mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SHORING UP DEMOCRACY
Julia Brownley (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-3-3

I rise today in support of H.R. 1, the For the People Act. prgtoken The limits of our democracy have been tested like never before, especially in the last election, where we saw baseless lawsuits, misinformation, attempts to suppress legal votes, a refusal by a sitting President to transfer power peacefully that resulted in an attempted insurrection aimed solely to block the will of the people. prgtoken While our system ultimately worked--thanks to patriotic State and local officials and volunteers across the country--its limitations were laid bare, for us to fix. prgtoken H.R. 1 would shore up our democracy and the people's faith in its power. prgtoken I am pleased this bill incorporates two of my bills. The first requires all States to offer same-day registration. The second ends partisan gerrymandering by requiring States to adopt citizen redistricting commissions. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' for this transformational bill that fights special interests, takes money out of politics, and puts power back in the hands of the American people.
RECOGNIZING BRIGADIER GENERAL JONATHAN C. MOYER
Andy Kim (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2021-3-3

. Madam , I rise today to honor U.S. Army Brigadier General Jonathan C. Moyer. A beloved son of Burlington County, Jonathan C. Moyer was recently promoted to Brigadier General and took command of the 335th Theater Signal Command. I, and the town of Pemberton, cannot be prouder of him. prgtoken Brigadier General Jonathan C. Moyer's promotion is much deserved. He has served his country in the armed forces for over two decades and has been awarded a Bronze Star Medal, and numerous citations of the Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal for his service. In addition, Brigadier General Moyer is dedicated to community service and uplifting veterans and students. prgtoken Brigadier General Moyer is a co-founder of Tip of the Arrow Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that assists mobilized National Guard and Reserve Veterans returning from military service overseas to translate their military skillset to find gainful civilian employment. Brigadier General Moyer also served as Director of Coaching for Tip of the Arrow Foundation, where he managed 30 volunteer coaches to assist our Veterans with resume writing, job interviews, and salary negotiation. Additionally, Moyer has been involved with several organizations from AFCEA, AOC, to AUSA, serving as a senior mentor for local high schools and colleges STEM programs. prgtoken I commend Brigadier General Jonathan C. Moyer for his work, and I know I speak on behalf of my constituents when I say congratulations.
REMEMERING APOSTLE FREDERICK K.C. PRICE
Maxine Waters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-3-3

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life of Apostle Frederick K.C. Price of Los Angeles, California, who died on February 12, 2021 at the age of 89. prgtoken Apostle Frederick K.C. Price is the founder of Crenshaw Christian Center (CCC) in Los Angeles, California. He began CCC in 1973 and shepherded it into a ministry of world renown, with services held in the 10,000-seat FaithDome. prgtoken In 1978, Apostle Price received instruction from God to begin a television broadcast and, as a result, Ever Increasing Faith Ministries (EIFM) began broadcasting in five major television markets. Thus, the television broadcast soon after became global. prgtoken EIFM can be viewed on many television stations in all 50 states and in many foreign countries. Apostle Price is also heard on numerous radio programs and 19 Internet broadcast stations. Additionally, he can be seen on most social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and others. In 1990, Apostle Price founded the Fellowship of Inner-City Word of Faith Ministries (FICWFM), which later became the Fellowship of International Christian Word of Faith Ministries before disbanding in 2017. And in 2001, he established an East Coast church, Crenshaw Christian Center East. prgtoken A visionary and prolific author, Apostle Price is the author of some 50 books on faith, healing, prosperity, and the Holy Spirit. How Faith Works is a classic on the operation of faith and its life-changing principles. prgtoken Although he had already operated in the fivefold ministry gift of apostle, in 2008 Apostle Price was publicly affirmed as an apostle of faith. Under the mantle of the teaching gift, Apostle Price established several schools for ministry and formal education at CCC. Among them are Frederick K.C. Price Ill Christian Schools (preschool to 12th grade); the Ministry Training Institute in 1985; a CCC Correspondence School; the Frederick K.C. Price School of the Bible; and in 2008, the Apostle Price Ministry Training Center. Over the years, Apostle Price has received many prestigious awards, most notably the Horatio Alger Award and the Kelly Miller Smith Interfaith Award. prgtoken A year after his affirmation and after more than 35 years of service, Apostle Price stepped aside as pastor to formally install his son, Frederick K. Price Jr as his successor. For years he served as the presiding prelate of both CCC West and CCC East and as the chairman of CCC's board of directors. prgtoken A devout husband and proud father, Apostle Price is survived by his wife of 67 years, Dr. Betty Price, four children, ten grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. prgtoken I am proud to call myself a friend of the Price family, and I extend my deepest condolences to them and to the countless lives touched by the life and work of Apostle Frederick K.C. Price.
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2021
Mondaire Jones (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-3-3

