mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Nomination of William R. Evanina (Executive Session)
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-5-6

it is currently open season on whistleblowers under the administration. and those around him have made it clear that anyone who speaks up about waste, fraud, abuse, or lawbreaking can be punished. If you are a whistleblower under the administration, himself and his echo chamber will publicly call you a liar. They will threaten to make your name public, even at the cost of your physical security. They will prevent your complaints from getting to the Congress, and they will fire the inspectors general who investigate your complaints. prgtoken Now, more than ever, courageous whistleblowers deserve leaders who are going to protect them, defend them, and vigorously advocate and work for them. They deserve leaders who are going to stand up to and anybody else who tries to punish those who are going to speak truth--truth, especially, to those in power. prgtoken I am rising today, taking this time of the Senate, to speak on behalf of whistleblowers who feel under siege right now. I am on the floor to oppose the confirmation of William Evanina's track record of inaction and why he should not be the Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center. prgtoken The fact is that Mr. Evanina has failed, repeatedly, the key test on protecting whistleblower rights. Specifically, he failed to enact whistleblower protections that the Congress required in 2014. Think about that--all those years to get the job done and he didn't do it. That is a 6-year track record of letting down whistleblowers and failing to follow the law. prgtoken Today, Congress ought to stand up for whistleblowers, protect our democracy, and the rule of law. And when Congress does act and pass whistleblowers' protection legislation the way this body did in 2014, the Congress must not reward those who ignore the whistleblower protection laws. Here, you have a case of exactly that, refusal to implement it for almost 6 years, and the person we are discussing with that track record of not being there for whistleblowers at a crucial time is being considered for a job promotion in the Senate. prgtoken I want to unpack, for a few minutes, what the world looks like now to a potential whistleblower in today's intelligence community. One of the biggest threats faced by whistleblowers who work with classified information is that their bosses are going to retaliate against them by revoking their security clearances. Without clearances, they can't do their jobs, their livelihoods are ruined, and their families suffer. That threat has a chilling effect on potential whistleblowers and makes it less likely that abuses are going to be investigated and brought to light. prgtoken The Congress has cared about this for years. It is why, in 2014, the Congress passed legislation specifically prohibiting the revocation of security clearances as a form of retaliation against whistleblowers. prgtoken Here
SENATE RESOLUTION 563--DESIGNATING MARCH 2020, AS ``NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH''
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-5-6

I rise today in honor of Women's History Month to recognize the tremendous achievements women have made for the United States and pay tribute to the vital role they have played in the political, economic, and social development of this Nation. prgtoken What began as a local celebration of women in Santa Rosa, California more than 40 years ago, has grown to become a nationally observed month of reflection on the many accomplishments of American women. prgtoken Women's History Month gives us the opportunity to honor the many contributions women have made, while also inspiring the next generation of women leaders. prgtoken I look upon the courage our predecessors displayed with great admiration, and I continue to be inspired by those who blazed the trail for women like me. prgtoken This year, the United States celebrates the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which guarantees women the right to vote. I am inspired by the progress we've made over the past 100 years and hopeful we will continue to build on that momentum toward full equality. prgtoken When I first came to Washington in 1992, they called it the ``Year of the Woman.'' Only two other women were serving in the Senate, and four women had just been elected to the chamber, myself included. prgtoken Today, 26 women serve in the Senate and 105 women serve in the House, including the only woman to have served as . prgtoken I'm proud to say that my home State of California has now sent 43 women to Congress and leads all other States in this regard. prgtoken Even at these historic levels, the number of women in Congress falls far short of the 51 percent of women members we should expect based on the country's demographics. prgtoken I have great confidence that future generations of women will continue to rise up and help lead the way in building a better California and United States. prgtoken As with government, the business world has been transformed by powerful women at the table, as have the fields of science, music, film, athletics, literature, and many more. prgtoken Women also serve in critical roles in the military, with more than 200,000 active-duty servicewomen proudly serving with honor, courage, and distinction and a growing number of women veterans representing every branch of service. prgtoken The gains this Nation has made in terms of social progress would not have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of women. As women have fought for themselves, their families, and their communities, so too have they fought for all Americans. prgtoken As a senator proudly representing California, I ask you to join me in celebrating the stories and greatness of American women who accomplished so much by continuing to defend the rights they worked so hard to attain. prgtoken Thank you and .
Nomination of Justin Walker (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-5-6

