mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF ATTORNEY STEVE FARBER
Diana DeGette (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2020-3-5

. Madam , I rise today, along with Congressman Ed Perlmutter, Congressman Jason Crow, and Congressman Joe Neguse, to recognize the life and achievements of Steve Farber who passed away on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. prgtoken Steve's life was the quintessential example of the American dream. Raised in North Denver, he overcame humble beginnings in order to found one of the city's most renowned law firms, along with the help of his childhood best friends Norm Brownstein and Jack Hyatt. Steve's influence is seen everywhere in Denver, from helping negotiate with the City of Denver to make Denver International Airport a hub for United Airlines to securing funds for major highway projects. Steve represented some of the city's most popular sports teams, and was the key influencer who secured a new stadium for the Denver Broncos. prgtoken However, even as Steve built a successful business, he never forgot the importance of helping others. He supported innumerable charitable organizations and philanthropic work. In fact, one of his special causes was educating the public about the life-saving benefits of organ donation. Many years ago, when Mr. Farber was diagnosed with kidney disease that required him to undergo an organ transplant, he realized the devastating toll that patients faced while waiting on transplant lists. With the kind of single-minded grit and determination that he was well known for, Mr. Farber started the American Transplant Foundation in Denver to help save lives and support transplant patients and their families. A decade later, the organization is credited with bringing together almost 500 organ donors and recipients. prgtoken Steve was an open and accessible friend to all. An active , he was an integral force in the party for years. But countless s also called him friend. On a personal note, Steve was one of the first political activists to support me in my career, and has been a trusted friend and confidant throughout my career. prgtoken Steve was a one-of-a-kind Denverite; everyone knew him and respected him. He worked alongside national leaders, local mayors, corporate executives and everyday citizens just the same. His friends and colleagues remember him as a ``legend'' and a ``giant.'' He was all that and more. He was a beloved husband for 48 years as well as a devoted father to 3 sons and grandfather to 6 precious grandchildren. prgtoken Steve Farber's hands have left an indelible imprint on the state, and his legacy will live on. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, his friends and colleagues in Denver's legal community and all Coloradans who mourn this terrible loss.
RIGHTS FOR TRANSPORTATION SECURITY OFFICERS ACT OF 2020
Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat, MS) \u2014 2020-3-5

I compliment the gentlewoman from Virginia in offering this amendment. prgtoken Recently, the intelligence community raised national security concerns about the TikTok app and its ties to China. As we always and have been continuously informed, the Chinese are trying to get information on what we are doing every day of the week, every month, all the year. In response to this, TSA banned the use of TikTok by TSA employees on government-provided devices. prgtoken Representative Spanberger's amendment is to be commended for recognizing that national security concerns about this app and successor apps will not go away over time and for authorizing this amendment to be codified in law. prgtoken With that, , I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
CONGRESS MUST LIFT UP LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS
Greg Stanton (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2020-3-5

yesterday the House fulfilled a critical duty. We passed an emergency funding bill to address the coronavirus to make sure that we give public health officials across America the tools to help keep Americans healthy. prgtoken My State, Arizona, had the fifth confirmed case of COVID-19 and recently has another presumptive positive case. prgtoken Since the first U.S. case was identified, State and local public health officials have had to carry the heavy burden of responding to this outbreak and preventing it from getting worse. prgtoken Our local communities should not take this on alone. The spread of the deadly coronavirus demands a coordinated, comprehensive, government-wide response. In our emergency funding package, we specifically allocated almost $1 billion to go directly to State and local communities prgtoken In Arizona, our public health officials and our Governor have indicated a need for upwards of $13 million to effectively meet the demand that the coronavirus outbreak merits. It is time we get our State and local agencies the support they need. prgtoken Congress must always do all that we can to lift up our local health officials, and our funding bill does exactly that.
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN DAY
Doug Jones (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2020-3-5