I stand in this Chamber today thanks to the young people of Westchester and Rockland Counties. prgtoken When I first ran for Congress, I was joined by a small group of young, committed volunteers. Many of them were not eligible to vote. Many of them were 16 and 17 years old. And my goodness, did they know more about policy and national politics than people who are four and five times their senior. prgtoken In this country, when you are 16 and 17 years old, we charge you as an adult in the courtroom. You are able to drive to the job we expect you to work in order to help support your family. So I think that the least we can do is give 16- and 17-year-olds a say in who governs them.
GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT OF 2021
Cori Bush (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2021-3-3

. Madam , first of all, we shouldn't be talking about good police and bad police. There should just be police who are doing their job to serve and protect the people. So let's make that clear. prgtoken There is no such thing as good police. There is no good nursing. When you go get food, you don't go look for: This place has a good chef; this one has the bad chef; I am going to go where the bad chef is. prgtoken We don't need this good police/bad police. We need police if we are going to have police. But I will move on. prgtoken Madam , St. Louis and I rise on behalf of the more than 788 people who have been killed by law enforcement over the last year. We rise 30 years to the day after the ruthless beating of Rodney King. We rise in honor of Breonna Taylor, who was brutally gunned down by police in her home last March. We rise for George Floyd and all those who have been killed by police since his torture and murder. prgtoken Those names: William Burgess, Mark Brewer, Dion Johnson, Tony McDade, Rayshard Brooks, Modesto Reyes, Ruben Smith, David McAtee, Kamal Flowers, Robert , Joseph Denton, Vincent Truitt, Sincere Pierce, Jeremy Southern, Angelo Crooms, and Amir Johnson. prgtoken Madam , St. Louis and I rise on behalf of the more than 788 people who have been killed by law enforcement over the last year. We rise 30 years to the day after the ruthless beating of Rodney King. We rise in honor of Breonna Taylor who was brutally gunned down by police in her home last March. prgtoken We rise for George Floyd and all those who've been killed by police since his torture and murder: 1. William Burgess III 2. Mark Brewer 3. Dion Johnson 4. Tony McDade 5. Rayshard Brooks 6. Modesto Reyes 7. Ruben Smith III 8. Jarvis Sullivan 9. David McAtee 10. Kamal Flowers 11. Michael Thomas 12. Robert 13. Rasheed Moorman 14. Ky Johnson 15. Kevan Ruffin 16. Joseph Denton 17. The more than 100 people whose names have been withheld by police 18. Erroll Johnson 19. Malik Canty 20. Richard Price 21. Hakim Littleton 22. Vincent Truitt 23. Aaron Hudson 24. Darius Washington 25. Vincent 26. Jeremy Southern 27. David Brooks Jr. 28. Darrien Walker 29. Ashton Broussard 30. Amir Johnson 31. Julian Lewis 32. Rafael Minniefield 33. Kendrell Watkins 34. Anthony McClain 35. Adrian Roberts 36. Trayford Pellerin 37. Damian Daniels 38. Michael 39. Name withheld by police 40. Robert Jackson 41. Dijon Kizzee 42. Deon Kay 43. Steven D. Smith 44. Major Carvel Baldwin 45. Steve Gilbert 46. Jonathan Darsaw 47. Robert Coleman 48. Caine Van Pelt 49. Darrell Zemault Sr. 50. Aloysius Keaton 51. C
RETIREMENT OF LIFELONG COMMUNITY ADVOCATE LAURA MARTINEZ
J. Luis Correa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-3-3

