mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
CORONAVIRUS
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-8-10

I had hoped that this week the Senate would be busy providing more coronavirus aid and that the chairmen and ranking members would be working overtime across the aisle to finalize another major pandemic relief package for the American people. After all, there are so many important ways in which American families need help and which say they see as big priorities, just like s do--priorities like continuing a Federal add-on to unemployment insurance, more tools for schools to safely reopen, more access to testing and diagnostics, more resources to develop vaccines and treatments, a new round of checks to put cash in families' hands ASAP, and another round of the hugely successful Paycheck Protection Program that small businesses have relied on, which was left out of the ' proposal. prgtoken All of these things and many more were in Senate s' trillion-dollar proposal for another coronavirus rescue package focused on kids, jobs, healthcare, and legal protections to help our country reopen. prgtoken So I had hoped the Senate would be spending this week turning a major agreement into law, but sadly for the country, sadly for struggling Americans, the of the House and the Senate ic leader decided we would not deliver any of that--none of it. prgtoken For weeks, Pelosi and the ic leader in the Senate stalled and stalled in backroom negotiations with the administration's team. For weeks--weeks--they held up important aid over non-COVID- related demands. They stayed true to their prgtoken comments from very early on in this pandemic. prgtoken This is the way they looked at it: They saw this pandemic as ``a tremendous opportunity to structure things to fit our vision.'' That was the House ic whip. Pelosi herself put it this way: ``This is an opportunity. Every crisis is.'' Working families call this pandemic a crisis. They call it a nightmare. But leading call it ``an opportunity.'' prgtoken Just listen to some of their demands. These are the ' demands that stood between all of this help and the Americans who need it. prgtoken Here is one: say nobody gets another dime of relief unless State and local governments get about $1 trillion in extra money. Let me say that again. are saying nobody gets another dime of relief unless State and local governments get $1 trillion in extra money. prgtoken Let's put a few facts on the table. prgtoken No. 1, State and local governments have spent only about one-fourth of the huge sums we sent them back in the springtime--$150 billion. prgtoken No. 2, the economists who have calculated the likely COVID-related shortfalls for State and local governments have mostly produced estimates that are entire multiples less--entire multiples less--than what are demanding. prgtoken No. 3, in our HEALS Act, s tried to give States and localities extra flexibility arou
CORONAVIRUS
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-8-10

I thank you. I want to thank the minority leader--the ic leader, Mr. Schumer--for his remarks. prgtoken There are not many of us around here in the Senate today. It is pretty quiet. If you walk through the halls, there is virtually nobody around. That is what it was like last Thursday afternoon. That is what it was like here in the Senate on Friday and again on Saturday and again on Sunday. Here we are again on Monday, and this Senate is virtually a ghost town--a few people here, but for the most part, everybody was sent home by the majority leader, by Senator McConnell. prgtoken He told Senators: Go home until further notice. Go home. We are going to put the Senate on standby. No need to be here doing the people's business. prgtoken Well, the coronavirus is not on standby. The coronavirus is very much alive and well and spreading throughout the country--more severely in some parts than others but spreading throughout the country--and with it has come the spread of economic pain and economic harm. So COVID-19 is not on standby, and neither is the economic pain and fallout that it has caused. prgtoken But here in the U.S. Senate, the leader, the majority leader, has said: Go home and be on standby. That is not leadership at any time. It is certainly not the kind of leadership that the American people need and should expect during a global pandemic and recession- era unemployment levels. prgtoken So why did the majority leader tell people to just go home and be on standby? It is because he wanted the administration to negotiate an agreement. Last I checked, the U.S. Senate was a separate branch of government with its own responsibilities. Yet we have the leader, who runs the U.S. Senate from the floor, telling people to go home and be on standby because he wants the President of the United States, the administration, to negotiate an agreement and then come back to us. In other words, the leader wants to contract out his responsibilities and the responsibilities of the U.S. Senate to the executive branch. prgtoken If you look at the U.S. Constitution, there are three separate branches of government. Yet the leader has decided to give his proxy to the President of the United States, to the executive branch, rather than stay here in the U.S. Senate and do our work. prgtoken Now, why is that? Why is it that the majority leader has decided to contract out his responsibilities and those of the Senate to the executive branch of government? Well, we don't have to guess because Mr. McConnell has told us. He told PBS NewsHour: ``About 20 of my Members think that we have already done enough.'' Let me read that again. This is from the leader: ``About 20 of my Members think that we have already done enough.'' prgtoken He is obviously referring to Members of the Senate caucus. These are Members of the Senate caucus. The
CORONAVIRUS
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-8-10

