mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REHABILITATION FOR MULTIEMPLOYER PENSIONS ACT OF 2019
Susan Wild (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-7-24

the crisis facing multiemployer pensions is not some faraway event, and it is not about politics or ideology. It is about people's lives and whether they will be able to retire in dignity after a lifetime of hard work--American people. prgtoken By 2025, the Central States Pension Fund and the PBGC will be insolvent. That means over a million American employees' and retirees' earned benefits could disappear if we don't act right now. prgtoken This crisis doesn't just affect those enrolled in multiemployer pension plans. If we don't act, the consequences will be detrimental for our local businesses, economies, and residents, ultimately affecting everyone, including millions of American families. prgtoken Participants nationwide, including thousands in my district, could lose everything they have earned if we don't act. These folks who came to watch the proceedings today never wanted a bailout, as my colleague across the aisle termed it. They just want and deserve what they have earned. They deserve it. prgtoken We need to pass this bill. We must pass this bill for them and for our country.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 2242
Mark R. Warner (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-7-24

in a moment, I will ask unanimous consent for the Senate to take up and pass legislation I have introduced to help protect our democracy from foreign interference. prgtoken Earlier today, Special Counsel Robert Mueller testified that the Russian Government's efforts to undermine our elections are ``among the most serious challenges to our democracy''--a challenge he says that ``deserves the attention of every American.'' prgtoken Mr. Mueller's testimony should serve as a warning to every Member of this body about what could happen in 2020--literally, in our next election--if we fail to act. When asked if he thought that Russia would attack our democracy again in 2020, Mr. Mueller said: ``They're doing it as we sit here.'' prgtoken Think about that for a moment. The special prosecutor spent 2\1/2\ years looking into Russian intervention in our elections in 2016 and says not only are they going to do it, but they are doing it as we sit here. prgtoken If this were just coming from the special prosecutor, some folks might be willing to dismiss it, but this is exactly the same message we heard earlier this week from FBI Director Wray. It is a message that all of us have heard, and being on the Intelligence Committee, I have heard repeatedly from Director of National Intelligence Coats, and we have heard this, as well, from other leaders of law enforcement and our intelligence community. Again, I point out that the leaders who have sounded the alarm about the ongoing Russian threat to our elections were all appointed by this President. prgtoken Unfortunately, in the nearly 3 years since we uncovered Russia's attack on our democracy, this body has not held a single vote on stand- alone legislation to protect our elections. prgtoken I am not here to relitigate the 2016 election or, for that matter, to second-guess the special counsel's findings. This is more a question of how we defend our democracy on a going-forward basis. prgtoken The reason we need to do this--amongst a host of reasons--is that just a month ago, the President of the United States sat in the Oval Office, and by dismissing this threat, effectively gave Russia the green light to interfere in future elections. Since then, unfortunately, my colleagues have done nothing to prevent further future attempts at undermining our democracy. prgtoken Let me be clear. If a foreign adversary tries to offer assistance to your campaign, your response should not be thank you; your response should be a moral obligation to tell the FBI. Mr. Mueller, the former FBI Director and inarguably the straightest arrow in public service, said as much this afternoon. prgtoken So if the President or other members of his family or his campaign can't be trusted to do the right thing and report their foreign contacts and foreign offers of assistance to their political activities, then we need to make it a legal requirement. prgtoken That is what my legislation, th
RESTORE THE HARMONY WAY BRIDGE ACT
Peter A. DeFazio (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-7-24

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in support of H.R. 3245, introduced by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon). prgtoken The legislation is very similar to a bill, H.R. 6793, which passed the House by unanimous consent during the 115th Congress but failed to achieve the consideration of the United States Senate. prgtoken H.R. 3245 conveys the Harmony Way Bridge to the New Harmony River Bridge Authority in Illinois and the New Harmony and Wabash River Bridge Authority in Indiana. prgtoken The bridge currently remains owned by the Federal Government under the White County Bridge Commission, but the commission is no longer active. prgtoken The bridge, which was constructed in 1930, connects White County, Illinois, with Posey County, Indiana, across the Wabash River. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 but has been closed since 2012 when an engineer's inspection discovered structural integrity issues, which made the bridge unsafe for vehicular traffic. prgtoken This legislation allows the States of Indiana and Illinois to jointly work together to restore the Harmony Way Bridge and determine the future of this historic landmark. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this legislation, and .
REHABILITATION FOR MULTIEMPLOYER PENSIONS ACT OF 2019
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-7-24