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the retirement of Laura Martinez, a public servant who has spent a lifetime helping her community, most recently as the Constituent Services Director for the Office of Congressman Luis Correa in Orange County, California. prgtoken Over her 30-year career in public service, Ms. Martinez has literally helped thousands of individuals and families resolve issues with local, state and federal agencies. Ms. Martinez devoted 20-years of her public service career with the Office of Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez. prgtoken Throughout her years of service, Ms. Martinez developed relationships with liaisons representing Social Security, the IRS, Medicare, Immigration and Customs, and other entities. prgtoken By using her expertise in navigating the complicated immigration system and overcoming bureaucratic roadblocks, she was able to reunite families during emergencies, obtaining citizenships, visas, and much more. prgtoken Born in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles, Ms. Martinez grew up witnessing many acts of racial injustice. Her dream and lifelong mission was to help those who did not have the capability to help themselves due to living in poverty, being a minority, and living in other challenging conditions. prgtoken She brought heartfelt passion to her work that included positions with such non-profits as the renowned City of Hope and The East Los Angeles Community Union, which helps empower communities and revitalize neighborhoods. prgtoken As a breast cancer survivor, along with her mother, she is a decades long participant in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Her team, Laura's Lifeline, has raised thousands of dollars to battle cancer. prgtoken Another passion was working with Latino Advocates for Education, an organization that pays tribute to WWII veterans. Her uncles were all veterans who served in WWII and the Korean and Vietnam wars. She was the only girl in a family of six boys, several of whom served in law enforcement. prgtoken Ms. Martinez was honored for her work with veterans by being invited to witness the unveiling of the WWII Memorial in our nation's capital. prgtoken Ms. Martinez also has a background in real estate and is still licensed with the State of California. She has dedicated her time for her community service as an usher with the La Mirada Performing Arts Center. In her retirement, she will be providing care for her extended family and traveling. prgtoken Please join me in wishing this good and faithful public servant a well-deserved retirement after a lifetime of serving others.
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2021
Nikema Williams (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2021-3-3

. Madam , it is our duty to not only do the work of the people, but to ensure that people have a voice in our democracy. prgtoken H.R. 1 amplifies the voice of the people, empowers individuals to shape our democracy, and breaks down barriers to voting. It is historymaking by design, as a portion of H.R. 1 was written by my predecessor, Congressman John Lewis. We must honor his legacy and take this necessary step forward because Georgians and all people in this country deserve to retain their right to accessible elections. prgtoken Madam , I have added provisions to this bill that underscore not only the importance of voting, but making it easier for hardworking people to do so. And making it easier, not harder to vote, should always be our main concern. prgtoken Madam , this week, Georgia's legislators moved forward to further restrict Black and Brown communities from voting by enacting new ID laws for absentee ballot applications and limiting the use of ballot drop boxes--old tactics, but the same tricks. We cannot let self-serving politicians stack the deck through voter suppression and discrimination. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 1 so that we can make it easier for people to cast their ballots and have their voices be heard.
MAKING OUR DEMOCRACY MORE ACCESSIBLE
Colin Z. Allred (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-3-3

I rise today in support of H.R. 1, the For the People Act. prgtoken As a former voting rights attorney, I have seen firsthand the devastation on the faces of Americans when they are denied their ability to make their voice heard in our elections because they missed an arbitrary deadline or have shown up to their old polling place. It is heartbreaking, and it is not who we are as a nation. prgtoken With today's vote on the For the People Act, we, as a Congress, have an opportunity to affirmatively expand access to voting. This bill would do so by allowing for automatic and same-day voter registration and establishing a national early voting period, while also enacting key reforms that will make our elections more secure and that will ensure Americans and only Americans take part in them. prgtoken I am proud that two bills that I introduced, the Know Your Polling Place Act and the Shell Company Abuse Act, which would make our democracy more accessible and more secure, are included in today's bill. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to return political power to everyday Americans and to vote for this legislation.
CONTRACT FOR USPS FLEET VEHICLES
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2021-3-3