over the weekend, the United States prgtoken achieved an ignominious milestone. Five million Americans are confirmed to have contracted COVID-19--by far, the most in the world. prgtoken Our country went from 4 million Americans having had the disease to 5 million in 17 days--only 17 days. One million Americans were infected in just 17 days. We have lost American businesses, American wealth, and an unbearable number of American lives--a number that will inevitably increase as the number of infections continues to rise. prgtoken The brutal economic effect of the pandemic has spared no corner of our country. We are living through the greatest economic crisis since the Depression and the greatest health crisis since the Spanish flu in 1918. So it should not be hard to convince s in the Senate and the White House to provide urgent and necessary relief to the American people. prgtoken The $3.4 million in the Heroes Act was based on the country's needs, which is so large and so diverse. It is not a political position; it is what our country needs--its schools, its businesses, its renters, its homeowners, its essential workers, its post office, its elections, State and local governments, our healthcare system. Leader McConnell doesn't seem to understand this. He sees everything through a political lens. prgtoken But we are looking at the real needs of people. They are large, and they come from many different places. That is why we called for a large bill because it was needed because the American people demanded it. At this point, the American people are on our side. By survey data, two-thirds support the $3.4 billion ic plan, not the skimpy plan that doesn't deal with people's needs. prgtoken But at the end of last week, after days of arduous negotiations, Pelosi and I continued to run into intransigence. They didn't see people's needs the way we did. They didn't see the depth and breadth of this crisis. So, like in any normal negotiation, we offered to move in their direction if they would move in ours. Let's meet in the middle, we said--in the middle. That is how negotiations occur. That is how you get something done. The White House said no. prgtoken It was difficult for us to offer that compromise. The ic position is that we want to devote enough resources to defeat the virus and see the American people through this crisis. The position is to give much less than what is needed. don't want to leave large portions of the country and the economy to fend for itself, but the reason we want to meet in the middle is that getting major legislation through Congress is the only way to achieve something significant for the American people. prgtoken Rather than compromise, our counterparts said: ``Take a hike.'' Quite literally, they said virtually this in the room: No, it is going to be our way or no way. We are not going
CORONAVIRUS
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-8-11

there has been a lot of focus lately on the drama here in Washington. For weeks now, as leading blocked more pandemic relief over unrelated liberal demands, the press has covered their stonewalling like any ordinary political standoff. Who talked to whom? Who said what in which meeting? What new metaphor did Pelosi use today to explain that she was blocking progress? But it does the Nation a disservice to act like the last several weeks were just another routine political standoff. It does struggling families and laid-off workers and stressed-out school principals and healthcare professionals a disservice to act like this has just been more Washington gridlock. prgtoken The New York Times proclaimed a few days ago that ``[ ] Pelosi is playing hardball on coronavirus relief.'' Well, that is one way to put it. You could say it is ``playing hardball'' to refuse any outcome for the country. You could say it is ``playing hardball'' to insist on non-COVID-related liberal policy changes that the and the ic leader know would never pass the Senate or be signed into law by the President. prgtoken But if are ``playing hardball,'' their opponents aren't us s--not really. prgtoken They are playing hardball against kids, workers, and vulnerable Americans who need help. prgtoken They are playing hardball against our medical system when the and the ic leader say they won't allow another dime for testing, treatments, or vaccines unless they can bring home a massive tax cut for millionaires in San Francisco and New York City. prgtoken They are playing hardball against our Nation's ability to detect and fight the virus. prgtoken They are playing hardball against science when the and the ic leader say they will not allow another cent for schools to reopen or for the job-saving PPP unless they get $1 trillion for a State and local slush fund that is completely out of proportion to actual needs. prgtoken They are playing hardball against children and parents when the and the ic leader say they will not allow any resolution on any issue unless can pay people more not to work. prgtoken They are playing hardball against millions of households that ought to get another stimulus check and against the ability of jobless people to get any Federal benefit whatsoever. prgtoken There are life-and-death matters at stake, but have treated this historic national crisis as a political game. Just look at the redlines the ic leaders have drawn around these negotiations. Imagine sitting down with a working family at their kitchen table and explaining that these are the kinds of issues over which the and the ic leader are refusing--refusing--to let them have relief. prgtoken First, as I mentioned, the ic leader has made clear he doesn't want any pandemic relief to become law unless--unless--it carries a special State and
RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF DEPUTY DYLAN PICKLE
Trent Kelly (Republican, MS) \u2014 2020-8-11