I rise in strong support of the Butch Lewis Act, and I do so because we are not talking about bailing out savings and loans. We are not talking about giving tax breaks to the wealthiest 1 percent. prgtoken We are talking about protecting the benefits of hardworking men and women who have worked for decades: truck drivers, bakers, grocery clerks, coal miners, people who have given their all to make sure that our communities continue to live and thrive. prgtoken I commend Chairman Neal and Chairman Scott, the ic leadership, for bringing this bill to the floor. I urge that everybody vote for it. prgtoken Vote for the men and women who have kept America strong.
STOPPING BAD ROBOCALLS ACT
Yvette D. Clarke (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-7-24

. Madam , as vice chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I rise today to thank the House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone and Ranking Member Walden, and Subcommittee Chair Mike Doyle and Ranking Member Latta, for their leadership on this bipartisan effort to bring this important piece of legislation to the floor. prgtoken Today, I want to speak to the intrusive reality and damaging repercussions of robocalls and voice my support for H.R. 3375, the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act. prgtoken While the illegality of these calls is an issue, the insistent presence of them is causing American citizens to no longer view their phone as a legitimate form of communication, thus impacting legitimate business. prgtoken Adding to this, robocalls are actively hurting the pockets of Americans, as multitudes are scammed daily, costing the American public millions of dollars. prgtoken During committee markup, I introduced the Clarke-Bilirakis amendment based on the base bill, Ending One-Ring Scams Act of 2019, and, Madam , I thank Mr. Bilirakis for his leadership. prgtoken This was a bipartisan effort to ensure that the American people are protected from this harmful culture of one-ring scams. prgtoken The nature of these one-ring scams may seem ridiculous. However, they have been effective in scamming the American people. With one-ring scams, the goal of the scammer is not for you to answer, but, rather, for you to make the call back. prgtoken One-ring calls may appear to be from phone numbers somewhere in the United States, including initial digits that resemble U.S. area codes. If one calls back, these citizens risk being connected to a phone number outside of the United States, thus resulting in one being charged a fee for just connecting. prgtoken Ad nauseam, the good people of Brooklyn's Ninth Congressional District have voiced their outrage with the state of their security and privacy as the threat of one-ring scams grows more prevalent. prgtoken Madam , before I conclude my remarks, I would be remiss if I did not thank my colleagues who helped lead on today's effort, Congressman Bilirakis and Congressman Van Drew. prgtoken Madam , I want to say to those who are fraudulent: Today, game over.
RECOGNIZING SHELDON WHITEHOUSE'S 250TH CLIMATE CHANGE SPEECH
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-7-24

what an honor it is to be out here with the great leader from the State of Rhode Island, Sheldon Whitehouse, who has come onto the Senate floor 250 times to say to the Senate and to say to our country that it is time to wake up. His voice is inspiring. His voice cuts through all of the obfuscation that has been paid for by the special interests. It ensures that we hear the truth about the danger climate change poses to our country and to the planet. prgtoken I came out here just to say how special it is for me and for every other Member who partners with Sheldon Whitehouse on this issue. This is somebody who has dedicated his career to solving this problem. He knows all issues go through three phases--political education, political activation, and political implementation. He has been a one- man tutor in his educating of the American public and the U.S. Senate on not only the technical aspects of climate change but on the political aspects of it because, ultimately, it is not a technology problem; it is a political problem we have. The technologies are ready to go. prgtoken What Senator Whitehouse has done is to have served as this inspirational center point. He has ensured that the voice of sanity has been heard, that the voice of truth has been heard. Why is it important for him to be this incredible leader? It is that climate change--or the climate crisis--is the national security, economic, environmental, healthcare, and moral issue of our time, of this century. Everything he has been saying is something that, in my opinion, is going to wind up putting him in the history books for the incredible leadership he has shown. prgtoken There are a lot of times in which you can be right but too soon. People are not ready to hear it. Yet what we are finding across the country is that more and more people are ready to hear it, especially the younger generation, especially people who recognize right now they are going to live their entire lives with this crisis. prgtoken How do we know that? prgtoken Back in November, our scientists--13 Federal agencies--who were mandated by a 1990 law, had to present a report to the President on climate change. All 13 agencies--the Department of Energy, the EPA, the Department of State--had to come together. Here is what they concluded: If we do not change what we are doing right now, the planet will warm by 9 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2100. Let's say that again. The planet will warm by 9 degrees Fahrenheit between now and 2100--81 years from now. prgtoken In other words, the pages who are here in the well of the Senate right now will live through this entire story as it unfolds if we continue with business as usual. Interestingly, the consequences are not those the deniers want us to know, for all 13 agencies concluded there could be upward of--get ready for this--an 11-foot rise in the ocean in the Northeastern part of the United States. Think about that-- <|
COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2019
Jefferson Van Drew (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-7-24

