mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SMITHSONIAN WOMEN'S HISTORY MUSEUM ACT
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-2-11

. Madam , such time as I may consume. I will just say a few words here in closing. prgtoken First, I again thank Carolyn Maloney, who, for the last 22 years, has worked to be here on this day. prgtoken I think it took Carolyn 22 years, a female of the House, 101 women in the House, and a female chair of the Committee on House Administration to come together and get to this day where I believe we are going to finally approve this bill and send it over to the Senate. Hopefully, it will be such a large vote that the Senate will feel a degree of pressure to do the right thing. prgtoken Madam , just a word of caution on how long it takes after we vote to approve this and the Senate, hopefully, and the President, hopefully, will sign it, if we pass it. prgtoken Secretary Lonnie Bunch is the secretary for the Smithsonian Museum. He has done a fabulous job. But one of his claims to fame is that he brought the National Museum of African American History from an idea to reality. He knows how to do this. And he cautioned us that from the moment you say go to the moment you open the doors to the museum, it is about 10 years. prgtoken You have to raise the money. You have to get the scholars to do the scholarship and the exhibition. So unless you take that first step, you don't get there. prgtoken That is the advice he gave us last September: If you don't take the first step, you never get there. So this is the first step, and it is an important one. prgtoken Madam , I want to say that along with the fabulously important and famous women who this museum will honor, it is also going to go to the heart of America, the women who maybe weren't famous but built the country, the women like my mother, who walked out of their homes and built airplanes so the United States could win World War II; the women who raised their children, who worked many jobs, who ran the PTA, who helped form the next generation; the women who are the beating heart of this country will be honored by this museum. prgtoken Madam , you really don't know where you are going unless you have some sense of where you came from. That is why this museum will help all American women and men to have a brighter American future. prgtoken I will just say this: We do not fool ourselves that having this wonderful museum will solve all the problems that American women face. We still have no family leave policy in this country, so women are squeezed between taking care of their children, taking care of aging parents, not having an opportunity to get time off from work to do the things that life calls them to do. We still have pay disparity in this country. We still lack constitutional protections under the equal rights amendment until we resolve the issue on the latest wonderful vote in Virginia. All of those things remain. prgtoken But this museum will be a point of pride. It will be a touchstone. It will be something that every boy and girl in America will b
SMITHSONIAN WOMEN'S HISTORY MUSEUM ACT
Susan A. Davis (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-2-11

. Madam , I rise to urge my colleagues to pass the Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act unanimously and immediately. prgtoken First, I congratulate my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, on her decades of hard and successful work making the case for a women's museum. prgtoken Women are underrepresented in our nation's historical accounts, monuments, memorials, and museums. prgtoken Our past, present and as of now, our future are all marked by the absence of women's stories. prgtoken From Native American women and early pilgrims; to Abigail Adams when she wrote to her husband to ``remember the ladies''; to the suffrage movement; to the one thousand, one hundred, and two Women Airforce Service Pilots that revived our World War II effort; to Rosa Parks to Title Nine. prgtoken And I could go on and on and on. prgtoken Clearly, women have transformed the history of our country. prgtoken But the story of American women is not just in the historical moments. It is also the contributions of women in every aspect of our society. prgtoken There is a missing contextualization of the enormous impact that women have had in film, literature, science, government, education, culture, sports, and more. prgtoken We have the opportunity to tell the full story, so why are we only telling half of our history? prgtoken With these contributions showcased in a museum, we will no longer ask--Why don't we have a woman's National Museum? prgtoken But instead, we will celebrate how fitting it is for every girl and every woman to identify with our country's past and want to play a significant role in our future. prgtoken You can't be what you can't see. prgtoken Frankly, I cannot believe that this museum does not already exist. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote for the passage of this bill.
RECESS
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2020-2-11

