions. These groups worked methodically to achieve their goals. prgtoken First, Justice Alito all but invited a challenge to Abood when he wrote his decision in Knox v. SEIU Local 100 and v. Quinn. He called the justification for allowing a union to collect fair share fees ``an anomaly.'' He said ``the Abood Court's analysis is questionable on several grounds'' and laid out the grounds as he saw them for someone to bring a case to overturn Abood. prgtoken This was an open invitation to conservative groups to then go looking for a plaintiff to do just that--to create an opportunity for the Supreme Court to overturn Abood. They funded Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, which was fast-tracked to the Supreme Court in 2016, where ``the signaler,'' Justice Alito, awaited the case. Public employee unions received a temporary reprieve in a deadlocked 4-to-4 decision because of Justice Antonin Scalia's unexpected death. prgtoken The well-funded conservative interests then saw a huge opportunity to fill the vacancy with a Justice to their liking. From applauding Senator McConnell's single-handedly blocking the nomination of Merrick Garland to spending millions to confirm Neil Gorsuch, they wanted a Justice who was on their side. prgtoken They got it in Neil Gorsuch, who delivered the decisive fifth vote in Janus, torpedoing 41 years of precedent under the pretext of protecting ``fundamental free speech rights.'' Justice Elena Kagan saw right through this argument. In a strong dissent, she said: ``The majority overthrows a decision entrenched in this Nation's law . . . for over 40 years . . . and it does so by weaponizing the First Amendment, in a way that unleashes judges, now and in the future, to intervene in economic and regulatory policy.'' prgtoken Undermining public employee unions and, in fact, all unions has gained momentum because of the conservative majority on the Supreme Court. Wi
HIGHLIGHTING THE DAIRY MARGIN COVERAGE PROGRAM
Antonio Delgado (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-6-27

. Madam , I rise today to acknowledge the end of Dairy Month, which is recognized throughout June. I also rise to highlight the USDA's new Dairy Margin Coverage program, which is enrolling farmers right now. prgtoken My district in upstate New York is home to hundreds of dairy farmers, and way too many are struggling to survive with years of plummeting milk prices. prgtoken Now at the mercy of not just a complex pricing system, but also trade wars, our farmers need real support. I prgtoken encourage all dairy farmers in New York's 19th Congressional District to begin making coverage decisions. prgtoken The Dairy Margin Coverage program is retroactive until the beginning of the year, with applicable payments following soon after enrollment. prgtoken As dairy farmers continue to face low prices and increased market consolidation, I hope this program will provide much-needed support during this challenging farm economy. prgtoken As a member of the Agriculture Committee, I am deeply committed to supporting our dairy farmers, and I will be closely following implementation of the Dairy Margin Coverage program. I will continue fighting to give our farmers the support and the certainty they need.
TRIBUTE TO CLYDE TERRY
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2019-6-27

today I wish to salute Clyde Terry for his many years of dedicated service and staunch advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities. Clyde is retiring from his longtime role as CEO of Granite State Independent Living, and he leaves a legacy worthy of our praise and our gratitude. prgtoken Granite State Independent Living--GSIL--is a nonprofit that breaks down barriers for seniors and people with disabilities and expands the training and support services available to them. Its mission is grounded in a firm belief that all people have a right to define their own level of independence. Under Clyde's leadership, GSIL has blossomed into an essential statewide organization with a $17 million budget and several awards and accolades to its name, including Non-Profit of the Year Awards from Business NH Magazine, NH Business Review, and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce. Service offerings have grown as well to meet the aging, education, and employment challenges faced by so many across the Granite State. prgtoken Clyde has tapped into a wealth of experience to build GSIL into an expansive and responsive organization that remains committed to its founding principles of personal choice and direction. Before his tenure at GSIL, he was prgtoken the executive director of the New Hampshire Developmental Disabilities Council, a State agency tasked with protecting the rights of our State's most vulnerable citizens. While affiliated with the council, he coauthored a report on the accessibility of polling locations in the United States and established himself as a national expert on election reform. He was also an administrative hearings officer in the State's service systems, and before that, he helped to create and implement New Hampshire's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Throughout his career, Clyde has shown an unrivaled passion for improving the lives of the disabled, the aged, and the impoverished. prgtoken I was honored to recommend Clyde when a vacancy arose on the National Council on Disability in 2009. As a member of the council, he became a sought-after voice on the potential of autonomous vehicles to broaden a sense of independence among people with disabilities. He was also a force in fighting for fair pay and equal treatment in the workplace. Clyde was eventually named chairperson of the council, a testament to his leadership and communication skills and his fluency on the broad set of issues in the disability community. prgtoken I have known Clyde for decades. We worked together on Gary Hart's 1984 Presidential race. Though the campaign eventually ended in heartbreak, Clyde emerged from the race having met Susan, who would become his beloved wife of many years. As Governor of New Hampshire and U.S. Senator, I always appreciated Clyde's guidance and counsel. prgtoken On behalf of the people of New Hampshire, I ask my colleagues and all Americans to join me in thanking Clyde Terry for
S. 1790
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2019-6-27

