mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF GARFIELD COUNTY
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2019-6-12

I rise today to honor a ranching community, a community that knows the meaning and value of hard work and that truly embodies the spirit of the great state of Montana. prgtoken Garfield County is 100 years old this year. After splitting from neighboring Dawson County in 1919, this group of homesteading pioneers voted to make Jordan its county seat and get to work doing what Montanans do best: making a living off the land. prgtoken Ranching is a way of life out here, one that has sustained families, built communities, and contributed to Montana's rural heritage. prgtoken While ranching and agriculture remain Garfield's top industries, the county is perhaps most well known for another export: bones. prgtoken Garfield County sits atop the Hell's Creek Formation. Millions of years before European settlers built their homesteads and long before the Assiniboine and Crow tribes occupied the land, Garfield County was home to some of the most fearsome creatures ever to roam the Earth. Its Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops fossils are some of the best preserved, and most renowned, specimens ever discovered. prgtoken Rexy, the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex who now roams the halls of the Natural History Museum in New York City, was discovered just north of Jordan, and is just one example of the paleontological contribution Garfield County has made, a reminder of an ancient history long forgotten and discovered anew. prgtoken The good people of Garfield County have much to be proud of. I rise today to honor them and to congratulate them on 100 great years. prgtoken I know the next 100 will be even better.
Tax Reform (Executive Calendar)
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2019-6-12

there are a lots of things we know about American workers today; that is, that workers understand that they are working harder than ever and have less to show for it. Productivity is up. Stock prices are soaring. Executive compensation has gone through the roof. Profits are up, but wages are largely flat. It is not prgtoken a coincidence, not an accident of the market. It is not an inevitable result of capitalism that compensation for executives just vaults skyward, that profits are up, and that stock prices are up and wages are flat. Capitalism doesn't have to be that way. It is just the way it is now. prgtoken Wall Street's laser focus on accumulated wealth for people who already have great wealth is by their explicit design. It comes at the direct expense of American workers. That is why I am laying out the case for how Wall Street undermines workers and some of the changes we need to make in this country to grow our middle class and make hard work pay off. prgtoken Each installment of this series, what we are calling ``Wall Street's War on Workers,'' is posted on my media page. You can follow along at www.medium.com/@SenatorBrown. prgtoken I have talked about how Wall Street's business model encourages companies to pay workers low wages and to lay off workers. It is the cost of doing business to minimize the expense of workers. Today I want to talk about how corporations use stock buybacks to withhold profits from workers who create them. The workers create this value, these profits and, instead, Wall Street and these corporations keep more and more profits for their CEOs and for Wall Street investors. prgtoken Corporations focus on the short-term performance on the stock market, not the long-term success of their company and its workers. Their main goal becomes increasing stock prices quarter-to-quarter. That is how CEO's performances are evaluated. They are not thinking 10 years down the road. They are certainly not thinking of their country or community or even long-term of their company. They are thinking about stock prices quarter-to-quarter. That is how their performance is evaluated. They are compensated, in large part, with company shares. prgtoken Increasingly, corporations juice those stock prices by repurchasing their own stock--what we call a stock buyback. Because there are a finite number of company shares at any given time, purchasing shares will decrease the number of shares available to investors and therefore drive up the value of the remaining shares. Existing stockholders will see their stock value increase. Lo and behold, who are those existing shareholders? Many of them owning great numbers of shares are-- shocking--the executives of the companies. prgtoken They offer an even more attractive option to executives than dividends because buybacks are more flexible, and they aren't taxed until the shares are sold. prgtoken Stock buybacks have been a way for companies to return
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-6-12

