mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Introductory Statement on S. 2989
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-12-5

I along with Finance Committee member Senator Cassidy are introducing a bill to make a common-sense, low-cost change to the law that will help American workers help themselves when preparing for retirement: The Know Your Social Security Act. This bill is simple: it clarifies the law about Congressional intent so that every worker over 25 receives a Social Security statement in the mail each year, unless the worker has accessed their statement online or declined to receive the statement in the mail. prgtoken The history of the Social Security statement runs right through the Senate and the ``powerful'' Committee on Finance. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan summed up the intent very well: ``All of us pay into Social Security but rarely, until we become beneficiaries, do we ever hear from Social Security . . . . in every paycheck, we see money withheld for Social Security, but we hear nary a word from the Social Security Administration. Let us take this simple step [sending statements] to reassure Americans that Social Security will be there for them.'' The Social Security statement has three goals: to provide workers with information about their Social Security benefits, to help workers plan for the future, and enable workers to review their earnings records. prgtoken After enactment and once fully phased in, every worker aged 25 and older received an annual statement from Social Security starting in the year 2000. After a few years, Social Security's website allowed workers to obtain a Social Security statement online. At the time, the online option was a good step forward in customer service. But as sometime happens, advances in technology shortchanged good intentions. Due to tight budgets, SSA came to view the online option as ``providing'' the worker with a statement and fulfilling their responsibilities under the law. SSA stopped mailing the statements in 2011 in order to shift resources towards other priorities. Currently, only individuals over the age of 60 who are not receiving benefits receive statements through the mail. prgtoken Paper statements delivered through the mail are desirable because no action is necessary by the worker and the statement is a yearly reminder to the worker to think about the future. Research has shown that workers provided with statements are significantly more likely to save, more certain about their retirement income, and have higher satisfaction with their finances relative to those who are not provided with any type of financial planning materials. Providing Social Security statement through the mail is a simple policy that could help many workers, hopefully leading to better decisions about their financial future. prgtoken Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John Larson and Ways and Means Committee Member Vern Buchanan are introducing the companion bill in the House of Representatives. We have received letters of endorsement from AARP
FOSTERING UNDERGRADUATE TALENT BY UNLOCKING RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION ACT
Christopher A. Coons (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2019-12-5

today is about a moment of hope. Today is about a moment of genuine bipartisanship made possible by the discipline prgtoken and determined leadership of Senators Alexander of Tennessee and Murray of Washington State. prgtoken I rise to join my friend and colleague, the Senator from Alabama, who has just given remarks following the Senator from South Carolina. At a moment when what most Americans see on their televisions is partisan division and dysfunction in the Senate and the House, I just want to remind all of us that we can get good, important, and significant things done together, as just happened on the floor a few moments ago. prgtoken For generations, American families have worked and saved and strived to send their children to college, but for a long time, our Nation's original sin--the sin of slavery and racism--has left a long shadow and a stain on access to the critical opportunity of higher education. In much of our Nation, for decades, African Americans were denied entry to most of our colleges and universities and still today face unreasonably high barriers to higher education. The establishment of historically Black colleges and universities, HBCUs, and other minority-serving institutions of higher learning has been a critical answer to that tragic history of discrimination. prgtoken Men and women who founded HBCUs refused to accept a system of higher education that denied opportunity to African Americans, and over decades, HBCUs have risen to become some of our Nation's finest academic institutions. They have educated hundreds of thousands of young men and women who have gone on to do incredible things and to be some of our Nation's greatest leaders. prgtoken That is why all of us who have come on the floor today, s and , have acted to make a permanent commitment to supporting HBCUs and minority-serving institutions with Federal funding. We have agreed to make permanent $255 million in annual funding for HBCUs. prgtoken I am particularly excited about this legislation because my home State of Delaware is home to one of the finest public HBCUs in the country, Delaware State University. Founded in 1891, it is one of the country's premier land grant universities. Over the last 125 years, it has emerged as one of our Nation's premier HBCUs, graduating some of my State's best accountants, business leaders, researchers, scientists, teachers, social workers, and much more. prgtoken My friend Dr. Wilma Mishoe, the University's first female president, will end her impressive tenure this month and be succeeded by Provost Dr. Tony Allen, who will continue the upwardly rising trajectory of the Hornets of Delaware State University. prgtoken Their research programs are important drivers for innovation in a State with a long history of invention. It is home to the Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research, a partnership of institutions working to advance our understanding of
IN MEMORY OF MR. LARRY N. WOFFORD
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2019-12-5

