mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
WORLD AIDS DAY
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-12-1

on December 1, we mark the 33rd anniversary of World AIDS Day, which gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the lives lost to HIV/AIDS, how far we have come in the fight against this virus, and what we need to do to ensure an AIDS-free future. prgtoken Since the first cases of AIDS were reported domestically in June 1981, more than 700,000 Americans have tragically died due to AIDS- related complications. Significant scientific advances, brought about by public and private partnerships, led to the development of antiretroviral therapies--ARTs--which have been instrumental in decreasing AIDS-related mortality rates by more than 80 percent since they peaked in 1995. Investment in U.S. disease surveillance, prevention, and public education has similarly led to an almost 50- percent decline in the incidence of infection since 2010. prgtoken We are fortunate to have premier scientific research institutes within my home State of Maryland working together to combat this deadly virus. The National Institutes of Health, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, and the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland all lead U.S. and global research on developing treatments and a vaccine for HIV/AIDS. The world-class research institutions housed in Maryland have not only substantially led the scientific advancements with respect to HIV/AIDS; they have also played a significant role in reducing the number of new cases among Marylanders and affording those who contract HIV/AIDS to continue living full lives. Across Maryland, more than 30,000 adults or adolescents were living with HIV at the end of 2020. prgtoken Though my State ranks seventh among all U.S. States and Territories in HIV diagnosis rates per 100,000 people, we are making great strides to prevent new infections. Last year, Maryland recorded fewer than 1,000 new cases of HIV infection for the third consecutive year and a significant decrease over the peak of 2,612 new HIV infections among Marylanders in 1991. Public health initiatives the Maryland Department of Health implemented have been instrumental in reducing new infections, including programs like safe-sex education programs, condom distribution, access to prophylactic medication, and a statewide needle-exchange program for injection drug users. prgtoken Today, approximately 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV, and they are able to lead healthier and safer lives due to increased access to care under the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, ACA. The ACA has led to increased patient protections such as the prohibitions on rate-setting tied to health status, the elimination of preexisting condition exclusions, and an end to lifetime and annual dollar limits. Still, there are challenges ahead. Increasing prescription drug costs for ART regimens and health insurance benefit designs that shift out- of-pocket costs onto patients risk the progress we have made t
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 6119, FURTHER EXTENDING GOVERNMENT FUNDING ACT; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-12-2

. Madam , had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 395. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Adams (Brown (MD)) Cardenas (Soto) Crist (Wasserman Schultz) Curtis (Meijer) DeFazio (Carbajal) Fulcher (Johnson (OH)) Garcia (TX) (Jeffries) Green (TX) (Cuellar) Hagedorn (Moolenaar) Kildee (Ryan) Lawrence (Johnson (GA)) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Lesko (Miller (WV)) Meng (Kuster) Moore (UT) (Owens) Palazzo (Fleischmann) Payne (Pallone) Porter (Wexton) Posey (Cammack) Reed (Kelly (PA)) Reschenthaler (Meuser) Ruiz (Aguilar) Rush (Quigley) Sires (Pallone) Stewart (Owens) Swalwell (Gomez) Takano (Chu) Tiffany (Arrington) Underwood (Casten) Vela (Gomez) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Wilson (FL) (Hayes)
CANCEL STUDENT LOAN DEBT
Jamaal Bowman (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-12-2

. Thank you so much, Congresswoman Jackson Lee. You made me think of the hundreds or even thousands of students and families that I have met throughout my career in education who in elementary school have already made the decision that their children are not going to attempt to go to college despite their brilliance, despite them being artists and scientists and architects and engineers and athletes and musicians and all of those things. prgtoken Because of the crippling impact of student debt and cost of college, they have already made the decision when kids are as young as 5, 6 years old. That is unconscionable, that is un-American, and the President has the authority and the moral responsibility to cancel student debt right now. Thank you so much for your words. prgtoken from California (Mr. Gomez), the last speaker of the evening. I thank him for being here.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022--Continued
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-12-2

