mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-10-15

. Madam , I was unable to cast votes on the following legislative measures. If I were present for roll call votes, I would have voted ``aye'' for the following vote: Roll Call 540, September 20, 2019: On Passage of H.R. 1423, Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act. prgtoken In addition, I would have voted ``no'' on the following vote: Roll Call 539, September 20, 2019: On Agreeing to the Amendment by Jordan of Ohio Part B Amendment No. 1.
MESOTHELIOMA AWARENESS MONTH
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-10-15

. Madam , I want to take a moment to discuss mesothelioma. prgtoken Mesothelioma is generally a cancer of the lungs. Most cases come from exposure to asbestos, a popular fireproofing material used in homes and buildings in the mid-20th century. It is a deadly disease. Ninety percent of patients die within 5 years. prgtoken My home State of New Jersey ranks fifth nationally in mesothelioma deaths. prgtoken Yet, it is one of the only cancers without a patient registry. A registry would allow researchers to study patients, look for common conditions, and create new cures to help them live longer lives. prgtoken Our bill, the Mary Jo Lawyer Spano Mesothelioma Patient Registry Act, would provide funding to do just that. We need to pass this bill so we can truly research this deadly disease and provide more hope for these patients.
PLACING RESTRICTIONS ON TEARGAS EXPORTS AND CROWD CONTROL TECHNOLOGY TO HONG KONG ACT
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-10-15

I want to thank my colleague from California for his leadership. prgtoken I rise in support of H.R. 4270, the Placing Restrictions On Teargas Exports and Crowd Control Technology to Hong Kong Act, the PROTECT Hong Kong Act. prgtoken I am proud to have introduced this bipartisan legislation, along with my colleagues Chris Smith and Ro Khanna, that responds to the excessive and unnecessary use of force by the Hong Kong police, targeting those engaged in peaceful protest. I want to thank the chairman and ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee for bringing this bill so quickly before the House for consideration. prgtoken The PROTECT Hong Kong Act prohibits U.S. exports of defense articles, munitions, and police equipment to Hong Kong. Specifically, it stops U.S. exports of teargas, pepper spray, grenades, rubber bullets, guns, semiautomatic rifles, and such defense articles and munitions to the police. prgtoken Let's be clear about what is happening in Hong Kong right now. Millions of people from all walks of life, including: young people, students, women, seniors, entrepreneurs, teachers, civil servants, and workers are standing up to the most powerful, authoritarian government in the world. Protesters have inspired the world as they risk their lives, their health, their jobs, and their education to fight for the future of Hong Kong. They are savvy and strategic. They are using technology to mobilize, stay anonymous, and organize. They are capturing and extinguishing teargas containers. prgtoken They have taken down, taken apart, and shown the world increasing surveillance cameras that monitor everyday Hong Kongers. They are using art, music, laser pointers, and the projection of messages on building to highlight their struggle. prgtoken They organized a human chain of 200,000 people spanning 37 miles. Tenants in Hong Kong's residential buildings organize the shouting of slogans from their windows every night with calls and responses echoing throughout the city. The people of Hong Kong have made their voices loud and clear. prgtoken But instead of listening to them, the Chinese and Hong Kong Governments have mishandled the situation at every turn. The world has now seen eyewitness evidence compiled by journalists and the media showing that police have used excessive force and used equipment in violation of manufacturer guidelines and international standards. prgtoken We have seen the police firing rubber bullets and bean bag rounds at peaceful protesters at close range. We have seen them launching teargas canisters, from high buildings and directly at individuals, into crowded and enclosed areas. prgtoken We have seen them failing to give demonstrators visible and audible warning before firing, and we have seen them use batons to beat and subdue demonstrators and disperse journalists. prgtoken In fact, the situation has been so bad that in June, the British Government suspended export licenses for the sale
CELEBRATING NATIONAL MUSHROOM DAY
Chrissy Houlahan (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-10-15

. Madam , today, October 15, is a big day for the people of Chester and Berks Counties, National Mushroom Day. prgtoken Today, we honor the significant contributions Pennsylvania makes to agriculture. Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, has become known as the Mushroom Capital of the World, and rightfully so, as 60 percent of the mushrooms consumed in America are grown right there. prgtoken Our community is home to many multigenerational family farms. These farmers frequently collaborate, and their work has resulted in meaningful innovations in the mushroom industry. prgtoken The industry employs nearly 10,000 workers and brings nearly $3 billion to Chester County--that is billion dollars. That is why I have introduced legislation that formally recognizes this day and honors the regions of Chester and Berks County, Pennsylvania, for their unparalleled contributions to the national mushroom industry. prgtoken To all Pennsylvanians and all mushroom fans, happy National Mushroom Day.
PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-10-15