. Mr. Chair, our economy and our Nation's workforce are at a critical juncture. The introduction of new technology and easier flow of people and information from one location to another have transformed our economy and our workforce in ways that were unpredictable and have created both benefits and risks. We need to be careful, however, that we are not leaving Americans behind. prgtoken Several years ago, I worked with a number of colleagues to go across the country to ask researchers and have townhalls in communities, from California to New Jersey, what the effect on technology, in particular, and what the future of work wages in the labor movement would be as our work transforms. prgtoken One common theme that we heard over and over again across the country--whether it was California, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Jersey, or Massachusetts--was the impact that technology is having on jobs, both good and bad, and potentially having both enormous benefit and risk. prgtoken Technology can be a huge benefit to workers and communities alike, but it also has the potential to displace or eliminate jobs. California labor unions have an impressive past of partnering with industry to ensure that any disruption to the workforce, like technology, is done in coordination with and in consultation with workers. prgtoken One major problem we face when trying to assess whether automation will be good or bad for our workforce is a lack of data. This amendment simply encourages the Bureau of Labor Statistics to start collecting this important data on the impact that technology is having on our workforce. We can use this data to inform policymaking to fight for workers and the U.S. economy and create programs and policies that will support job creation, retention, and the continued growth to our economy, but for everyone to benefit. prgtoken Similarly, this amendment would allow for data collection on mass layoffs. We often hear arguments that blame major job losses on regulations, trade decisions, and other unsubstantiated claims. prgtoken With this data that we are asking for, we will be able to collect and be able to clearly and honestly evaluate the effects of mass layoffs and how we can avoid them, or at least how we can help the workers who are affected. prgtoken The common theme for this amendment is workforce protection. It is something we agree about on both sides, I believe. We want to create and promote good-paying jobs for Americans and protect those jobs that can be and should be protected. prgtoken U.S. workers deserve our best efforts to create policy that is in their best interest. This amendment would help give us the data to do just that, and at no extra cost. prgtoken , I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), my friend and colleague.
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-6-12

. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairwoman for yielding, and I want to say I thank the chair and I thank Ms. Granger for her leadership and working with the chair, Mrs. Lowey, on getting these bills to the floor. prgtoken As a member of the Appropriations Committee, albeit on leave, I am very proud of this committee. This committee is probably the most critical committee in the sense that, if it doesn't get its work done, we shut down the government. No other committee can say that, luckily. prgtoken But I am pleased, as the majority leader, to say that it has been my intent, working with the chair and the ranking member, to complete this appropriations process in a timely fashion. prgtoken Mr. Chair, the new ic majority began this Congress in the middle of a damaging government shutdown. Even though we had a bipartisan agreement on spending levels--which we don't yet have--and the s held both Chambers of Congress and the executive, they failed a fundamental responsibility of funding all of government. And, as a result, we had a partial shutdown. prgtoken This week, the ic majority, working with the minority in the House--and I had the privilege of serving with Ms. Granger actively on the committee--is moving the first four appropriations bills to the floor for consideration, with passage expected early next week. prgtoken It is my hope that, by moving through this process, we can help prevent a shutdown and, rationally, adopt the priorities of this country, both from a national security standpoint prgtoken and from a national security standpoint on domestic investments. prgtoken The bills that are included in this package show our commitment to a stronger military, supporting critical research to combat diseases, more educational opportunities for our people, prioritizing diplomacy and more robust water and energy infrastructure, and a more accountable government. prgtoken It is a funding package for the people. I am particularly proud of the Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies bill. In my estimate, it is the best I have had the opportunity to vote for throughout my career. prgtoken It supports a more competitive workforce, advances healthcare research and access, stands up for women's health, and invests in future generations by funding important educational initiatives; such as, full-service community schools, a Special Olympics that provides so many opportunities to those with intellectual disabilities, and after- school programming. prgtoken These are all critical programs for our national security that President has proposed, unfortunately, eliminating. prgtoken Moreover, the Energy and Water bill before us supports the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Restoration Project, which is important to our State, but also important to one of America's great estuaries. prgtoken We are doing all that while bringing the package of appropriations bills to the floor under a rule that allows for g
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-6-12