. Madam , it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise to pay tribute to a great man and dear friend of longstanding, Mr. Larry N. Wofford. Larry passed away on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, and a funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Vance Brooks Funeral Home in Phenix City, Alabama. prgtoken A native son of Columbus, Georgia, Larry was born on August 1, 1944, to the union of the late Claude Newton Wofford and Zola Coker Wofford. He was retired from AT&T where he faithfully worked for over 47 years. During his distinguished career, he served as President, Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local No. 3212 for over 38 years; President, CWA Retirees for over five years; member of five Bargaining Committees; member of Telephone Pioneers of America; President, Chattahoochee Valley Labor Council for four years; and was actively involved with the Georgia Sheriff's Youth Homes in LaGrange, Georgia for over 25 years. Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Larry paid his rent and he paid it well! prgtoken He will be remembered for his insightful and optimistic spirit, his passion for helping others, and his immense love for his family. He leaves behind a great legacy in how life should be lived and warm cherished memories in the lives of those who knew him. prgtoken While he was preceded in death by his parents, he is survived by his loving wife, Sue, and a host of family, friends, and colleagues in the labor movement, who will miss him dearly. On a personal note, I am proud to have called Larry my friend. He was always encouraging and supportive of my career in the Georgia General Assembly and in the United States Congress and I will be forever grateful for his friendship, advice, and counsel over the years. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me, along with my wife, Vivian; and the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District in saluting Mr. Larry N. Wofford for his lifelong dedication to serving working men and women and humankind in general. I would also like to ask my colleagues in the House to join us in extending our deepest sympathies to Larry's family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
FOSTERING UNDERGRADUATE TALENT BY UNLOCKING RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION ACT
Doug Jones (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2019-12-5

I am rising today with just, for lack of a better term, an incredible amount of hope and excitement--something we don't always see on the Senate floor these days. We go through so many routine measures. We go through so many political speeches. But today is truly a day of hope and excitement and optimism because we are on the verge of a significant moment for our Nation's historically Black colleges and universities and all minority-serving institutions. I frankly hope that in our partisan world we are living in and in our partisan America, people across this country are tuning in right now or at least will follow what is happening on the floor of the Senate today, where a bipartisan coalition has come together for a significant and important segment of our population that deserves the same economic and educational opportunities as everyone else. prgtoken Fourteen months ago, I came to this Chamber to introduce a permanent extension, an increase of funding for these important institutions of education. Nearly half of all the funding they receive was set to run out on September 30, 2019. We secured a quarter of the Senate as cosponsors of the bill, and we laid out an ambitious proposal. prgtoken In the new Congress, with the clock ticking down toward the deadline, we offered a more modest but bipartisan and paid-for plan to avert the looming fiscal cliff. But our goal and the goal of everyone here and the goal of all of those, including my friend Senator Alexander, was to always reach the ultimate goal of permanent funding, a permanent solution for these important institutions. prgtoken All told, these schools serve 6 million students across the country. They are often the foundation upon which families begin to build generational wealth--not just one person who goes to college but generational wealth in communities that have long faced systematic barriers to doing so. They create good, sustainable jobs. They are part of the very foundation of our higher education system in this country and in my State in particular. prgtoken With all the due respect to my friend Senator Murray from Washington, there is a little controversy about who has the most HBCUs. I would claim that Alabama does with 14, but that is for debate on another day. But we can all agree that supporting these schools and the students they serve is not a partisan issue. I think we can all agree on that. I think we have shown that we can agree that funding should never become a political football. We have all been working toward the same goal. prgtoken To say the least, I am so deeply relieved that today we forged this bipartisan compromise that will allow these schools the funding and the certainty they need to go forward and continue fulfilling their important mission. prgtoken I sincerely especially want to thank my colleagues on the HELP Committee and Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray in particular for their leadersh
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-12-5