today, the Senate will vote on the nomination of Andrew Brasher for an Alabama seat on the 11th Circuit. This is over the objection of Senator Jones, who was not meaningfully consulted by the administration and did not return a blue slip. Senator Jones is as reasonable as they come; the fact that he was denied a voice in this process shows just how disinterested the White House is in being reasonable when it comes to selecting judges who will shape the laws in our States for decades to come. prgtoken It is clear the President views the courts as a mere extension of his power, not as an independent body critical to the checks and balances of our constitutional system. The President knows that no matter who is nominated, whether or not qualified or within the mainstream, the Judiciary Committee of today and the Senate of today--led by a majority leader who describes the Senate's role as a mere conveyor belt for President 's nominees--will confirm them. prgtoken The President likes to brag about the number of judges that have been confirmed under his administration. Less attention is paid to the cost. Of the last 20 circuit court nominees the Judiciary Committee has reported, 15 have been along party lines, and 13 had a negative blue slip. My friends across the aisle apparently no longer care about the constitutional principle of providing advice and consent to nominees in your home State, a tradition that, until recently, had been guarded by members of both parties. prgtoken Blue slips aside, Andrew Brasher had served as district court judge for just 7 months before receiving this Presidential promotion. Every single opposed his nomination when it was reported out of the Judiciary Committee and again when it was considered on the Senate floor. During his short tenure as a district court judge, he has presided over only three cases that have gone to verdict or judgment. In his questionnaire, when asked what significant opinions on Federal constitutional issues he has written, he simply wrote ``none.'' prgtoken But of course, the President did not select Brasher for his judicial experience. A partisan judicial philosophy, along with youth, seem to be the only qualifications of many of this administration's nominees. Before becoming a judge, Brasher spent his short legal career systematically restricting the prgtoken rights of vulnerable populations, including opposing voting rights and LGBTQ rights and supporting an unconstitutional law mandating universal drug testing for food stamp applicants, which the 11th Circuit slapped down as stripping away peoples' privacy simply because they are poor. prgtoken Brasher is opposed by literally hundreds of civil and human rights groups who represent millions of Americans. They all are afraid that with this elevation, he will continue to be a rubberstamp for the President's radical agenda and negatively impact 37 million residents of Alabama, Flo
Nomination of Andrew Lynn Brasher (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-2-11

this week, Senator McConnell has scheduled votes on five judicial nominees. prgtoken Some of these nominees, I will oppose, including 11th Circuit nominee Andrew Brasher. Some, I will support, including John Kness, a nominee for the Northern District of Illinois, who was part of a bipartisan package of nominees in my State. prgtoken But first, I want to point out that, under this majority, the Senate simply doesn't do legislation any more. There are literally hundreds of bills that have passed the House of Representatives and are gathering dust on the Senate desk. prgtoken These bills deal with critical issues like reducing prescription drug prices, protecting pensions, securing our elections from foreign interference, and closing gaps in our gun background check system, but time and again, when Senate s have the opportunity to bring bills to the floor, they take a pass. They just don't want to do the hard work of legislating. Last year, the Senate voted on only 22 amendments all year. I remember when we used to vote on that many amendments in a single day. prgtoken Sadly, under this majority, the Senate is becoming an appendage of the White House and no more than a conveyor belt for President 's judicial nominees. We are abdicating our responsibility to legislate on matters of importance to the American people. prgtoken The Constitution assigns the Senate important roles as part of a coequal legislative branch. We are not rising to meet these challenges. When we look at this week's nominations votes, we are reminded yet again of how the Senate is abdicating its authority. prgtoken Andrew Brasher is the 18th circuit court nominee who has been moved through the Senate Judiciary Committee without blue slips from both home State Senators. For a century, blue slips served as a critical check in the system, helping ensure that Senators, as the elected representatives of their State's citizens, have a role in choosing the Federal judges who will serve lifetime appointments in their State. prgtoken But s, who used blue slips to obstruct many of President 's nominees, cast aside the blue slip once President came into office. Now, circuit court nominees are routinely being rammed through the Senate over the objections of home State Senators. Some of these nominees are lightly qualified, to put it nicely. Some have barely practiced law in the State in which they have been nominated to serve. Some have barely seen the inside of a courtroom. prgtoken Today's nominee, 38-year-old Andrew Brasher, was confirmed as a district court judge last year without bipartisan support. Less than a year later, he is being put forward for the 11th Circuit. A former solicitor general of Alabama, he worked on controversial efforts to restrict voting rights, limit reproductive rights, and undermine gun safety laws. prgtoken But beyond the controversial advocacy that
Election Security (Executive Session)
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2020-2-11

