mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
END HUNGER NOW
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-3-12

in September 2017, Puerto Rico was hit by two major hurricanes, Irma and Maria, both of which caused catastrophic damage, displaced thousands of families, and killed almost 3,000 American citizens. Adding insult to injury, the administration organized an embarrassingly slow and ineffective response during Puerto Rico's time of need. prgtoken Last July, FEMA released a report acknowledging many of their shortcomings in responding to Hurricane Maria. And I am sure we all remember images of the President tastelessly throwing paper towels at families during his relief visit, as if he were shooting free throws at a basketball game. prgtoken It has been a year and a half since Hurricane Maria, and Puerto Rico has made incredible strides to rebuild, but many, many families are still struggling. These are American citizens who pay taxes and who work hard, just like mainland Americans, but for some reason, the administration is having a hard time empathizing. prgtoken When I think of all the ways the administration has attacked low-income and working families, I can't say I am surprised. prgtoken Last week, The Washington Post reported that Puerto Rico was forced to start cutting its Nutrition Assistance Program, NAP, benefits. Puerto Rico's food assistance program is funded by a capped block grant separate from SNAP. While other Federal nutrition programs like WIC and school meals operate in Puerto Rico the same as in other States and territories, Puerto Rico remains disadvantaged because their Nutrition Assistance Program funds are static. prgtoken In order to receive nutrition assistance in Puerto Rico, you have to have a lower income--to receive less assistance--than someone who lives on the mainland. It also limits the program's flexibility to respond to changes in demand. When the hurricane struck, additional funds had to be given to NAP to accommodate more participants. prgtoken These forced cuts will reduce Puerto Rico's food assistance benefits by 25 percent for 1.3 million people. That is 43 percent of Puerto Rico's population. While it is true that this cut will restore the overall benefit amount to where it was before the hurricane, we must remember that these participants often need more assistance, given the circumstances. It is not easy to rebuild your entire life on an empty stomach. prgtoken , on more than one occasion, House have asked for an additional $600 million to help Puerto Rico through this rough patch, only to be shut down by the President and his misplaced, ill- informed prejudices toward Puerto Rico. Even Leader McConnell seems to be helping the President do his dirty work by refusing to take up the supplemental appropriations bill that we sent to the Senate during the shutdown in January, probably because it would force them to address relief funds for Puerto Rico. prgtoken Pulling out the rug from beneath Puerto Rico does not solve the problem; it creates a bi
Introductory Statement on S. 738
Tom Udall (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2019-3-12

the Federal Communications Commission Schools and Libraries program, commonly known as E-Rate, has helped connect our schools and libraries to high-speed broadband. Recent changes allowed for schools to pay for Wi-Fi on campuses, recognizing that students are using laptops and other devices for learning. This bill, cosponsored by my friends Senators Gardner, Cortez Masto, and Whitehouse, would allow schools to receive reimbursement for Wi-Fi on school buses--an idea inspired by a New Mexico high school student. A few years ago, a football player from Hatch Valley High School in Hatch, New Mexico told me how, after being on a bus for hours after a game, he would sit in the dark parking lot of his school doing his homework--because he didn't have high-speed broadband at home. Making Wi-Fi available on school buses is one piece to solving the homework gap--especially in rural areas. Adequate internet is an absolute necessity in this day and age. And I will continue to work with my colleagues to make sure every home in the country has adequate internet access.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2019-3-12