. Madam , I rise with great concern regarding the recently announced contract between the United States Post Office and Oshkosh Defense for the construction of 165,000 postal vehicles over the next decade, all new. prgtoken There is no doubt our postal fleet is aging. The Grumman LLV, in service since 1994, is gas powered and lacks basic safety equipment like airbags or air conditioning. prgtoken Unfortunately, this contract lacks any commitment to make these vehicles new age, either electric, hybrid, or advanced biofuels. prgtoken While new vehicles are said to be capable of incorporating an electric drivetrain, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who has been a disaster for the Postal Service, recently indicated only 10 percent of the new fleet will be electric. Ten percent? That makes no sense and flies in the face of the administration's recent order to electrify the Federal fleet. prgtoken DeJoy's failed tenure calls into question the awarding of this contract. prgtoken As such, the administration and the Postal Service must delay the contract until a review is conducted to determine that there was not inappropriate political influence in the process and that the proposed contract is consistent with 's Executive Order on tackling the climate crisis. prgtoken This contract is a multi-billion-dollar opportunity to reimagine the Federal fleet and develop this critical domestic supply chain. We can't fumble this opportunity.
MULTIEMPLOYER PENSION SYSTEM
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2021-3-3

. Thank you, . This week, we have an opportunity to finally deliver for millions of retirees and workers and small businesses by saving America's pensions. The multiemployer pension system is on the verge of collapse, threatening the livelihoods of more than a million Americans and thousands of small businesses from New Hampshire to Ohio, across the country. This affects more than 100,000 workers and retirees in my State alone and millions more around the country. These pension plans were in danger before. Now the economic emergency we are in has accelerated the crisis even further. prgtoken Multiemployer pension plans receive contributions based on the hours worked. As workers have been laid off during the pandemic, their employers no longer contribute to the pension plans, while current retirees continue receiving their earned benefits, making the plan even more likely to fail. And if that happens, it won't just be retirees feeling the pain. prgtoken Current workers will be stuck paying into pension funds for benefits they will never receive. Small businesses will be left drowning in pension liability they can't afford to pay. Small businesses that have been in the family for generations could face bankruptcy, and workers will lose jobs in businesses which have been forced to close up shop. The effect will ripple across the entire economy at a time when we can least afford it. prgtoken The Chamber of Commerce has said: The multiemployer pension system is an integral part of [our] economy. prgtoken It is not only union businesses that participate in these plans that will close their doors. This will devastate small communities across the industrial heartland. Small businesses in these communities are already hurting because of the virus. That is why we have to get this done. prgtoken After a lifetime of hard work and service to our country, these workers and retirees have already waited far too long for Congress to do the job we should have done. We have been trying to solve this for years. Unions, the Chamber of Commerce, small businesses pretty much agree we need to get this done. prgtoken The House has done its part. They have passed a solution multiple times. Every time it stopped because of Mitch McConnell and the U.S. Senate. He has deliberately blocked it. We have continued to try. The House does it year after year. People like the Presiding Officer and others have fought for this in the Finance Committee, have fought for this on the Senate floor, and we simply haven't been able to move it. prgtoken Now that Senator McConnell is out of the way, we can finally keep the promise to these workers and their families. They spent years working on assembly lines, bagging groceries, driving trucks, working to keep our economy going, and money came out of every single one of their paychecks to earn these pensions. prgtoken People in this town don't always understand the collective bargain
GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT OF 2021
David N. Cicilline (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2021-3-3