I really regret there is an objection again to this bill which we have been seeking for floor consideration in this body to debate and pass. prgtoken We have been asking for floor consideration of various election security bills in the last several months--the PAVE Act, the Honest Ads Act, and the SHIELD Act--but, sadly and unfortunately for the country, the majority continues to stonewall. Our decisions are under attack, our elections are under siege, and 2016 was only a dress rehearsal. prgtoken Just yesterday, Attorney General Barr announced that 's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, is going to be feeding the Department of Justice unverified dirt from Ukraine on the President's political rival. In effect, the Department of Justice will become a political tool for the President. He is weaponizing law enforcement for his personal political end, and the Attorney General of the United States is becoming an aider and abettor to that polarization and politicization of the Department of Justice. prgtoken Only last week, for the first time in our Nation's history, we saw bipartisan support for removing the President from office. The basis for that bipartisan vote was, in fact, President 's illegal solicitation of election interference from a foreign government. prgtoken As Senator Romney put it last week, 's demands of Ukraine constitute a ``flagrant assault on our electoral rights, our national security and our fundamental values,'' noting that ``corrupting an election to keep oneself in office is perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one's oath of office that I can imagine.'' He is right. We cannot allow this abuse to become the new normal, and it is fast becoming normalized. prgtoken My other colleagues are running out of time to be on the right side of history. Others have conceded that what the President did was ``wrong. Inappropriate . . . crossing the line,'' as Senator Alexander put it. prgtoken Senator Murkowski stated that she believed that ``the President's behavior was shameful and wrong. His personal interests do not take precedence over those of this great nation.'' prgtoken Senator Collins, who first claimed that learned his ``lesson,'' has since admitted that she ``may not be correct on that'' after the President refused to admit any wrongdoing. prgtoken Now that Senate s have let President off the hook, there is no doubt that he will only be emboldened in his efforts to illegally enlist foreign governments in his reelection campaign. prgtoken What is happening with Rudy Giuliani, Senator Graham has said, may be that he has been ``played by the Russians.'' That, in fact, is likely what is happening, but the President's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, may also be playing the President, and the President most certainly will be playing the country if he uses the Department of Justice for his personal political aims and enlists
THE DONALD TRUMP BUDGET CUTS OVER $1.5 TRILLION FROM MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND SOCIAL SECURITY
Ted Lieu (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-2-11

. Madam , last week came onto this House floor, looked the American people in the eye, and he stated: `` . . . we will always protect your Medicare, and we will always protect your Social Security.'' prgtoken That statement is false. We know that statement is false because released his budget, and the budget cuts over $1.5 trillion from Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. prgtoken Let me say that again. prgtoken The budget cuts over $1.5 trillion from Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. prgtoken The budget cuts over $1.5 trillion from Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. prgtoken The budget cuts over $1.5 trillion from Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. prgtoken The budget cuts over $1.5 trillion from Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2020-2-11

approximately 80 percent of jobs in today's workforce require some form of postsecondary education or training beyond the high school level. While the number of students pursing postsecondary education is growing, the supply of middle-skilled workers, whose work requires more than a high school diploma but not a four-year degree, falls short of industry demand. According to the National Skills Coalition, 53 percent of all jobs in today's labor market are middle skill, but only 43 percent of U.S. workers are trained at this level. Education is failing to meet the needs of critical industries, including manufacturing, construction, energy, prgtoken health care, information technology, transportation, and business management and administration. prgtoken For many people seeking a job, attending a community college is the most affordable and accessible pathway to higher paying employment opportunities. In Virginia, we have 23 community colleges that serve an estimated 400,000 people across the State, providing them opportunities to earn an associate's degree, certifications or licensures in some of the most cutting-edge and in-demand fields in our workforce. The impact of community colleges nationwide is even greater, and our rapidly changing economy demands increased investment in the pathways these institutions provide to keep up with changing skill demands. prgtoken Today, I am proud to introduce the Assisting Community Colleges in Educating Skilled Students (ACCESS) to Careers Act with Senator Young. Inspired by the success of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant program, this bill provides grants to states and community colleges to scale evidence-based strategies that will help prepare our students with the skills necessary to succeed in our in-demand industry sectors and occupations. These grants can be used to expand dual enrollment, work-based learning opportunities, apprenticeships, and other pathways to best meet the skill needs of students and employers in our evolving workforce. The bill also emphasizes the importance of student services to ensure that students have the support they need to complete their programs. prgtoken The bill also allows grants to be used for developing partnerships between community colleges and other private and public sector entities, creating innovative career pathways directly between two-year institutions and employers. In Virginia, we've already started to see the success of these community college partnerships as part of a strategy to address the growing workforce shortages in rural areas and in-demand industries. prgtoken When we invest in our community colleges, they become hubs of innovation, finding pathways to train our next generation in the skills our rapidly evolving workforce needs. The ACCESS to Careers Act represents a necessary step to take the evidence-based innovations we've seen on the local level to s
HONEST ADS ACT
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2020-2-11