. Madam , I rise today to celebrate the life of Deputy Dylan Pickle, who passed away on Sunday, July 26, while conducting a safety checkpoint. prgtoken Dylan was born on July 2, 1996, in Amory, Mississippi. At four years old, Dylan knew he wanted to wear a badge. After graduating from Amory High School, Dylan began to make that badge a reality. He pursued a degree in Criminal Justice at Itawamba Community College and joined the Army at only 17. prgtoken Joining the Army was only the beginning for Dylan. He earned a medal at Quantico and would later receive three more for his heroism in Syria, where he served as a Specialist, becoming known for his leadership and his care for others. In 2016, Dylan brought his passion for serving home and began working with the Monroe County Sheriff's Department as a patrol deputy. prgtoken Outside of his patrol duties, Dylan was a member of the First United Methodist Church. A momma's boy, Dylan always made time for his family, especially his niece and nephews, whom he adored and spoiled whenever he could. Although serving his country was his passion, he also enjoyed going to the shooting range, collecting guns, listening to country music, and of course, socializing with his friends. prgtoken Deputy Dylan Pickle's life was one of service, grace, and love for his family and community. He will be greatly missed by all whom he encountered. prgtoken Left to cherish his memory is mother, Debi Pearson; sister, Kristin Vuncannon; brother, Drew Pickle; step-sister, Kayla Pearson; as well as many other friends and extended family members.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE RETIREMENT OF DAVID FORD
Mike Rogers (Republican, AL) \u2014 2020-8-11

. Madam , I ask for the House's attention to recognize the retirement of David Ford. prgtoken David recently announced his retirement from Berman Museum of World History in Anniston, Alabama, after serving as assistant director for the past 13 years. prgtoken He is a 1970 graduate of Anniston High School and was a member of the last class to prgtoken graduate from the old high school on Leighton Avenue. He was drum major of the Anniston High School Marching Band. prgtoken David is a graduate of Jacksonville State University where he served as editor of The Chanticleer. prgtoken He also served in the United States Air Force as a pharmacy technician. prgtoken Prior to his time at the museum, Ford worked to improve the situation at the Calhoun County Humane Society and before that spent his career working in journalism at WDNG radio station in Anniston writing and broadcasting stories about the lives of people in Calhoun County. He was a Public Information Officer for the Calhoun County EMA and worked in civil service for several years as a technical writer for the Anniston Army Depot and as Press Secretary for former Alabama Governor Bob Riley. His professional life has been one dedicated to public service. prgtoken When David left WDNG, the Anniston mayor and city council presented him with the Key to the City. prgtoken David had a personal relationship with the Berman Museum chief benefactors, Farley and Germaine Berman, and that connection was evident in his work at the museum. He spent many of his days giving groups special tours of the facility and his natural ability of story- telling made the position the perfect fit. prgtoken David won't slow down much with retirement as he was just named president of the Anniston Morning Rotary Club, a member of the Anniston Runners Club, a volunteer at the Anniston Soup Bowl and serves as senior warden at the Church of St. Michael and All Angels. prgtoken At St. Michael's, he is also a member of the Parish Choir, a Lay Eucharistic Minister and Docent, member of the Archives and History Committee. As Senior Warden, he also serves as a member of the Executive Committee, the Endowment Committee and the Board of Directors of St. Michael's Medical Clinic. prgtoken He has been active in the affairs of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, frequently representing St. Michael and All Angels as a delegate to annual Diocesan conventions. He has served in nearly every leadership capacity possible at St. Michael and All Angels and is a graduate of the Education for Ministry program of The Episcopal Church, a multiple-year intensive study for lay persons, under the auspices of The University of the South. prgtoken David is married to Jo Rhea and they have one son, John David. prgtoken He is the son of Melvin and Doris Ford, of Oxford and has three siblings. prgtoken He enjoys cooking and can be found around town wearing his signature bowtie and pocket square. As a lifelong lover of history and a v
IOWA
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2020-8-11