today I wish to discuss the impact of Parkinson's disease in the U.S. and across the world. prgtoken While significant progress has been made in managing certain symptoms and identifying potential risk factors, we still lack a clear understanding of the underlying causes of Parkinson's disease. To that end, I continue to support the strongest funding possible for biomedical research under the National Institutes of Health and its Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies--BRAIN-- Initiative, as well as the Parkinson's Research Program at the Department of Defense. These investments are necessary to sustain efforts by our Nation's scientists at the helm of innovative research and discovery, with the hope and resolve that we will one day find a cure. prgtoken I would like to highlight a recent study entitled ``The Economic Burden of Parkinson's Disease,'' which was brought to my attention in a meeting with constituents led by Dan Lewis, a longtime advocate for Parkinson's research. Commissioned by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, this study places the annual economic impact of Parkinson's at $52 billion in 2017, nearly double the previous estimates. Approximately half of that total reflects the medical costs of Parkinson's patients, primarily paid by Medicare. prgtoken The other half reflects the real indirect costs shouldered by patients with Parkinson's, their caregivers, and our society. The effects of living with Parkinson's disease permeate so many aspects of patients' lives, from personal finances to workforce participation to caregiver time and effort. With a rising aging population, the burden will only grow from here; the number of people with Parkinson's disease is projected to double by 2040. prgtoken By shedding light on the human and societal impact of Parkinson's, this study illustrates the critical need for sustained research toward better treatments and a cure. I ask unanimous consent that this study be printed in the Congressional Record and encourage all Senators and staff to review it. prgtoken Thank you.
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF KETTERING UNIVERSITY
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-10-15

I rise today to pay special tribute to Kettering University in Flint, which this year is celebrating 100 years of educating the people of Michigan and advancing innovation. prgtoken Let's think back to 1919. The Treaty of Versailles was signed, bringing an end to the Great War. The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution--also known as Prohibition--was ratified by Congress. In our State, the Michigan State Highway Department took over the State trunk line highway system and first began putting up numbered signs. And in Flint--the center of the automotive world--a group of entrepreneurs launched a school to train homegrown talent for Michigan's auto industry. prgtoken A few things have changed since 1919. We fought an even greater war, Prohibition didn't last, and Michigan has a few more highways. Yet one thing remains the same: Kettering University is still training the next generation of leaders, for the auto industry and beyond. prgtoken Louis Chevrolet, David Dunbar Buick, Charles Stewart Mott, Alfred Sloan, and Charles Kettering understood that to succeed in manufacturing, it isn't enough for students to know what is in the books; instead, these leaders built a school based on the idea that knowledge must be both learned and applied. This model is still in use at Kettering University today. Kettering's curriculum doesn't just expose its students to the very latest in science, engineering, and business knowledge; it also helps its students to put that knowledge to work through experiential and cooperative educational opportunities that turn learners into leaders. prgtoken Your record of success speaks for itself. From being named first in the country by the Wall Street Journal for career preparation, fourth in the Nation in producing alumni who hold patents, and first in the Midwest for return on investments; to the Kettering University GM Mobility Research Center, which is keeping Flint and Michigan at the forefront of autonomous vehicle research and development; to counting among your alumni General Motors CEO Mary T. Barra, former chairman and CEO of Gibson Brands Henry Juszkiewicz, inventor and businessman Dean Kamen, former CEO of Merrill Lynch Stanley O'Neal, and Old Navy CEO Sonia Syngal; to making a real difference in the Flint community through your $1 million Department of Justice grant for neighborhood revitalization, your Employee Home Purchase and Renovation Assistance Program, the transformation of University Avenue, and your support for Flint's young people through your Young Innovators Fair, the Flint River Watershed Coalition Green Summit, and FIRST Robotics. prgtoken Charles Kettering once said this: ``We are not at the end of our progress but at the beginning.'' And I have no doubt that our progress as a State and Nation will continue to be led by Kettering's students, faculty, staff, and alumni. prgtoken Since 1919, Kettering University has been preparing students for e
Pensions (Executive Session)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-10-15