it has been a great source of debate over the past couple of years over a very basic question: How was Jeffrey Epstein able to take his own life in Federal prison on August 10, 2019? prgtoken Last week, we found some answers in the New York Times. It pointed out a series of stunning failures within the Bureau of Prisons. prgtoken According to the Times: ``The newly obtained records offer no support to the explosion of conspiracy theories that Mr. Epstein's death was not a suicide. . . . But they do paint a picture of incompetence and sloppiness by some within the Bureau of Prisons.'' prgtoken That incompetence and sloppiness was evident from the moment Jeffrey Epstein entered the Metropolitan Correctional Center. On his intake screening form, Mr. Epstein was described as ``a Black male,'' with no prior record of sex offense convictions. A 5-second Google search would tell you that not only was Jeffrey Epstein White, he was one of the most notorious sex traffickers in recent history. prgtoken And what about the night he died? He had already attempted suicide in the weeks leading up to his death, so you would think that the officials in the Bureau of Prisons would keep close watch over this potentially suicidal inmate. prgtoken In fact, the opposite happened. Jeffrey Epstein was left alone, unmonitored, in his cell. The two officers on duty were allegedly dozing off and scrolling on their phones. And the next morning, Epstein was found dead with a bed sheet tied around his neck. Because of these failures, the survivors of Epstein's despicable crimes will never get to see him brought to justice. prgtoken Six months after Epstein died, former Attorney General Bill Barr handpicked Michael Carvajal to lead the Bureau of Prisons. It could have been a new beginning for the Bureau, a chance to get to the bottom of widely publicized neglect and mismanagement--and to hold the appropriate parties accountable. But that fresh start never came because, since day one, Director Carvajal of the Bureau of Prisons has shown no intention of reforming that institution. prgtoken Consider the case of the warden who ran the Metropolitan Correctional Center the night Jeffrey Epstein died. How did Director Carvajal respond to that warden's failure of leadership? Well, if you can imagine it, he actually rewarded him. Director Carvajal appointed the same warden to lead a different facility, the largest Federal prison in the United States: FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey. prgtoken And it seems that warden hasn't learned any lessons in leadership since Mr. Epstein's death. Last month, an inmate in FCI Fort Dix was attacked from behind and stabbed in the eye. prgtoken These are not isolated incidents. For years, the Bureau of Prisons has been plagued by corruption, chronic understaffing, and misconduct by high-ranking officials. And in the nearly 2 years since Director Carvajal took control of the Bureau, he has failed to address the
MOTION TO DISCHARGE
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-12-2

first, I want to thank my colleague from Massachusetts for her very important comments about a very important, well-qualified nominee. Oxford High School Shooting prgtoken , today I rise to speak about a heartbreaking tragedy that far too many American families and communities are familiar with. Americans have learned that gun violence can happen in any place, at any time, in any State, and in any town. prgtoken This time, the community is Oxford, MI, home to about 20,000 people in northwest Oakland County. It is a place with beautiful lakes and bike trails. It is a place where people know each other. It is the kind of place where the neighbors might drop off some Christmas cookies or clear your sidewalk after a snowstorm since they were doing theirs anyway. Now, it is the kind of place that has been needlessly, senselessly shattered by unspeakable violence. prgtoken It was a typical Tuesday at Oxford High School, home of the Wildcats. The Oxford band and orchestra had recently prgtoken returned from a trip of a lifetime, performing at Disney World. Student leaders were celebrating a successful Thanksgiving food drive--almost 5,500 cans of food collected for the local food pantry. Athletes in winter sports were getting ready for Meet the Teams Night. But in an instant, everything changed. Everything changed. prgtoken We are still learning the details, and, frankly, that is not what is important. What is important is that, thanks to the cold efficiency of modern weaponry, it took mere minutes for a gunman to shatter a community. Thankfully, law enforcement officers showed up within minutes, but still, 11 people were shot. Tragically, four students have died. We hope and pray that there are not more deaths, but several other Oxford students remain in the hospital in critical condition. A typical Tuesday in a typical high school in 2021 in America. prgtoken Madisyn Baldwin was a 17-year-old with a beautiful smile. According to her grandmother, she was a kind and patient big sister and an artist. She had already been accepted to a number of colleges. prgtoken Justin Shilling, also 17, was cocaptain of the school's bowling team and also loved to golf. He worked at Anita's Kitchen, a Lebanese cafe in nearby Lake Orion, where his boss said everyone loved him. prgtoken Tate Myre, aged 16 and a tight end and running back on the Oxford football team, had recently been honored by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association. He was also an honor student who was known as a leader both on the field and in the classroom. prgtoken And Hana St. Juliana was just 14 years old. She was passionate about volleyball and basketball. Her teammates say they will never forget her kind heart and her silly personality and her passion for the game. They have dedicated their upcoming season in her memory. prgtoken Madisyn, Justin, Tate, and Hana--four lives that were just beginning,
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 6119, FURTHER EXTENDING GOVERNMENT FUNDING ACT; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Norma J. Torres (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-12-2