I rise today in recognition of the inaugural Tuskegee Airmen Day to be held annually on March 7 in the State of Alabama, marking the anniversary of the first graduating class of Tuskegee Airmen in Tuskegee, AL. After decades of being barred from flying for the U.S. military, on March 19, 1941, the U.S. Department of War created the all African-American 99th Pursuit Squadron in Tuskegee, AL. Upon completing 1,600 missions, destroying over 250 aircraft, and laying the foundation for President Harry S. Truman to desegregate the U.S. military in 1948, this courageous, boundary-breaking group of 13 African-American men would go on to be known simply as the Tuskegee Airmen. prgtoken Recently, the President signed H.R. 2500, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, which approves the honorary promotion of Documented Original Tuskegee Airman, U.S. Air Force Colonel (retired) Charles E. McGee, to brigadier general. I believe it is a well-deserved promotion for a hero the likes of General McGee. It is my honor to commend and recognize General McGee, who is one of the last surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen. prgtoken Less than a year after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, General McGee enlisted in the Army Air Forces on October 26, 1942. He went on to become one of the first pilots to graduate from the experimental Tuskegee Institute in June 1943. General McGee also has the distinction of flying more combat missions in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam than any other Air Force pilot. Brigadier General Charles McGee will be in attendance at the inaugural Tuskegee Airmen Day ceremony in Alabama this year. prgtoken For over half century, the courage, tenacity, and grit of General McGee and all of his fellow Tuskegee Airmen have been a source of hope and inspiration for generations of Americans. I congratulate the city of Tuskegee and the State of Alabama for recognizing such a distinguished group of servicemembers who helped change the course of our Nation's history.
CORONAVIRUS PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Maria Cantwell (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2020-3-5

I come to the floor to speak about the ongoing crisis of the novel coronavirus outbreak and to urge all of us to pass this supplemental as quickly as possible. prgtoken As of this morning, there are 163 confirmed cases in 17 States across the country, but no State has been more hard hit than the State of Washington. prgtoken We now have 39 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 230 people under public health monitoring. We have lost 10 of our citizens. Our thoughts and prayers are with those families who have lost loved ones, and there are still families who have loved ones in nursing homes and who are trying to make sure they get the appropriate care in this ongoing crisis. prgtoken I would also like to thank the workers who are on the frontlines of this healthcare crisis and are doing everything they can to help keep our citizens safe. prgtoken What is clear in this supplemental is that we need more resources for testing. The testing capabilities will help our communities understand the community transfer of this virus and what else we need to do to help stop its spread. prgtoken Some of the funding in this supplemental can be helpful for our smaller public labs to do more testing to help our public health officials respond to this crisis, and, as I urged yesterday, for the CDC and others to make it clear through our public health sites exactly how the public can go about getting access to testing. prgtoken This is so critical because I know there are people in the State of Washington who feel ill, who feel they might be subject to this coronavirus and aren't getting tested. We want to make sure the public clearly understands what their paths are for getting those tests, and we want to make sure that every lab--commercial and academic--in the United States is getting prepared to help us in the advent of the spread of this virus. Why? Because helping to identify these early cases is what will help us be successful in understanding these patterns and further the community separations that we need to do. prgtoken Why is this so important? Well, today in the State of Washington, they are taking major steps. Major employers are encouraging their employees, if possible, to work from home. These are companies like Microsoft and Facebook and Amazon--major employers. prgtoken We have 23 schools that have closed and 2 school districts that are entirely shut down. Why are they doing this? Because they are taking precautions for people who have been exposed to the coronavirus in those schools, and they are doing everything they can to make sure that they respond correctly. prgtoken In addition, King County has recommended that anyone over the age of 60, anyone with a preexisting medical condition, or anyone who is pregnant should avoid public places and gatherings as much as possible. prgtoken We are taking all these steps now because we are at the epicenter of this crisis, but I want people to know that
WELCOMING REVEREND KEVIN F. O'BRIEN
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-3-5

it is my great honor to note that Father Kevin O'Brien of the Society of Jesus was our guest this morning to deliver this morning's opening prayer for this House. prgtoken Father O'Brien joined our Silicon Valley community 4 years ago, and just last year he was named president of Santa Clara University. As an alum of Santa Clara University Law School myself, I am glad to see Father O'Brien focusing his presidency on college affordability and access, as well as fostering a culture of respect on campus. prgtoken Now a religious leader in Silicon Valley, Father O'Brien speaks of how disruption can lift people up instead of dividing people. Father O'Brien is dedicated to serving something larger than himself, which is a trait we deeply admire and value as Americans. prgtoken I am personally grateful to him for the leadership he has shown to standing up for Dreamers and those who are vulnerable in our community and across America. prgtoken It is my pleasure to welcome Father O'Brien to our Nation's Capital today and to thank him for his service to our community, our country, and to the University of Santa Clara.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-3-5