I rise today as well to talk about pensions, as so many of my colleagues have been--and not just talking about but acting to advance legislation with regard to pensions. prgtoken As we have heard today--and we will keep saying this because it bears repeating--pensions are a promise. They are a promise of a secure retirement. When a worker enters into that promise with a company, when the Federal Government is involved, we have to make sure we keep the promise to workers, just as we did a couple of years ago, after a lot of hard work, to make sure healthcare was there for coal miners who were retired. prgtoken Pensions are an issue that both Houses of Congress have a responsibility to act on. prgtoken The House passed the Butch Lewis Act 3 months ago, but like a lot of legislation that has come from the House, it is sitting in the Senate day after day, week after week and in this case 3 months--3 months-- since passage in the House. It is time for the U.S. Senate to have a vote on the Butch Lewis Act. prgtoken In Pennsylvania, and I know this is true of several other States, we are talking about coal miners, teamsters, bakery and confectionary workers who, through no fault of their own, are seeing their hard- earned pensions threatened. Failure to act could result in devastating economic consequences across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and across our Nation. prgtoken Just think about it this way, in terms of Pennsylvania: One estimate has it that over 60,000 pensions--60,000--including 11,831 coal miners, 21,460 teamsters as part of that larger number--could be at risk. prgtoken Despite the challenges ahead, the good news is, we have bipartisan legislation that I mentioned a moment ago, the Butch Lewis Act, which passed the House 3 months ago. prgtoken Senator Brown of Ohio and others have worked hard to make sure this effort on pensions is in front of the agenda in the Senate. prgtoken The Butch Lewis Act will create a loan program for troubled pensions. It is a commonsense solution that brings the public sector and the private sector together to address this looming crisis for workers. prgtoken We must also pass legislation so we can address the coal miners' healthcare and coal miners' pension crises. Senator Manchin from West Virginia has shown great leadership in this process over many years. prgtoken We also owe thanks to the Members of the U.S. Senate ic caucus. Few, if any, have coal miners in their States, but because of a concerted effort in the ic caucus, we have made coal miners and their healthcare and retirements and their pensions a priority. Those ic Senators stood with Senators like me from States that have a large number of retired coal miners because it is the right thing to do. Those ic Senators know it is the right thing to do. Some Senators do as well. prgtoken It is the right thing to do because, as I started with, pensions are a promise,
Introductory Statement on S. 2598
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2019-10-15

I introduce my legislation today to help shore up the government's insurance plan for these pensions. The Pension Stability Act would add funding to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's multiemployer program by imposing a fee on financial firms that are convicted of financial crimes. prgtoken This weekend, I was in Endeavor, WI. I was meeting there with retirees who meet once a month at the fire station in order to update one another on the progress here in Washington. In the months since the House passed the Butch Lewis Act, there hasn't been much progress to speak of. The Senate hasn't taken up the bill, and no other proposals have been presented. All the while, retirees and workers in the Central States Pension Fund continue to doubt their retirement security. prgtoken If Washington does not act, workers and retirees face massive cuts to the pensions they have earned over decades of hard work. I have come to the floor many times over these past 3\1/2\ years to remind this body about the retirees who stand to lose 50 percent--some more than 50 percent--of their pensions if Washington fails to act. Since then, nothing has been done, so I am here to, once again, remind my colleagues that this is about a promise that must be kept. prgtoken This is about a promise made to Bob Brockway, who stands to lose more than half of his monthly pension. Bob retired in 1999. He has made the trip to Washington to be a part of the solution even though Margie, his wife, would rather he stayed at home. He also organizes the meetings that are held every month in Endeavor. prgtoken This is about a promise made to Thomas from Hartland, WI. Thomas is a 72-year-old retired semitruck driver and an Army veteran. prgtoken He is also a cancer patient, and his wife has significant medical bills. prgtoken Thomas wrote to me this summer. He said: I've put many, much-needed home repairs on hold since this whole mess started. We have had no vacations or any other extravagances since I retired. We did nothing wrong. We paid into Central States and somehow the government dropped the ball. prgtoken This is about a promise made to Donald and his wife Janet in Beaver Dam, WI. Donald wrote to me to tell me the following: After 25 years working at a company where I earned a pension as part of a wage and benefit package, I retired. I retired four years ago because my body wouldn't let me perform tasks in the factory that could more easily be performed in my younger years. My pension and Social Security allow me to pay for heat, electricity, food and maintenance on my home. A 50 percent reduction in my monthly pension payment would mean we could no longer afford visiting our children or grandchildren, buying Christmas and birthday gifts, or seeing an occasional movie. And without this pension, I doubt we could afford the most basic of household
REMEMBERING FRANKLYN G. VERLEY III
Jacky Rosen (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2019-10-15