George Floyd died under the knee of a police officer 302 days ago. In the time since then, 797 people--more than 2\1/2\ every day--have died during encounters with law enforcement. prgtoken Black Americans are 2\1/2\ times as likely as White Americans to be killed by the police. Police use of force is now the sixth-leading cause of death for young Black men in this country. This cannot continue. It is time to address systemic racism in policing. prgtoken , this bill will begin to do that. It ends choke holds. It will hold bad officers accountable, combat racial profiling, and demilitarize police departments. This bill is about ensuring accountability and restoring trust between law enforcement and their communities. Both the police and the community deserve that and will benefit from it. prgtoken , I am proud to be a cosponsor, and I urge my colleagues to support it. prgtoken And I would say, there has been a lot of discussion about defunding the police. The only party in this Chamber defunding the police are the s, who just voted against billions of dollars to support local and State government, first responders, police officers. We supported that. We are funding the police. They voted to defund it. prgtoken , this bill restores relationships between the police and the community, and I urge its passage.
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2021
Jamie Raskin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-3-3

the amendment proposes to knock out the prgtoken heart of the Honest Ads Act, so the public won't know who is purchasing ads online. That is the exact opposite of what we need to be doing. We need far greater transparency about who is polluting the airwaves and who is polluting the internet with propaganda and fake news. We should know who is paying for all of that. prgtoken This used to be a very solid bipartisan commitment between and s. Everybody agreed there should at least be disclosure of campaign spending. prgtoken Now, they not only want to put out propaganda online, but they don't even want anybody to know who is paying for it. That is the opposite direction that we should be moving in America. prgtoken We should be defending everybody's right to vote, everybody's right to participate against all of the schemes to undermine voting rights, and we should make sure that everybody knows who is putting money into the political system. prgtoken I urge a ``no'' vote on that amendment.
Introductory Statement on S. 572
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-3-3

I rise today to re-introduce the ``Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act.'' prgtoken For over two decades, cleaning up the Tijuana River Valley has been one of my top priorities for Southern California. The wastewater, trash and sediment that continues to flow into San Diego and Imperial Counties is an alarming danger to public health and our economy. Although we have made recent strides in cleaning up this pollution, there is much work remaining. prgtoken That's why I am proud to introduce this important legislation, once again, to help address this decades-long issue. I am very pleased Senator Padilla has joined me as an original cosponsor and I look forward to working with him on this important issue. prgtoken Polluted water from the Tijuana and New Rivers flows north across the border into the United States causing unsanitary water conditions, pollution and beach closures across Southern California. It also jeopardizes military training exercises for Navy Seals in Camp Pendleton. prgtoken Three-quarters of the 1,700-square-mile Tijuana River watershed lies in Mexico. However, the watershed, along with all its pollutants, drains into San Diego County and the Tijuana River Valley. prgtoken In addition to jeopardizing human health and safety, two of the most drastic effects from this cross-border water pollution are harm to wildlife and damage to the tourism industry, integral to Southern Californian communities. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to threaten our nation's health and economy, it is critical we work to address the pollution in the region so California can welcome visitors back to their beaches when it is safe to do so. prgtoken The beaches in the region are central to San Diego's tourism economy. In recent years, beaches in the communities of Coronado and Imperial Beach were closed for more than 200 days in a single year due to pollution. prgtoken Health and safety of residents and workers are also at risk. In recent years, local Border Patrol union officials reported that 80 officers suffered from contamination, rashes, infections, chemical burns and lung irritation due to toxic cross-border flows. prgtoken In addition, pollution from Mexico harms sensitive areas that provide critical habitat for more than 300 species of birds as well as marine animals like leopard sharks and bottlenose dolphins. The region is home to multiple parks and public lands, including the Tijuana River's National Estuarine Research Reserve, the River Mouth State Marine Conservation Area and River Valley Regional Park Preserve. prgtoken The harmful effects of pollution in the Tijuana River Valley on our residents, businesses, economy and environment are simply unacceptable. prgtoken In February 2020, the Government Accountability Office issued a comprehensive report, ``International Boundary Water Commission: Opportunities Exist to Address Water Quality Problems.'' My office worked closely wit