I thank the gentleman from Oregon and chairman of the illustrious Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. prgtoken , I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3409, the Coast Guard Authorization Act--bipartisan legislation that authorizes programs and funding of over $11 billion for the United States Coast Guard through fiscal year 2021. prgtoken I am proud to represent New Jersey's Second Congressional District, home to the United States Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, Air Station Atlantic City, and thousands more of our brave men and brave women who protect our shores and our coastal communities. prgtoken This comprehensive bill authorizes critical funding to upgrade and modernize our fleets and improve offshore navigation safety. It requires a report on the effects of climate change and the vulnerabilities of our Coast Guard installations, directs the use of drone technology for potential use to support missions and operations, and orders the Commandant of the Coast Guard to brief Congress on the conditions and need for Coast Guard housing. prgtoken , I thank Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves for bringing this important bill to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3409, the Coast Guard Authorization Act. These are our brave men and women who protect our seas.
AUTISM COLLABORATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT ACT OF 2019
Frank Pallone, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-7-24

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I am proud to rise in support of H.R. 1058, the Autism CARES Act, which will continue critical research, surveillance, education, early detection, and intervention programs for people living with autism spectrum disorder, also known as ASD, and their families. prgtoken The number of children diagnosed with ASD has risen dramatically over recent years. While 1 in every 150 children was diagnosed with ASD in 1992, that number grew to 1 in every 59 children born in 2006. prgtoken While some of this increase may be attributed to an overall higher number of people with ASD, a significant portion is likely due to increased efforts to diagnose people to get them the treatment they need. As efforts to identify individuals with autism have improved, so has the ability to intervene and treat them. Early intervention for children with ASD is associated with a positive outcome on developmental concerns. prgtoken It is important that we continue to improve outcomes for children and all individuals with ASD, and that is what we are doing with this reauthorization of the Autism CARES program today. This bill would reauthorize funding for programs at the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Health Resources and Services Administration through 2024. The bill also expands efforts to conduct prgtoken research and intervene with better treatment options for all individuals with ASD across their lifespan, regardless of age. Additionally, the bill aims to reduce disparities among individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic, or linguistic backgrounds, and directs additional care to rural and underserved areas. prgtoken , I am confident that this legislation will improve health outcomes and quality of life for millions of Americans living with ASD, as well as their families. For that reason, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill today. prgtoken , .
Recognition of the Minority Leader (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-7-24

it is the morning after. This is a happy morning after because the 9/11 bill passed. Now it is on its way to the President's desk. My understanding is he is certain to sign it, and our first responders can breathe a sigh of relief. It is wonderful. prgtoken I am filled with gratitude for a lot of people, above all for those who rushed to the Towers, those patriots, those brave men and women who put American freedom above their own safety, defending us at a time when we were under attack. prgtoken God bless them. God bless those who have passed from the illnesses. God bless those who are suffering from the illnesses. God bless those who will get illnesses yet unknown and their families, their friends, their units--fire, police, port authority, the military, you name it. Yesterday, I met an FBI agent--I had not met her before--who was there and who was suffering from cancer. God bless them all. prgtoken First and foremost, I want to thank so many people who made this happen, beginning with Senator Gillibrand, a champion for this issue like no other. She was constantly here on the floor buttonholing people--and she is persistent, those of us who know her--over and over again until she got names like Cotton and Cruz to support our bill, which was a big turning point. I also thank her legislative director, Brooke Jamison. She was sort of the quiet force behind all this, and I thank her as well as the rest of the Gillibrand staff. prgtoken To our cosponsors in the Senate, every one of them, thank you. prgtoken I thank the leaders in the House--Congressmembers Maloney, Nadler, King, and so many others. prgtoken Then there were the great advocates, Jon Stewart and John Feal. Man oh man, they were the heart and soul of this operation, and they kept going and going and going until they succeeded--one of my great joys. prgtoken My great sadness was meeting some of the widows. I knew the widow of Ray Pfeifer, for whom the bill is named. I met briefly the family of Detective Alvarez while at his wake, and that was a sad thing. But a happy thing was seeing the genuine smiles on the faces of Stewart and particularly Feal, who doesn't smile that much, but now he can. That was a joy. prgtoken Suzy Ballantyne and Ben Chevat were just relentless. prgtoken What about all the labor leaders and unions--and by the way, construction workers were another group who rushed to the Towers and suffered many losses; let's not forget them--the labor leaders and unions that organized with us every step of the way: the UFA, the UFOA, the NYPD and the Port Authority unions, the PBA, the DEA, the teachers, the laborers, AFL-CIO, AFGE, AFSCME, and so many more. prgtoken The union movement always protects its workers. We need them to be stronger in America. That is one of the reasons income is going up to the top and not going to the middle class anymore--because we don't have as strong unions as we should. But the unions, when they get b
REMEMBERING EVA YEH CHANG
Kamala D. Harris (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-7-24