. Madam , we are seeing a full display of prgtoken the political theater that the s bring to Congress. Zero. prgtoken Madam , as we saw in the last vote, s just want to go home. They just want to go home. are here for the people. We need to keep the government open. We need to work on full-year funding bills to address the critical challenges that our Nation faces. are here to lead. prgtoken Madam , I urge a ``yes'' vote on the CR. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and the previous question.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-12-2

. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate and that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all without intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the Record; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2021-12-2

COVID-19 has killed over 780,000 people in our country. This pandemic has a higher body count than any war we have ever fought in, and it is not over. prgtoken We should be doing everything we can to stop this virus. We should be using every tool to keep America safe. We all know the damage this virus can do to our communities and to our economy. That is why the administration has taken steps to urge employers to make sure their employees are fully vaccinated or test negative for COVID-19 before they come to the workplace. That is a move that is widely popular with the American people. No one wants to go to work and be worried they might come home to their family with a deadly virus. prgtoken Even businesses support this step. The Chamber of Commerce is urging businesses to comply with the administration's emergency temporary standard. Perhaps, more importantly, it is a move that will save lives. We have already seen these requirements have a huge impact. In fact, many businesses with vaccine requirements have seen vaccine rates rise well above 90 percent. OSHA estimates that the Federal standard--which s are fighting to undermine--will help protect 84 million workers, prevent thousands of deaths and over 200,000 hospitalizations from COVID-19. prgtoken I do not understand why--after all families have been through, after all we have lost and all the hard work we have done to rebuild--would anyone want to throw that in jeopardy and throw away one of the strongest tools we have to get people vaccinated, keep them safe, and end this pandemic once and for all. It is senseless. It is reckless. I urge my colleagues to vote against it. prgtoken I yield the rest of my time to the Senator from Virginia.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2021-12-2

I rise to support the position of my colleague. prgtoken When you are unwilling to describe something accurately, it betrays a weakness in your position. I heard my colleagues complain about the vaccine mandate. It is not a vaccine mandate. It is a vaccine or testing mandate. If you don't want to get a test--if you don't want to get a vaccine, don't get a vaccine. Get a test so you can go to work each week without infecting your colleagues with the deadly disease. prgtoken What my colleagues are asking is that people be protected so that they can go to work with a deadly disease, infect coworkers, and still get a paycheck--and still get a paycheck. If you don't want to get a vaccine, get a test. If you are unwilling to protect your coworkers, don't demand a paycheck. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-12-2

today I rise to recognize Mr. Ben Cooper, a lifelong resident of West Hartford, CT, and outstanding World War II veteran who turns 100 on December 24, 2021. prgtoken Mr. Cooper was a freshman at The George Washington University when the United States entered World War II. Eager to support his country, he went to work at Colt's Firearms in Connecticut, where he tested machine guns until he was drafted in September 1942. Mr. Cooper was sent for training at Camp Barkeley. While on furlough, he met his future wife, Dorothy, and the two married when he received news he was going to be sent overseas. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper had four children and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary shortly before Dorothy passed. prgtoken After boarding a liberty ship, Mr. Cooper was assigned as a combat medic to the U.S. Army's 45th Infantry Division, also known as the Thunderbird Division, which was largely comprised of Native American soldiers. They saw combat in Italy, France, and Germany. While in Europe, Mr. Cooper was instructed by his friends to keep his dog tags in his pocket rather than around his neck. They were labeled with an ``H'' for Hebrew, indicating his Jewish faith, which could have led to harm if he were captured by the Germans. In April 1945, the 45th Infantry Division received orders to secure a camp. As Mr. Cooper explains, no one in the division knew anything about the camp other than their instructions to not allow anyone to enter or exit. prgtoken When Mr. Cooper and his division arrived at Dachau in southern Germany, they witnessed scenes he describes as ``virtually unspeakable.'' He met the survivors who were able to walk up to him and was traumatized by what he encountered. On April 29, 1945, the 30,000 prisoners were liberated by American troops, including Mr. Cooper and the 45th Infantry Division. In the following days, the division helped capture Munich. prgtoken Though the division was sent to France with the expectation of fighting the Japanese, they were instead discharged when the war ended before they made it to the Pacific. Mr. Cooper returned home to his family and did not speak about Dachau to anyone for 45 years. prgtoken In 1990, Mr. Cooper shared his story for the first time, speaking to a group of students. From there, he started to recount his experiences wherever it could be helpful. For over three decades, Mr. Cooper has spoken to schools, colleges, civic groups, and archival projects, repeating his eyewitness account to make sure the realities of the Holocaust are not forgotten. prgtoken His speaking engagements have led to a number of remarkable events. At the annual Holocaust commemoration at the Connecticut State Capitol in 1996, he met a man who revealed he and his wife were liberated from Dachau by Mr. Cooper and his division. They recognized the Thunderbird logo on his jacket. The two families became friends, and in 2006, their son performed open heart surgery for
COMMEMORATING THE TUNA CANYON DETENTION STATION
Adam B. Schiff (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-12-2