. Madam , I was unavoidably absent on Tuesday, December 3rd, and Wednesday, December 4th. prgtoken On Roll Call Vote No. 643, on passage of H. Res. 546, disapproving the Russian Federation inclusion in future Group of Seven summits until it respects the territorial integrity of its neighbors and adheres to the standards of democratic societies, if I had been present, I would have voted YES. prgtoken On Roll Call Vote No. 644, on passage of S. 178, the Uighur Intervention and Global Humanitarian Unified Response Act (UIGHUR Act), if I had been present, I would have voted YES prgtoken On Roll Call Vote No. 645, on ordering the Previous Question to H. Res. 739, if I had been present, I would have voted YES. prgtoken On Roll Call Vote No. 646, on passage of H. Res. 739, the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 2534, the Insider Trading Prohibition Act, if I had been present, I would have voted YES. prgtoken On Roll Call Vote No. 647, on passage of S. 151, the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act, if I had been present, I would have voted YES.
WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME
Bradley Scott Schneider (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-12-5

. Madam , climate change is an immediate and existential threat to our national security, economy, and the future we leave to our children. prgtoken This is a global problem that requires urgent international solutions, but the administration is dangerously squandering this crucial moment. Quite simply, we are running out of time. prgtoken By formally beginning withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, the President is ceding American leadership on climate and actively undermining critical efforts to curb emissions and transition to a clean energy economy. prgtoken As signatory countries around the world meet this week for a conference in Madrid, I am introducing a resolution, joined by more than 100 of my House colleagues as original cosponsors, condemning the administration's actions. This resolution sends a strong message that the House opposes the President's reckless, irresponsible decision to abandon the climate agreement, and we stand ready to fulfill the commitments that our Nation made under the Paris Agreement to address the climate threat. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to join me in this clear call for global action and critically needed U.S. leadership.
FOSTERING UNDERGRADUATE TALENT BY UNLOCKING RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION ACT
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2019-12-5

HBCUs, Tribal colleges, and other minority-serving institutions--or MSIs--are an essential part of our entire higher education system, and those institutions serve nearly 6 million undergraduate students, a large majority of whom are students of color or Native students. prgtoken Funding for those critical institutions should never be up for debate, and now, because of this, it will not be. I am so glad we have reached a bipartisan deal that will permanently fund HBCUs and MSIs. prgtoken I know many of our colleagues worked very hard on this, but I especially want to thank Senator Jones for his leadership in pushing to make sure this got done, as well as my partner prgtoken Senator Alexander, and, of course, Senators Coons, Scott, and Burr. prgtoken I am also pleased that this legislation streamlines Federal student aid for more than 20 million students applying for aid and nearly 8 million borrowers. prgtoken Our Nation's outdated and overly complicated financial aid system is forcing students and borrowers to jump through too many hoops to access Federal financial aid and verify their tax returns, which they have already filled out, and to get help if they are struggling to pay their student loans. prgtoken The FAFSA Act, which has been included in this bill, allows data to be securely shared between the IRS and the Department of Education, making it easier for students to fill out the FAFSA and pay their loans. prgtoken This bill will strengthen privacy protections and how students and borrowers navigate their financial aid through a streamlined, more efficient process. prgtoken This bill is also thanks to Jeff Appel, an integral member of Federal Student Aid who recently passed away. I am grateful for his contribution, and I know that he will be sorely missed. prgtoken There is one more way in which this agreement we have reached is important. This proves once again that we can work across the aisle and get things done when we all stay focused squarely on what is best for students. prgtoken We have a lot of work ahead of us to make higher education in our country more affordable and accessible and to hold schools accountable for student outcomes and ensure student safety on campus. I am hopeful that we can build on this bipartisan progress we have seen so far as we continue working together to reauthorize the Higher Education Act in a comprehensive way. prgtoken Again, I want to thank all of my colleagues for their work on this, and I look forward to more to come.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Executive Session)
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-12-5