I was necessarily absent but, had I been present, would have voted no on rollcall vote No. 226, the motion to invoke cloture on Wendy Williams Berger to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Florida. prgtoken : I was necessarily absent but, had I been present, would have voted no on rollcall vote No. 227, the motion to invoke cloture on Brian C. Buescher to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Nebraska.
RECOGNIZING SHELDON WHITEHOUSE'S 250TH CLIMATE CHANGE SPEECH
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2019-7-24

. I would note that if we look back to 2009, there are some very important signs of optimism. prgtoken On the legislative side, Senator Markey--then-Representative Markey with his colleague Representative Waxman--successfully ushered, with significant industry and popular support, a serious climate bill through the House of Representatives, proving that it can be done, proving that real climate legislation can pass in this body. prgtoken In that same year, in 2009, a gentleman named --the same who is President now at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue in the White House--took out an advertisement in the New York Times, and in his advertisement, and his children--Donald, Eric, and Ivanka--as well as the Organization, all said that the science of climate change was incontrovertible. They further said that if we did not act, the consequences of climate change would be catastrophic and irreversible. prgtoken So we have the living experience of legislation passing, led by then- Representative Markey and Representative Waxman, and all we need, really, is to bring back that 2009 . Come on back, buddy. We want you because you were right in 2009. prgtoken .
U.S. SENATOR JOSEPH D. TYDINGS MEMORIAL PREVENT ALL SORING TACTICS ACT OF 2019
Kurt Schrader (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-7-24

the PAST Act will strengthen existing law to ensure that horse soring becomes a thing of the past. prgtoken It is a commonsense bill and widely supported. I am proud to have 307 of my colleagues as cosponsors on this bill, especially the original cosponsors, the long-time champions of this bill: Dr. Ted Yoho, Congressman Cohen of Tennessee, Congresswoman Schakowsky, Congressman Estes, and Congressman Collins. prgtoken I urge all of my colleagues to support the PAST Act, and .
Introductory Statement on S. 2253
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-7-24

I rise today to introduce the Even Playing Field Act of 2019. This legislation is an important step forward in ensuring that women in sports are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. prgtoken Female athletes, coaches, and trainers are consistently paid less than their male counterparts, subjected to subpar working conditions, and receive substantially less investment in their athletic programs. Simply put, the same opportunities and resources provided to men's teams are not provided prgtoken to women's teams. The inequities in women's sports recently came to light in a gender discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team against the U.S. Soccer Federation. prgtoken Although the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team consistently outperforms the Men's Team--having won four FIFA Women's World Cup titles and four Olympic gold medals--the lawsuit alleges that the Women's Team is paid an average of 38 cents on the dollar compared to the men. prgtoken The gender pay gap isn't limited to players, either. Jill Ellis, the coach of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, is paid less than half of what the Men's Team coaches are paid. This is despite the fact that the Men's Team failed to even qualify for the last World Cup. prgtoken Unfortunately, the disparate treatment of women in sports is not limited to pay. Megan Rapinoe, a captain of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, said in a recent interview with CNN: ``It's really more about the investment in the game. Is the investment equal? We're talking marketing dollars and branding, investment in the youth, investment in the players, investment in the coaching staff. I don't think that that's there. I don't think that that's ever been there.'' prgtoken It is clear that we must do more to promote and protect women in sports. This legislation is a step towards that goal by making critical updates to the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act. prgtoken First, the bill would require the U.S. Olympic Committee to provide female athletes with wages, investment and working conditions equal to their male counterparts. prgtoken Second, the bill would clarify that national governing bodies for amateur sports must provide investment, working conditions, wages and other compensation for amateur athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators and officials that is free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age or national origin. prgtoken Third, the bill would further clarify that national governing bodies for amateur sports must provide equitable support and encouragement for participation by women in sports, including investment, working conditions, wages, and other compensation. prgtoken Finally, the bill would mandate that national governing bodies submit regular reports to Congress on their compensation practices by race and gender. I hope my colleagues will consider and support this legislation. <|p