tomorrow this body faces an opportunity, in fact, an obligation to reassert its proper constitutional role in warmaking. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support the Udall-Kaine amendment, a provision to prohibit funding for unauthorized and unapproved military operations against Iran. No vote will be more important during this session than the one we cast tomorrow. It is not only the imminence of potential conflict, it is the reality that we would be surrendering our proper constitutional responsibility and our right if we fail to adopt this amendment. The American people already believe we have ceded too much authority to the executive branch; that we are implicitly, if not directly and explicitly, approving an imperial presence. This amendment puts us to the test before the American people. prgtoken The Congress has a job to do. We should do that job tomorrow. We should insist that we have the authority and we have the obligation to consider whether there are military operations against Iran. prgtoken We can talk about policy. There is no question that Iran is a malign and treacherously bad actor in that part of the world. There is no doubt that it poses a clear and present jeopardy to the world community. Iran may well have installed mines on the two tankers that were severely damaged recently and may well be the culprit in shooting down an American drone in the past week, but the United States is on a perilous course. We are on a dangerous course toward continued escalation and possible miscalculation that may create a spiral of uncontrollable military responses. prgtoken It isn't that we have a dangerous policy, it is that we have no policy, no strategy, no endgame articulated by the President of the United States or anyone in this administration. To resort to military action rather than reliance on diplomatic approaches is a recipe for potential disaster. prgtoken This unintended escalation could result from more miscalculation or it could result from purposeful desire on one side or both sides among a small number of advisers or military leaders that there be a resort to kinetic activity, but we have, in the meantime, an opportunity to resort to diplomacy, to enlist our allies and partners. This situation is the result of our putting those allies, in part, in an extraordinarily difficult position. prgtoken The current tensions with Iran today are the direct result of President prgtoken 's ill-conceived policy toward Iran ever since he carelessly and recklessly discarded the Iran nuclear deal last year. His approach to foreign policy has been indecisive and chaotic, and that is partly the reason why tensions have escalated with an adversary rather than preserving key nuclear agreements and engaging in diplomacy. prgtoken We must now deescalate and resort to diplomacy. Even if one disagrees with that point, puts aside the President's bellicose and bullying rhetoric, and even if there is
HONORING JOHN JOSEPH MANFREDA
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-6-27

. Madam , I rise today to remember John Joseph Manfreda for his lifelong belief in and staunch commitment to exceptional public service. prgtoken Born in Washington, DC, Mr. Manfreda received his undergraduate degree in business finance and economics from the University of Maryland. He earned his law degree from the American University School of Law in 1970 and earned a master's degree in tax law from Georgetown University Law Center in 1974. Mr. Manfreda began his almost 50-year career in public service at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) Counsel Office and its Internal Revenue Service predecessor. From 1999 to 2003, he served as Chief Counsel for ATF. Mr. Manfreda was integral to the founding of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). He served TTB as the Deputy Administrator before being appointed to the Administrator of the Bureau in 2005. prgtoken Mr. Manfreda was widely respected for his knowledge, fairness, and honesty by his colleagues and those he worked with in the industry he regulated. He helped write many alcohol laws when he served as Counsel for ATF and retained the information about those laws. He was a fair man and was always willing to listen. Mr. Manfreda was an honorable man of character who valued honesty and demonstrated that value. Mr. Manfreda was recognized for his important work with the Meritorious and Distinguished Presidential Rank Awards and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. prgtoken Madam , John Joseph Manfreda was a dedicated public servant who held the sincere belief in the good of public service. He inspired his coworkers and was a friend and mentor to all who knew him and a devoted family man to his wife, children, and grandchildren. It is therefore fitting and proper that we remember the life and honor the service of John Joseph Manfreda here today.
IT IS TIME TO PUT HARRIET TUBMAN ON THE $20 BILL
Anthony G. Brown (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-6-27

. Madam , it is time to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. prgtoken The Treasury has had this design in the works for years, and now, all of a sudden, it is backpedaling. It takes 10 years, they say, to complete this work. prgtoken During a 10-year period, Harriet Tubman made 19 round trips on the underground railroad to lead over 300 slaves to freedom; and, in less time, Treasury can't put this American hero on a piece of paper. prgtoken How long must it take to reflect our Nation's rich diversity on our currency? prgtoken How long must it take to recognize an icon of freedom and courage? prgtoken How long must it take to rightfully acknowledge the work of a woman who helped countless enslaved Americans of African descent? prgtoken How long must it take when the American people overwhelmingly selected her as the face of the new $20 bill? prgtoken Harriet Tubman embodies the American spirit of strength and hope. prgtoken It is time to put a woman on the $20 bill. In this year, the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage, we want to guarantee that Treasury will follow through on this promise and this commitment.
RECOGNIZING AMERICAN GROWN FLOWERS MONTH
Chellie Pingree (Democrat, ME) \u2014 2019-6-27

. Madam , I rise in recognition of July as American Grown Flowers Month. prgtoken As co-chair of the House Cut Flowers Caucus, I know the buy local movement has encouraged customers to buy not only their food, but also their flowers, from local farmers. People want to support the small family farm down the road, whether it is lettuce or lilies. prgtoken The cut flower industry creates jobs, benefits our local economies, and naturally encourages us to embrace our planet's natural beauty. prgtoken For farmers, cut flowers allow us to preserve open spaces, participate in sustainable agriculture, and, many times, support women- owned businesses. prgtoken In my home State of Maine, where I represent many small farms, more than 250 farms sell cut flowers, from the Snell Family Farm in Buxton to Lazy Acres Farm in Farmingdale. prgtoken This is an industry worth upwards of $1 million to our economy and has seen such rapid growth in recent years that we have many flower CSAs for local customers. The new interest in locally sourced flowers has allowed farmers to diversify their crops and boost their income. prgtoken In Maine, nationally recognized as ``Vacationland,'' cut flowers are essential to our tourism industry. Flowers decorate wedding venues, hotels, and restaurants across our State. And when you are celebrating something as special as a wedding or a long-awaited vacation, shouldn't everything, down to the flowers on the table, have some meaning?