I rise to commemorate the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 25th Conference of the Parties, or COP25, which is taking place in Madrid until December 12 this year. I do so despite the cloud cast by President 's announcement of his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. prgtoken The Paris Agreement is a landmark effort to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to limit the global temperature increase in this century to 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels while pursuing means to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees. prgtoken The COP meetings now routinely represent the largest multilateral diplomatic events in the world. This year's conference is designed to take the next critical steps in the U.N. climate change process. Following agreements on the implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement COP24 in Poland last year, a key objective is to complete several matters with respect to the full operationalization of the Paris climate change agreement. prgtoken Article 28 of the Paris Agreement specifies that after joining, no country can withdraw for 3 years, after which a 1-year waiting period must occur before withdrawal takes effect. The administration recklessly filed withdrawal documents on November 4, 2019, making November 4, 2020, the earliest possible date the United States can be out of the agreement. prgtoken Withdrawal could not come at a costlier time. In an analysis I requested to review the Federal approach to prioritizing and funding climate resilience projects that address the Nation's most significant climate risks, the Government Accountability Office notes that there were at least 14 disasters whose costs exceeded $1 billion each in 2018 alone. prgtoken GAO, an independent, nonpartisan agency that examines how taxpayer dollars are spent and is known as the congressional watchdog, reported that the total estimated costs reached at least $91 billion in damage to public and private property. ``The cost of recent weather disasters has illustrated the need to plan for climate change risks and invest in climate resilience,'' the report says. ``Investing in climate resilience can reduce the need for far more costly steps in the decades to come.'' prgtoken The Paris Agreement establishes a global goal on adaptation that consists of, one, enhancing adaptation capacity; two, strengthening resilience; and three, reducing vulnerability to climate change in the context of the temperature goal of the agreement. It aims at strengthening the national adaptation efforts, including through support and international cooperation. It recognizes that adaptation is a global challenge faced by all, including the United States. prgtoken Because U.S. withdrawal will not formally take effect until November 4, 2020, the U.S. team's posture at COP25 remains largely unchanged. A group of dedicated career civil servants will be on t
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-12-5

I come to the floor again to seek unanimous consent for a resolution that commemorates the Armenian genocide. prgtoken In October, the House of Representatives passed a version of this resolution by a vote of 405 to 11--405 to 11. This vote was historic, and I applaud the bipartisan courage of those in the House to stand up for what is right. prgtoken For those here in the Senate who would consider objecting to this request, I urge you to think long and hard about what it means for your reputation, what it means for history, and what it means for the Senate as an institution. History is watching, and it will not look kindly on those who object to recognizing genocide. prgtoken In recent speeches before the Senate, I have laid out the case for why we must move forward on this resolution. prgtoken The simple threshold question for this body comes to this: Do we recognize a clear case of genocide when it happens, or do we let a country like Turkey determine our own views, determine our own sense of history, determine our own moral obligation, and determine the public record--a Turkey that today is committing atrocities against the Kurds in Syria, a Turkey that has teamed up with Russia and the Kremlin in purchasing the S-400 air defense system and just recently used it against an American F-16 to see if it works, and a Turkey that works to block forward movement in NATO on key national security objectives of the United States? prgtoken At what point do we say enough is enough? At what point do we simply move forward and acknowledge the truth? The truth is that the Armenian genocide happened. It is a fact. To deny that is to deny one of the monstrous acts of history. This denial is a stain on the Senate and our country. We have an opportunity to right that wrong and put the U.S. Senate on the right side of history. prgtoken Let's again review some of that history here today. More than 104 years ago, the Ottoman Empire launched a systemic campaign to exterminate the Armenian population through killings, forced deportations, starvation, and other brutal matters. How do we know this? How do we know this? Because U.S. diplomats were there. They wrote it down and sent it back to the State Department in Washington. prgtoken Henry Morgenthau, the U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1913 to 1916, wrote this in his memoir: When the Turkish authorities gave the orders for these deportations, they were merely giving the death warrant to a whole race; they understood this well, and, in their conversations with me, they made no particular attempt to conceal this fact. . . . I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915. prgtoken That is what Henry Morgenthau said. prgtoken
CELEBRATING TELEGRAM NEWSPAPER'S 75 YEARS OF LOCAL JOURNALISM
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-12-5

. Madam , I rise today in tribute to the Telegram Newspaper, a local paper serving the Wayne County communities of Detroit, Ecorse, and River Rouge. Founded in 1944, the Telegram is a multicultural community newspaper that is distributed weekly with the goal of connecting citizens within the region by publishing information that educates, enlightens, uplifts and empowers its readers. The Telegram has been in continuous publication since its inception and continues to be unique in its approach to providing news the community turns to for local, state and national information. We are especially proud of the Telegram's legacy as an African American-owned and run business and its outstanding commitment to the communities it serves. Their staff has developed partnerships with local schools, businesses, non-profit organizations, and city governments. They also participate in volunteer opportunities and provide media sponsorships for community events. The Telegram is helping to prepare the next generation of media personnel by establishing internship programs with local colleges & high schools. They expose youth to newspapers through the Newspapers in Education Program and Write Steps Internship Program. Please join me in saluting publisher Gina Steward and the Telegram Newspaper for seventy-five years of local reporting.