I am excited that, in 1986, we added the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program--we all remember him as a great astronaut who died in a horrific astronaut calamity--to foster doctoral degree attainment by students from underrepresented segments of society. prgtoken But, Mr. Chair, a young man went to the Upward Bound program at the historically Black Texas Southern University. He graduated from Sterling High School, but he grew up in extreme poverty, stricken with food insecurities and difficult living conditions. prgtoken Poverty is not only a state of being, but a state of mind. prgtoken However, with the help of TRIO, he went on to acquire life skills, strategies, and the support he needed to follow the dream of attending the University of Texas at San Antonio, majoring in Construction Science Management. prgtoken Not only did he graduate from UTSA, but he graduated with honors, and he plans to attend graduate school in the fall. He is one of many students that are impacted; and the more we focus on the at-risk students, the more America continues to ascend to her greatest level. prgtoken We helped Terrance, who is a 40-year-old student that began working on his GED at Houston Community College in 2005. He ultimately achieved it 5 years later. prgtoken My amendment, again, is to emphasize the doors of opportunity, from Ronald E. McNair, Student Support Services, Talent Search, the Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math and Science, and Veterans Upward Bound. It is encompassing of many aspects of young people and those returning to school. prgtoken I ask my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee amendment, which focuses on those at risk, and turns that at risk into success. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I wish to thank Chairman McGovern and Ranking Member Cole of the Rules Committee for making this Jackson Lee Amendment in order. prgtoken I thank Chairwoman DeLauro and Ranking Member Cole for their hard work in bringing Division A, the Labor-HHS portion of this omnibus appropriations legislative package, to the floor. prgtoken I thank them all for this opportunity to explain the Jackson Lee Amendment, which makes a good bill even better by providing $10 million more to help ensure that TRIO students at the greatest risk of not completing their degree program get additional assistance to finish their education. prgtoken TRIO is a set of seven federally-funded educational opportunity outreach programs that help low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities to pursue higher education. prgtoken The Upward Bound Program, the first Federal TRIO Program, was created under the authority of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended. prgtoken A year later, Talent Search was created as part of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to assist students applying for newly authorized federal financial aid for postsecondary education. prgtoken The TRIO name
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Ayanna Pressley (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-6-12

. Madam Chair, I not only rise in strong support of this amendment proposed by my colleague, Congresswoman Speier, but I rise today as a survivor of sexual violence. prgtoken Let me be clear: Every single survivor of sexual assault and sexual violence deserves justice and deserves prgtoken healing. For far too long, we have made excuses about a culture that tolerates violence, discredits survivors, and looks the other way. Justice has been delayed. prgtoken Today, we are fighting to change that. We are speaking up. We are standing up. We are speaking out, demanding that we end tolerance of rape culture. prgtoken The CDC's Rape Prevention and Education program has been woefully ignored and underfunded. Our amendment increases critical funding and puts us one step closer to treating sexual assault as the public health crisis that it is. prgtoken Using a public health frame to tackle this systemic issue can have a transformative impact on the lives of the women, men, and nonbinary individuals affected by sexual violence. prgtoken Our prevention approaches must be grounded in data and the lived experiences of our constituents. We must teach consent, promote understanding, and reshape the status quo in our workplaces, our households, and our schools. prgtoken To my survivor tribe, we hear you. We see you. We are fighting for you. This one is for you. prgtoken I thank the gentlewoman from California for her partnership on this issue, and I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).
Border Security (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-6-12

I listened carefully this morning to Senator McConnell of Kentucky, the leader, who came to the floor to speak to the issue of the border crisis which we now face. I acknowledge, as everyone should, that we are facing an unprecedented number of people who are presenting themselves at our southern border from primarily three countries--El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. prgtoken These people who are presenting themselves, for the most part, are not trying to sneak across our borders; they are literally coming up and presenting themselves--identifying themselves--to the first person they find in a uniform. The reason is they want to apply for asylum in the United States. They want to make the argument that they have credible fears that might entitle them to be considered as asylees in this country, which is a legal classification. prgtoken After they state that they seek that status, they are taken into our system. They then, ultimately, go through a hearing process, but that hearing process is not done quickly. In fact, it can take months and sometimes years before the actual hearings take place. Because we are seeing so many people coming--especially young children who are accompanied by their parents or who are even on their own--it has created a special challenge for our border authorities. prgtoken I was down in El Paso just a few weeks ago. I met with the Border Patrol agents and the Customs and Border Protection agents, and we talked about the challenges they face. In my mind, there is no question that the numbers have overwhelmed the system to the point at which there are things happening down there that are absolutely unacceptable by American standards. I will give you an example. prgtoken Those who present themselves at the border are processed and put into detention cells, but these detention cells are not large enough to accommodate the number of people who come to our border. In El Paso, there was a cell that had a plate glass window on the outside so one could see everyone inside. Above the door of that cell was a sign that read ``Capacity: 35.'' I counted the number of people in that cell on the day I visited. There were 150 who were jammed shoulder to shoulder inside the cell. About 20 of them, maybe 30, had an opportunity to sit on benches along the perimeter, but for the most part, they stood. They stood all day. They were fed their meals while they stood up, and I have no idea how they possibly worked out their sleeping arrangements. There was just no room for all of them to lie down on the floor at any given time, and there was one toilet in that room for 150 people. I learned afterward that the number in that cell increased shortly thereafter to 200. Next to it was a cell for women--capacity 16. Inside that cell, I counted 75 women, including women with nursing babies. prgtoken We now have press reports that state, because of the desperate situation these detain
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-6-12