I come to the floor this morning as a Senate colleague who may know Chuck Schumer better than most. We lived under the same roof for almost 20 years. We know one another. We know each other's families. We have been together through moments of sadness and triumph. I know him well, and I come to the floor this morning to make this statement. prgtoken I respect Chief Justice John Roberts, but I respectfully disagree with the statement he made yesterday about Senator Schumer's comments before the Supreme Court Building. It is not in Chuck Schumer's nature to physically threaten anyone--anyone--or to create a dangerous situation for any person. That is just not Chuck Schumer. Even his passion, as you just heard about the issue of women's healthcare, would not lead him to that position. Yes, as he said, he could have chosen his words more carefully, but is there a person in public life who has ever stood in this Chamber or any other who wouldn't say the same about some public utterance? prgtoken What troubles me is his being admonished publicly by President for his use of words--being admonished by President for his use of words. It just takes your breath away to think that this President, with his thousands of tweets and statements and utterances-- outrageous as they have been--would be standing as a judge of others when it comes to the use of language. prgtoken I listened carefully this morning as Senator McConnell, the leader, came to the floor and spoke, when he talked about his singular respect for the Supreme Court and judicial independence. He used the phrase repeatedly: ``judicial independence.'' He called the judiciary, rightly, a pillar of the American Government. prgtoken Does Senator McConnell think we have forgotten what he did when it came to the Supreme Court after Justice Scalia passed away? He intentionally left a vacancy in the Court for almost a year for political purposes before it was filled. prgtoken We remember when President , in the last year of his Presidency, offered the nomination of Merrick Garland, a highly respected circuit court judge for the District of Columbia. Do you remember what this leader, Senator McConnell, did in response--this man who so admires this pillar of the American Government, the judiciary? He refused to even personally meet with Merrick Garland, President 's nominee, and he instructed his colleagues on the side to do the same, to shun him, to give him the cold shoulder, and to make it clear that, for a year, there would be a vacancy in the Court because he, Senator McConnell, was praying he would get a political opportunity to fill that vacancy if a were elected to the Presidency. And, of course, that is what happened in 2016. prgtoken So for Senator McConnell to come before us and talk about his respect for the Court, keeping politics out of the Court, calling it a pillar of
RECOGNIZING THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM
Daniel T. Kildee (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-3-5

I rise to recognize the Wounded Warrior Program, which is a bipartisan initiative that provides opportunities for injured veterans and servicemembers to continue their service to our country by working right here in the United States Congress. prgtoken I am proud to have passed legislation, supported by s and , to expand the Wounded Warrior Program. By investing in these paid fellowships, we can expand job opportunities for veterans and bring, importantly, their critical insight to the work that we do right here in Congress. prgtoken For the past 2 years, I have had the distinct privilege of having a Wounded Warrior fellow, Danielle Stevens, in my office. Throughout her time in my office, she has served my district by advising me on important legislation and, very importantly, being an advocate for veterans in casework that she has been involved in, including veterans who lost earned benefits, had them taken away from them due to clerical errors. Danielle Stevens was able to work to get those benefits restored, changing the lives of those families. prgtoken Later this week, she will be leaving my office to continue her public service at the U.S. Marshals Service. I thank her for her service to our country. This is an example of the success of this program.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-3-5