it has been 1190 days since Russia attacked us in 2016, and we have yet to pass comprehensive election security reform. The next major elections are just 266 days away and primaries are already underway. We must take action now to secure our elections from foreign threats. I applaud my ic colleagues for coming to the floor today to urge the Senate to take action. prgtoken Our intelligence officials have repeatedly warned that elections remain a target for foreign adversaries and that our election systems remain vulnerable. According to a recent joint statement from our military and intelligence agencies, the administration warned that ``Russia, China, Iran and other foreign malicious actors will seek to interfere in the voting process or influence voter perceptions.'' Our adversaries are emboldened, and we must do more to safeguard our elections. prgtoken I have been coming to the floor for years now fighting to get comprehensive election security legislation passed because election security is national security. While we have made progress and secured nearly $1 billion in election security grants for States, we have been blocked from passing meaningful legislation that would ensure our election systems are resilient in the face of attacks, legislation that calls for paper ballots and reliable postelection audits--basic requirements that would dramatically improve election security. Despite my bipartisan work with Senator Lankford on such legislation, we have been repeatedly blocked from bringing it to the floor. prgtoken There are other commonsense bipartisan election security bills that have been blocked from the floor. Late last year, I pushed the Senate to take action on the Honest Ads Act, my bipartisan legislation with Senator Graham that would increase transparency and accountability for political ads sold online. The goal is simple: bring our laws into the 21st century to ensure that voters know who is paying to influence our political system. That is a goal every elected official should be fighting for, but I was again blocked from offering the legislation on the Senate floor. prgtoken We have a common set of facts about how our elections were attacked; now we must act with a common purpose to ensure it never happens again. This is about our democracy, not about partisanship. The freedom to choose our leaders and know with full confidence that those leaders were chosen in free and fair elections is something Americans have fought and died for since our country was founded. We need to be a united front in fighting against those who interfere with our political system, and we must do everything in our power to protect our elections.
SUPPORTING THE SMITHSONIAN WOMEN'S HISTORY MUSEUM
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-2-11

. Madam , there are always special moments in this House, particularly when something draws the support of Members from both sides of the aisle. I have been supporting this legislation for a long time, and that is H.R. 1980, the Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act carried by my colleague Representative Carolyn Maloney and so many cosponsors who evidenced the importance of the history of women in this Nation. prgtoken This is the 100th year of women's right to vote, and I am reminded of the suffragettes who decided to take a chance and be courageous and to fight against the denial of women's right to vote. prgtoken Early in the 1800s, we know that women of color stood up, like Sojourner Truth, and said, ``Ain't I a woman?'' to demand the right to vote; she was a suffragette and an abolitionist fighting for freedom and justice. prgtoken Now, this particular museum will open our eyes to the extensive history of women, starting from the Revolutionary War that fought for this country, stood for this country, and helped build this country. prgtoken I am excited about being part of the support and history of the Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act. I look forward to its doors opening for women to be acknowledged and recognized in the greatness of this country.
NEW YORK WILL NEVER FORGET FLIGHT 3407 AND NEITHER SHOULD CONGRESS
Brian Higgins (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-2-11

. Madam , this week marks the 11th anniversary of the tragic crash of Continental flight 3407. prgtoken On February 12, 2009, flight 3407 crashed in Clarence Center, New York, killing all passengers and crew members on board and one person on the ground. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the crash was due to pilot error and inexperience. prgtoken Thanks to tireless advocacy of the families of flight 3407 who lost loved ones in the crash, reforms like 1500 hours of flight training for first officers have been enacted. However, more than a decade later, we still anxiously await implementation of the pilot records database to allow airlines to access records of pilots applying for jobs. prgtoken Madam , western New York will never forget flight 3407 and neither should Congress. I urge my colleagues to continue to strive for One Level of Safety and remain vigilant about aviation and safety standards.