. If I may, , I would like to remark on the figure that Senator Van Hollen used of the recent measurement in our atmosphere of a carbon dioxide concentration of 411 parts per million. Standing on its own, that may not seem particularly significant, so let's put that into context. prgtoken NASA, which Senator Van Hollen mentioned and which has important facilities in Maryland, has been measuring this for a long time. prgtoken By the way, I think NASA's scientists have demonstrated they know what they are talking about. They have rovers driving around on Mars right now, so they know what they are talking about. prgtoken The scientists have gone back and determined what the carbon dioxide levels were on Earth over a period of 400,000 years. If you look back, there is a graph that NASA has that shows the carbon dioxide levels ramping up and down, up and down, over 400,000 years. For that entire time, the levels have stayed between 180 parts per million and 300 parts per million. That was the range within which the entire human species experienced our development--180 parts per million at the low and 300 parts per million at the high. At 411, we are now out of that range by almost the entire range. We are not out by a little; we are out of that range by a lot. prgtoken Also, 400,000 years is a very long time. If you look at how long humankind has been farming--kind of the basic, organized activity of our species--the common view is that we really started farming about 12,000 years ago. Some people push that number further, more towards 20,000 years. We invented the wheel a little over 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia. If you think about the first people who put seeds in the ground and planted farms, you only go back 12,000 to 20,000 years. If you think about the first people who rolled a wagon or a chariot on a wheel, you only go back about 5,000 years. This record goes back 400,000 years. They know it because you can go into ancient ice, and you can find bubbles of air from tens and hundreds of thousands of years ago, and you can test them. I have been to the freezer at Ohio State University, which is where they keep the cores they have drilled out of glaciers, and I have seen how they go back and do these micro measurements that let you know what the carbon dioxide levels were. So we are not off by a little, folks; we are off by a lot. prgtoken When you consider the known scientific effect of carbon dioxide concentrations, we have known what it has done. This has been a greenhouse gas since Abraham Lincoln rode around in his top hat. This is not scientific news; we know this stuff. prgtoken When you consider that we are that far out of the range that has made human life and development comfortable on this planet throughout the entire duration of our species--that we are out of that range for the first time in 400,000 years and are out of that range by an amount that is practically equal to the entire r
TRIBUTE TO DANNY WEISS
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-3-12

. Madam , I thank the gentlewoman for providing me the opportunity to say some kind words about Danny Weiss. prgtoken I want to recognize Danny as a true model of a public servant. From Riverdale, New York, he wasted no time coming to Washington and leaving an impressive mark right here. For almost 28 years, he has provided invaluable service to the House of Representatives. prgtoken As we have heard, we know firsthand that Danny has been very effective in the House of Representatives because of his mastery of complicated issues that we face as Members of Congress. As chief of staff--first to Leader Pelosi and now to Pelosi--Danny has given wise counsel to me and my staff and, as we have heard, to many other Members on issues that arise from time to time that need special attention that Danny always provided. prgtoken I would be remiss if I didn't note Danny's exemplary service to the Education and Labor Committee, under George Miller. Sitting here a few minutes ago, Danny asked me not to embarrass him--nice try. prgtoken We talked to George, and George informed me that early on he was on the fence about hiring Danny, but over an Italian dinner with Danny's mother, Cora Weiss, George was informed rather emphatically that her son, Danny, would be a great hire and one of the best decisions that he ever made. George believes that mother knows best, and the rest is history. Thanks to Danny's mom, we have all been blessed with his decades of public service to the House of Representatives. prgtoken Congratulations, Danny, on your years of service, and good luck in your future endeavors.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-3-12

if I might, that is why it is always interesting to hear some of the critics of climate change say: Do you know what? Carbon dioxide has been around since the beginning of the planet, so it can't possibly be harmful. prgtoken Of course it has been around forever, but, as Senator Whitehouse pointed out, it has been around for hundreds of thousands and millions of years at a certain concentration. If you look at all of the evidence from NASA scientists and others, you will see that level of concentration bumped up and down within a certain range for all of those millennia that the Senator talked about. Yet, in the last 150 years, especially the last century, it shot straight through the roof. It is an excellent example of the phrase ``everything in moderation.'' prgtoken Obviously, carbon dioxide has been part of our planet's gases all along, but the fact is that we have unleashed that carbon dioxide, in the form of fossil fuels, that has been trapped in the Earth for millions and millions of years. We have somehow just let it out within the last 100, and that is what is creating harmful, poisonous levels of carbon dioxide that are poisonous for the planet. Just like with a human being, when you put poison in the body, the body lets you know. The Earth is screaming out in all of these different ways to let us know that it has reached its limit when it comes to carbon dioxide pollution. That is why we have to do something about it.
CELEBRATING THE PALM CENTER'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY
Alcee L. Hastings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2019-3-12