I just listened to the leader, and there was a glaring omission in his speech. He did not mention what the rally yesterday, my speech, or the case before the Court was about--a woman's constitutional right to choose. prgtoken To the women of America: What we are talking about here, what I am fighting for here is your right to choose--an issue, of course, Leader McConnell completely ignored in his speech. I feel so passionately about this issue, and I feel so deeply the anger of women all across America about Senate s and the courts working hand in glove to take down Roe v. Wade. prgtoken I just read about a woman in Shreveport who, under the Louisiana law now before the Supreme Court, would have to travel over 300 miles to exercise her constitutional freedoms. And this is happening in States across the country. prgtoken State legislatures are restricting a woman's right to choose so severely as to make it nonexistent, and the courts are now likely to go along because Senate s have confirmed nominees they believe will strip away women's rights and fundamentally change this country, going so far as to deny a duly elected President the right to pick a Supreme Court Justice. prgtoken s here in the Senate are afraid to confront this issue directly. So they try to accomplish through the courts what they would never accomplish in the court of public opinion, and they leave women out in the cold. prgtoken So, yes, I am angry. The women of America are angry. And, yes, we will continue to fight for a woman's right to choose. I will continue to fight for the women of America. prgtoken Now, I should not have used the words I used yesterday. They didn't come out the way I intended to. My point was that there would be political consequences--political consequences--for President and Senate s if the Supreme Court, with the newly confirmed Justices, stripped away a woman's right to choose. Of course, I didn't intend to suggest anything other than political and public opinion consequences for the Supreme Court, and it is a gross distortion to imply otherwise. prgtoken I am from Brooklyn. We speak in strong language. I shouldn't have used the words I did, but in no way was I making a threat. I never-- never--would do such a thing. Leader McConnell knows that, and s who are busy manufacturing outrage over these comments know that too. prgtoken What will remain long after the clamor over my comments dies down is the issue at hand: a woman's constitutional right to choose and attempts to invalidate it. prgtoken The fact that my colleagues have worked systematically over the course of decades to install the judicial infrastructure to take down Roe v. Wade and do very real damage to the country and to the American way of life--that is the issue that will remain, and we owe--I owe--an obligation to the women of America to
CLIMATE LEGISLATION
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2020-3-5

I rise today to address several proposals with significant consequences for our environment that have come before the Senate this Congress. In particular, I would like to express my support for the joint resolution of disapproval concerning the Environmental Protection Agency's regulations to reverse the administration's Clean Power Plan rules and my opposition to two amendments to weaken existing protections for public lands. prgtoken I am dedicated to promoting policies that address the urgent climate crisis. We cannot wait 50 or 100 years to address the climate impacts that threaten the livelihoods of our farmers, our businesses, our infrastructure, and our national security. It is for that reason that I oppose the administration's efforts to overturn, roll back, and weaken the Clean Power Plan rules, and I cosponsored S.J. Res. 53, a joint resolution providing for the disapproval of the regulations submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency to repeal the administration's Clean Power Plan rules. In order to fully address our urgent climate crisis, the Clean Power Plan rules must be reinstated and strengthened. prgtoken It is also our responsibility to preserve our natural resources and pass them on to future generations through responsible conservation and smart policies that allow outdoor recreation to thrive. This Congress, the Senate has considered proposals--which I oppose--to reduce, diminish, or eliminate protections for existing national monuments and to prevent the use of funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for land acquisition. These proposals would weaken the core mission of two critical conservation programs that preserve our natural resources. prgtoken I have voted against similar proposals that would undermine the Antiquities Act or the Land and Water Conservation Fund when they have been considered as amendments to comprehensive public lands bills because I believe that we need to do more to protect and conserve our public lands. I have also cosponsored Senator Udall's legislation to reinforce existing law on the establishment of national monuments and Senator Manchin's bill to provide full, permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
TRIBUTE TO MR. DENNIS HOOD
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-3-5

. Madam , I rise to express my condolences to the family of my friend Dennis Hood, a man who liberated himself and believed in fighting for the rights of others. prgtoken Unfortunately, I cannot be there with them because we are voting on a supplemental budget to provide money with which to fight the coronavirus, and I figured that I ought to be here to perform that duty. Therefore, I have asked one of my young staffers, Gerard Moorer, to read the following statement at his service: Dennis Hood lived at ABLA and Lathrop. He was actively engaged and involved in the activities of these developments. Dennis was a colorful character with an outgoing personality. He never went any place and you didn't not know that he was there. He made use of the section 3 provision in the Public Housing Act and developed a small construction company. Dennis argued, protested, marched, demonstrated, swore, drank whiskey, cussed and did everything under the sun to try and have his way, and if he could speak, I am sure he would say, I did it my way. ``For what is a man, what has he got, if not himself, then he has naught, to say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels. The record show I took the blows and did it my way.'' Yes, it was Dennis' way. He was my friend and supporter, and I was his friend and supporter.