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the Tuna Canyon Detention Station Coalition as it commemorates the 80th anniversary of the opening of the detention station located in Tujunga, California. I commend the organization's tireless efforts to preserve and document the historical site and the stories of the lives that were forever changed while they were detailed at the Tuna Canyon Detention Station (TCDS) during World War II. prgtoken At the onset of World War II, Presidential Proclamations 2525, 2526, and 2527 authorized the arrest and imprisonment of people deemed a threat to U.S. national security. The proclamations served as justification to arrest individuals of Japanese, German, and Italian ancestry along with extradited Japanese Peruvians and detain them without due process. prgtoken The U.S. Department of Justice subsequently appropriated a Civilian Conservation Corps camp a week after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 which they would then transform into the detention station that we know today as TCDS. From December 16, 1941 to October 30, 1943, the Tuna Canyon Detention Station imprisoned over prgtoken 2,000 individuals. These individuals included prominent businessmen, martial arts teachers, civic and religious leaders. prgtoken Today, the TCDS Coalition serves to educate the public about the site's historical significance, preserve the site and historic artifacts, and seek out the names and stories of detainees. I applaud the diligence of the TCDS Board of Directors and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to document biographies of TCDS detainees. Additionally, TCDS Coalition was the driving force behind the Los Angeles City Council recognizing the Tuna Canyon Detention Station as a Historic Cultural Monument on June 25, 2013. prgtoken With only the oak trees left standing, it's vital for present and future generations to be informed of these wartime atrocities to ensure that the same actions never take place again. It is my pleasure to congratulate the Tuna Canyon Detention Station Coalition on all they have accomplished, and I ask all members to join me in commending their efforts.
TRIBUTE TO REVEREND ALVIN C. HATHAWAY
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-12-2

I rise to pay tribute to a faith leader and community activist from my home State of Maryland who has recently stepped down from his post as senior pastor at Union Baptist Church: Reverend Alvin C. Hathaway. I would like to honor his service to the people of Maryland and enter the details of his journey into the Congressional Record so that current and future generations may learn from and study his inspiring career. prgtoken The story of Reverend Hathaway's life is deeply bound to the story of Union Baptist Church. Alvin Hathaway grew up on Druid Hill Avenue in West Baltimore in a family that believed deeply in combining education and service--four doors down from the church itself--and he came of age in a neighborhood shaped and nurtured by faith. That community had cradled other great leaders too--leaders who, prgtoken like Reverend Hathaway, bent the arc of history toward justice. Thurgood Marshall had lived along the same avenue where he grew up. The late great Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings was one of his high school classmates. And at an early age, Reverend Hathaway was mentored by another legendary son of Baltimore City and civil rights champion, Reverend Vernon Dobson, with whom he helped organize and found BUILD, Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development. That organization has been serving the people of Baltimore City for over 40 years, helping to improve affordable housing, create jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, and so much more. prgtoken Through BUILD, Reverend Hathaway left his mark on Baltimore City early in his career, and his legacy of good works will continue to endure through that powerful organization. But he has never been one to rest on his laurels, and Reverend Hathaway continued throughout his life to find new ways of serving at the intersection of faith and social justice--and of giving back to the church and the community that raised him. After earning a B.A. from the McKendree University School of Religion and an M.A. from Saint Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, Reverend Hathaway pursued a Ph.D. at the United Theological Seminary in Ohio, and he chose the history of Union Baptist Church as the focus of his academic study. Through his deep research into the narrative and legacy of that church, Reverend Hathaway became a steward of the church's culture, traditions, and values. I submit that no one knows Union Baptist Church better than Reverend Hathaway. prgtoken He then returned to Baltimore City, becoming senior pastor of Union Baptist in 2007, and he channeled his efforts in that role toward renovating the very traditions of the church that he had studied and lived for so many years. Reverend Hathaway marshalled the full force of his religious wisdom and oratorical gift to guide the West Baltimore community forward, through both good times and bad times. His swelling sermons moved a generation--and grew the faith. prgtoken But Reverend Hathaway le
FURTHER EXTENDING GOVERNMENT FUNDING ACT
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-12-2

. Madam , once again, the s refuse to come to the table to negotiate, thereby jeopardizing benefits for our veterans and our national security. We can move if they come to the table. prgtoken I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.