. Madam , I am honored to rise today to recognize the Palm Center on the occasion of their 20th anniversary. Founded in 1998 by the University of California, Santa Barbara, the Palm Center conducts policy research on key social and political issues affecting the most vulnerable Americans. For 20 years, the Palm Center has been a trailblazer in efforts to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) service members. The organization has worked diligently against the discriminatory ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' (DADT) policy, which prohibited service members of the LGBT community from disclosing their sexuality while serving. prgtoken The Palm Center's independent research has enhanced the quality of public dialogue and contributed to the work of independent scholars, students, journalists, members of the public, and policymakers, like myself. In 2009, the Palm Center's research was a welcomed resource that allowed me to introduce the Open and Honest Testimony Act. This legislation addressed the discriminatory DADT policy by allowing LGBT troops to testify openly without the risk of discharge and ensured that Congress based its decision on the best possible information. prgtoken In 2013, the largest collection of research on DADT policy was published in the Journal of Homosexuality. This publication was composed of the work of Palm Center scholars, as well as reviews of the literary works of Palm Center authors. The Palm Center was the first to release a study on openly gay military service members following the repeal of DADT. Even after its repeal, the Palm Center has continued its work against other anti-LGBT military policies. prgtoken The Palm Center's current research focuses on transgender military service. This research comes at a pivotal time when President 's Administration threatens the ability of transgender men and women to serve in our military. The Palm Center's scholarship has made it abundantly clear that the transgender ban would weaken our military readiness, cause substantial disruptions, deprive the military of talent, and wreak havoc on the lives of military families. The research the Palm Center is conducting is crucial to negating the misinformation and belittling rhetoric the Administration continues to engage in regarding our brave transgender service members. prgtoken Madam , I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Palm Center on its 20th anniversary. The work they are doing to provide the public with accurate and evidence-based information is invaluable to us all. I look forward to continuing my work with the Palm Center, and wish them many more years of great success.
Introductory Statement on S. 752
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-3-12

. . As career opportunities and the requisite skills for success adapt to the demands of the 21st century, so too must the instruction and preparation students receive. Educators are tasked with designing educational experiences that rise to the rigorous State academic standards and reflect the needs and interests of our Nation's diverse student population. We have become accustomed to welcoming the start of the school year with news headlines describing overfilled classrooms and districts struggling to fill teacher vacancies. Though the challenge of teacher and principal shortages is felt broadly across the country, with a particularly acute impact on our rural communities, it is an issue we can remedy. prgtoken The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act is an opportunity to strengthen the preparation and leaders and to further support State efforts to successfully implement the Every Student Succeeds Act. It is also an opportunity to address the fact that schools in high-need communities are often staffed by a revolving door of underprepared and inexperienced teachers who are unable to meet students' needs. This in part due to State teacher shortages. prgtoken This is why I am pleased to introduce today with my colleague Senator Collins, the Preparing and Retaining Education Professionals Act, or PREP Act. As schools across our Nation continue to face growing class sizes, many are struggling with a shortage of qualified teachers. Rural communities in particular are experiencing a dearth of teachers equipped to meet their growing needs. The PREP Act aims to create high- quality teacher residency programs to develop a diverse workforce that is well-prepared to provide the educational opportunities students need to be successful in the 21st century. prgtoken More specifically, this legislation would expand the definition of ``high need'' districts under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to include those experiencing teacher shortages in rural communities and in areas such as special education, English language, science, technology, engineering, math, and CTE, to allow for access to additional support and improvement. It would also encourage school districts to establish partnerships with local community colleges and universities to ensure their education programs are developing future teachers in content areas where there is currently a shortage of educators. It would increase access to teacher and school leader residency programs and preparation training while requiring States to identify areas of teacher or leader shortages by subject across public schools and use that data to target their efforts. Additionally, the PREP Act bolsters support for teacher preparation programs at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) or Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to invest in a diverse and well-prepared educator workforce. prgtoken Improving our Nation's educational system is conti
CLOTURE MOTION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-3-12