today I would like to honor the life and legacy of Franklyn G. Verley III, a radio host and community leader who passed away in Las Vegas, NV, in late September at the age of 59. Franklyn Verley will be remembered as the host of the ``Like it is Radio'' show on Las Vegas' Power 88.1 for the past 16 years, where he made the most of his role to highlight social, race, and economic issues that impact the Las Vegas community every day. prgtoken Franklyn was born and raised in New York, NY, where his parents immersed him in Black culture and the value of his roots and cultural history. While living in New York, he was a lead sales representative for the School and College Department for the New York Times. Once he relocated to Las Vegas in the mid-2000s, Franklyn began his radio career, joining the team at KCEP Power 88.1, where he hosted the ``Like it is Radio Show.'' As a host and executive producer, he brought on a wide range of guests, such as Senator Harry Reid, Armstrong Williams, and Angela Bassett. His show covered topics that ranged from political, judicial, and social issues that affected the Black community he advocated for on a daily basis. He also became a recipient of many awards, being inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2019 and receiving the Fountain of Hope Community Activism Award and the NAACP Legacy Builder Award. prgtoken Franklyn will be dearly missed by family members, friends, and the hundreds of people whose lives he touched every day through his advocacy and knowledge. I extend our sincerest condolences to Franklyn's wife and the entire extended community where he made a positive impact. His legacy lives on in each of us.
COMMENDING GOVERNMENT OF CANADA FOR UPHOLDING RULE OF LAW AND EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER ACTIONS BY GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Eliot L. Engel (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-10-15

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , this is a good, bipartisan resolution, and I was glad to join Ranking Member McCaul as a cosponsor of this bill. This measure deals with something that we have all seen lately--how China responds to those who go against the Chinese Communist Party's agenda. Whether we are talking about individuals, private companies, or countries, China doesn't hesitate to extort, coerce, and punish those who challenge it. prgtoken Right now, our neighbor to the north, Canada, is experiencing this firsthand. Back in December, Canada arrested and extradited the chief financial officer of Chinese company Huawei for her role in violating American sanctions law. The Canadians were completely in the right here. They were upholding the rule of law. prgtoken China launched an outrageous response, arresting two innocent Canadian citizens on trumped-up charges. These men are still languishing in China's detention and legal process limbo, deprived of their freedom and denied basic consular rights--rights that all countries should honor--solely because China wanted to use them in a political bullying tactic. Their rights went out the window. prgtoken This is an outrageous affront to the rule of law, and we must condemn it. prgtoken H. Res. 521 denounces this practice by China and sends a clear signal that the United States Congress stands with Canada in demanding the immediate release of their innocent citizens. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this good measure, and .
RECOGNIZING HONG KONG'S BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-10-15

I rise in strong support of H. Res. 543, a resolution ``Recognizing Hong Kong's bilateral relationship with the United States, condemning the interference of the People's Republic of China in Hong Kong's affairs, and supporting the people of Hong Kong's right to protest.'' prgtoken As a senior member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, I support H. Res. 543 because it calls on the Hong Kong government to address the protesters' five demands, condemns police brutality against peaceful protesters, and condemns efforts to falsely accuse U.S. diplomats of fueling unrest. prgtoken On June 30, 1997, China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, ending more than 150 years of British colonial rule. prgtoken Hong Kong is a customs territory and economic entity separate from the rest of China and is able to enter into international agreements on its own behalf in commercial, economic, and certain legal matters. prgtoken U.S. policy toward Hong Kong is stated in the U.S.-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 and grounded in the determination to promote Hong Kong's prosperity, autonomy, and way of life. prgtoken The United States maintains substantial economic and political interests in Hong Kong. prgtoken The U.S. supports Hong Kong's autonomy under the ``One Country, Two Systems'' framework by concluding and implementing bilateral agreements; promoting trade and investment; broadening law enforcement cooperation; bolstering educational, academic, and cultural links; supporting high-level visits of U.S. officials; and serving the large community of U.S. citizens and visitors. prgtoken After 22 years, protests erupted over Carrie Lam's proposal to amend extradition laws to allow suspects to be transferred to mainland China for trial. prgtoken A few days after proposing the amendment to the extradition laws, Carrie Lam suspended the proposal, but the protests in Hong Kong continue as the people of Hong Kong demand the high degree of autonomy promised by the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984. prgtoken It is critical for the United States Congress to stand with the women and men advocating and speaking up for the autonomy and dignity of people of Hong Kong. prgtoken I applaud the efforts and sacrifices pro-democracy activists have made and they should know that the United States fully supports their desire for freedom and peace, and strongly condemns the violent and oppressive tactics of the Hong Kong police. prgtoken As a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I support the bilateral relationship between Hong Kong and the United States and the promotion of international peace. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 543 to condemn the brutality faced by the people of Hong Kong and which poses a strong threat to the democratic values we work to protect.