. Madam Chair, in 30 quick seconds, I would like to point out there is a difference between apprehended and offering yourself at the border to Customs and Border Patrol for asylum. There is an enormous difference. prgtoken I would also like to point out that there is not a single person on this side of the aisle who doesn't want to bring this humanitarian aid to the children. We have to be able to find something that the White House will also accept. prgtoken I am not in the room when this happens with our distinguished leaders of appropriations, but I know they are working very hard to make that happen. prgtoken Madam Chair, .
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Kim Schrier (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2019-6-12

. Madam Chair, for somebody who agrees with my amendment, that was a lot of commentary about our situation at the border. prgtoken I am not here to discuss our situation at the border or how we treat refugees. I am not here to discuss the fact that families can be with sponsors in the United States and not in detention centers. prgtoken I am merely here to discuss my amendment, which is that I would like children to have appropriate medical care and developmental screenings. prgtoken Madam Chair, I am so glad to have the agreement from my colleague. .
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Ami Bera (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-6-12

I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 2740. prgtoken My amendment is simple. It would direct the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA, to explore using its funds to explore peer-to-peer mental health programs for first responders. prgtoken Our first responders--our police officers, our EMS, our firefighters--are at particular risk for suicide. Studies have found they have some of the highest rates of suicide. This is a difficult thing to discuss, but we need to address it. prgtoken These are men and women who are exposed to trauma every day, things that a normal human being is not going to see. Every day, firefighters, police officers, and EMS are responding to calls for help. It is time we heard their call. That is why I am glad the Labor-HHS appropriations report requires SAMHSA to examine PTSD among first responders. prgtoken I want to thank my colleagues, Mrs. Murphy and Mr. Soto, for working to include this language in the bill. prgtoken One tool to address post-traumatic stress is peer-to-peer programs where our first responders can turn to a trusted friend and talk to them about what they are struggling with. prgtoken I have introduced the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome, or HERO, Act to authorize HHS to do just that. We need to explore this tool so that we can help our police, our EMS, our firefighters just as they help us. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support my amendment. prgtoken I yield the balance of my time to my colleague from California (Ms. Lee).
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-6-12

. Madam Chair, my colleague across the aisle said we need to research this more, and I agree, and that is why this amendment is being introduced. prgtoken The note was brought up that there is a rider provision saying that there is an exception for those drugs that have shown medical promise, but we cannot prove that medical promise unless we fund the research to actually have it in the first place. prgtoken So we have a catch-22, and we have to get rid of it. prgtoken There are war-on-drugs provisions in so many Federal statutes beyond just the one schedule, the one scheduling of these drugs. prgtoken I am a strong believer in evidence-based policymaking, and wherever there is evidence of good, we have a moral obligation to pursue and explore the parameters of that good, even if it means challenging our past assumptions or admitting past wrongs. prgtoken Thirty percent of all military veterans have considered suicide--30 percent. So if a substance shows promise in treating PTSD, we have an obligation to study it. prgtoken One of the leading causes of death in America today is suicide. So if a schedule I drug shows clinical promise in treating and in treatment- resistant depression, perhaps it is not the drug we should say is morally wrong, but perhaps it is the law, the schedule, the statute. prgtoken Moreover, I am proud to say that this is a bipartisan amendment. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle often bemoan the role of government and promote ideas of choice. Here, in that spirit, I am happy to agree, to say we should get government and political opinion out of scientific research that we have seen and has shown promise in any way that can help people and their medical needs. prgtoken Lastly, I understand that the politics of this bill may make it difficult for some to support right now. But I propose this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it, because politics isn't always about winning today. It is about fighting for what is right in the future and for future generations. prgtoken Madam Chair, .