the President's inauguration over 2 years ago was a historic moment. Though my candidate didn't win, I attended it in my capacity here in the U.S. Senate and saw a lot of people, but the one person I saw who was nothing short of remarkable was Jimmy Carter. prgtoken The reason why it was remarkable to see the former President, who left office in 1980--39 years ago--was the fact that most everyone had counted him for dead. If you will remember, he was diagnosed with a form of cancer that was supposedly fatal. People were talking about making their last trip to Plains to attend his church on Sunday and hear his last sermon. I thought it was over, and most everyone did, too, but then something amazing happened. There was a new drug that came along, and it turned out to be just the right drug to save his life. prgtoken When I saw Jimmy Carter a little over 2 years ago, I thought to myself: I never thought I would see him again, and I never thought I would see him looking this good. prgtoken Those things don't just happen. Those drugs aren't just discovered. They are the product of a great deal of work and research and application. prgtoken I remember asking Dr. Collins at the National Institutes of Health what Jimmy Carter's story was. He explained that early research at NIH, which is the premier medical research facility in the world, had led to some new possibilities in treating cancers. It just so happened that Jimmy Carter's cancer was responsive to that drug. Others have been, too, and I hope that even more are discovered. prgtoken The good news is that the U.S. Senate and Congress understand this. Do you know what has happened over the last 4 years? What has happened over the last 4 years is a dramatic show of bipartisanship when it comes to medical research. Roy Blunt, from Missouri, is in my neighboring State. I, of course, represent Illinois. He is the head of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds the National Institutes of Health. Lamar Alexander, from the State of Tennessee, is the chairman of the authorizing committee for the National Institutes of Health. Patty Murray, my ic colleague from the State of Washington, serves in both the appropriations and authorization committees and couldn't be a stronger advocate when it comes to medical research. We have a little team together, the four of us, and we said we were going to do something or try to do something each year. prgtoken Here is what we set out to do. We set out to take the appropriations for the National Institutes of Health and give it 5 percent real growth every single year--because Dr. Collins told me: If you do that, Senator, then the people who do the research believe that next year could be a good year, too, to continue their research, and they will stick with it, and when they stick with it, amazing things happen. prgtoken So we did. I want to give credit to Senator Blunt, Senator Alexander, and Senator Murra
Declaration of National Emergency (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-3-12

. By the end of this week, the Senate must vote on the resolution to terminate the President's declaration of a national emergency. prgtoken There are three very clear reasons to vote to terminate. First, there is no factual basis of an emergency at the border. The President made that clear when he said he didn't need to do this. If we allow Presidents to declare emergencies for such nonemergency-type situations because they want to do it, we are headed down a very bad road. prgtoken Second, the emergency would cannibalize funds intended for our brave men and women in uniform in order to pay for the wall, including military construction, and maybe even military pay and pensions. prgtoken The bottom line is, we hear from the other side how we have to make sure we give our soldiers what they need. We completely agree, but all of a sudden, when there is this wall, we take it away from the soldiers; we take it away from military readiness. That is not a trade most Americans would make. prgtoken Third and most important is the danger to our Constitution. The emergency declaration is an injury to this great Constitution under which we live. It claims powers for the Presidency that were explicitly given to Congress. It distorts the separation of powers, and it sets a dangerous precedent for future Presidents. prgtoken The bottom line is, one of the things the Founding Fathers gave the most thought to was the balance of power and how to prevent an overpowerful and overleaning executive branch. That is why they gave Congress the power of the purse. Are we going to reverse 220 years of a balance of power because a President is demanding a wall that Congress couldn't get him, that Mexico couldn't pay for? It goes far beyond the wall, whether you are for or against it. It goes far beyond all these other issues. It goes to the very nature of our government, and it will set us on a path that historians will come back and look at as a very bad turning point for America.
FREEDOM AND EQUALITY FOR ALL
Jennifer Wexton (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-3-12

. Madam , early this year, I made the decision to hang the transgender flag in front of my office. It was meant to be a small and simple gesture of solidarity. prgtoken Overnight, my office was flooded with messages of gratitude. The flag outside of my office had gone viral. Folks from all over called, emailed, wrote, and DM'd my office to thank me for doing it. prgtoken But today, we all have an historic opportunity to support substantive legislation that will be transformative for millions of Americans. prgtoken The Equality Act is a bipartisan bill that will provide comprehensive, Federal nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ individuals in employment, housing, credit, education, and much more, because today our LGBTQ brothers and sisters can marry the person they love on Sunday and, for that reason alone, be evicted from their housing or fired from their jobs on Monday. That isn't right, but the Equality Act can fix it. prgtoken To my colleagues, let's extend the full promise of this Nation to every LGBTQ American. Let's pass the Equality Act.