yesterday many parts of my home State of Iowa were hit by extreme winds and severe storms--90-mile-an-hour winds, probably along the path along Interstate 80 from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River. Trees are uprooted, roadways are obstructed, crops are severely damaged, grain bins are busted, outbuildings lost, some homes hurt, and over 400,000 households lost power. prgtoken Just like any other natural disaster Iowa has experienced, I know that Iowans are going to band together and support each other as we recover from this storm. Senator Ernst and I stand ready to help with any Federal assistance Iowa may need, and I hope that you will not hesitate to contact our respective offices--both in Washington, DC, and in Iowa--if you need us. prgtoken For sure, if Governor Reynolds declares this as a disaster area, Senator Ernst and I will be quick to advise the President to follow the recommendations and requests of Governor Reynolds. prgtoken . prgtoken .
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-8-11

one final matter, millions of Americans rely on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver their mail reliably and on time. For decades, the hard-working people of the Postal Service have been doing just that. During this pandemic, USPS has been providing these critical services day in and day out, up until the new Postmaster General, Mr. DeJoy, a top donor and ally with no experience in the Postal Service, was installed at the helm. prgtoken Administering a national election is difficult in normal times. In the time of COVID, it will undoubtedly be an even greater challenge. We need to institute policies and devote resources to make sure every American can both safely and confidently vote in person and by mail. By the way, even just as important, we need to make sure Americans get their medicines on time, that the elderly and those with preexisting conditions who are staying in their homes and not going out are able to get their necessities by mail. Your pills are a week late--I know what that is like. It has happened to me. Fortunately, I don't have medicines that my life depends on. It causes you huge anxiety about your health. This Postmaster is cutting overtime, cutting employees, when, at a time of COVID, we need more help, not less. But elections should certainly concern Americans as well. prgtoken The current issues of the post office should alarm every American. The new Postmaster General has instituted policies that have contributed to inexcusable delays in mail delivery. But now, topping the cake, the Postal Service has informed some States that they may need to pay a first-class rate to deliver ballots rather than the normal rate, nearly tripling the cost. At a time when people will have to vote by mail in record numbers because they can't or will not go vote in person, the Postmaster General is saying we should triple the rate of costs to vote by mail? What a despicable derogation of democracy. prgtoken What is his rationale? It is a small amount of money. Ballots are a small percentage of the mail that is delivered. It is to discourage people from voting. He ought to be ashamed of himself to even consider this, tripling--tripling what it costs to vote by mail at a time when more people will vote by mail than ever before. If anyone had any thought that this Postmaster General was on the level, it is now dispensed. prgtoken To triple the cost of voting by mail would be an outrageous and insidious policy that would make it even harder and more expensive for States, already struggling with depleted budgets from COVID-19, to conduct our elections safely. will fight this policy with every tool at our disposal. If our colleagues care about a free and fair election this November, they should as well. prgtoken .
IN MEMORY OF CURTIS JACOBSON
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-8-11

. Madam , I rise today to honor the memory of the late Curtis Jacobson, a long-time resident of Detroit and Michigan's 13th Congressional District. prgtoken I first got to know Mr. Jacobson when I served as a legislator in Michigan's State House of Representatives. He was engaged and well- informed on a number of topics, ranging from current events to public policy to everyday issues facing residents of Michigan. Mr. Jacobson never shied away from sharing his opinion. My staff and I always appreciated a call from Mr. Jacobson. It was a delight to hear from him shortly after beginning my first term as U.S. Representative for Michigan's 13th District, and to continue to keep in touch with him. prgtoken Throughout his life, Mr. Jacobson had a passionate interest in politics. He sought out knowledge and thought critically about issues. He took pride in his military service, having risen in the ranks to serve as Captain in the U.S. Army. In addition, Mr. Jacobson worked as a substitute teacher before settling into a career as an accountant with the City of Detroit. He retired at the age of eighty. In addition to his work, Mr. Jacobson enjoyed playing bridge and spending time with his family. He is survived by his four children, Mary, Charles, Russel, and Marjorie; his eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. prgtoken It was an honor to know Curtis Jacobson. Please join me in his recognition.