the Senate is here, open for business. The janitors and food service workers, police officers, and all the staff who operate the floor are here. They are all here. Capitol Police are doing their usual excellent job. prgtoken The leader called us back despite the obvious health risks, but we are ready to do the business our country demands. So there is a question that looms: Why isn't the Senate focused on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic? There hasn't been a single vote here on the Senate floor related to coronavirus--not even a nominee related to coronavirus. prgtoken Rather than focusing on COVID-19 with laser-like intensity, the Senate Judiciary Committee today will waste precious time on the nomination of Leader McConnell's protegee, Justin Walker, to serve on the DC Court of Appeals, the second most powerful court in the country. prgtoken Mr. Walker is a 37-year-old Federalist Society disciple who has more experience as a cable news commentator than he does trying cases in court. Mr. Walker's qualifications pale in comparison to those of previous nominees to the DC Circuit-- and . Nominees by ic Presidents and Presidents all were deeply steeped in the law--just about every one--and here we have this? prgtoken What Leader McConnell is doing to the courts is nothing short of disgraceful. The judges currently sitting on the second highest court in the land had decades of experience in Supreme Court advocacy, appellate work, criminal law, private practice, academia, and so on, prior to their nominations. Mr. Walker has been a district court judge for less than a year--less than a year. He had no trial experience prior to that. prgtoken Inexperience aside, bad enough as that is, Walker's views are way out of the mainstream. In 2018, he described Chief Justice Roberts' opinion upholding our healthcare law as ``indefensible'' and ``catastrophic.'' Meanwhile, he praised a dissenting opinion by then-Judge Kavanaugh as a ``roadmap for the Supreme Court'' to invalidate it. prgtoken Every who votes for this nominee, Mr. Walker, will be voting to dismantle the ACA and take millions of people's healthcare away from them if his statements prove to be how he judges things, which seems very likely given previous experience of other nominees like this. prgtoken This week, legal briefs are due in the Supreme Court case that will determine the future of our healthcare law. In the midst of a global pandemic, at a time when our healthcare system has never been more important, Senate s are preparing to jam through a judge who believes it should all be crashing down. Tens of millions of people would lose their health insurance, and protections for Americans with preexisting conditions would be eliminated. prgtoken Mr. Walker's nomination would be controversial in normal times, to say the least--less experience in the court than on TV. During th
TRIBUTE TO THE SALEM HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADING TEAM
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2020-5-6

I am proud to recognize Salem High School's cheerleading team as April's Granite Staters of the Month for coming together, even while social distancing, to help raise the spirits of residents at a local nursing home. prgtoken Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Salem's cheerleading team was unable to compete at their New England conference meet, a moment that the athletes had worked hard for all season. In an effort to cheer up her teammates, as well as bring joy to residents at their local nursing home, Gabrielle Driggers, a sophomore on the team, suggested throwing a parade for the residents, which included Gabrielle's grandmother. prgtoken Gabrielle, who has led previous efforts to support her local community by organizing donation drives and fundraisers with the help of her teammates, texted the team's group chat to see if anyone would be willing to participate in a parade for residents at prgtoken Salemhaven Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. A few days later, between 25 to 30 members of the cheerleading team gathered in the Salem High School parking lot, pom-poms in hand, to greet their fellow teammates from the safety of their cars and prepare for the procession to the nursing home. prgtoken The parade, which was carefully planned to ensure that all of the athletes were at least 6 feet away from one another and the residents, consisted of a line of cars where cheerleaders, one to a car, waved their pom-poms and blasted music to the delight of the residents. prgtoken I commend the members of the Salem High School cheerleading team for recognizing the importance of ensuring that those who are the most vulnerable to the virus feel supported and seen during this public health emergency. This is a difficult time for all Americans, which is why this straightforward act of kindness and recognition of community resonates with Granite Staters and all Americans and reflects the very best of our State.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2020-5-6

today, I am introducing the Strengthening UI for Coronavirus Impacted Workers and Students Act. For the 30 million American unemployed workers, the enhanced jobless benefits created in the CARES Act are a lifeline. However, the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, which provides a $600-per-week benefit on top of an individual's regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits are set to expire on July 31, 2020. Arbitrarily cutting these benefits off in the midst of an ongoing pandemic could make a desperate situation worse for individuals and harm the economy. Moreover, if these workers are prematurely pushed back into unsafe work environments, it will ultimately harm families, businesses, and communities. prgtoken That is why my new legislation seeks to expand and enhance the unemployment insurance of the CARES Act. Specifically, this bill would continue to offer out-of-work Americans the $600-per-week additional benefit through the end of the year and make it retroactive to the date of the coronavirus pandemic disaster declaration date. This legislation would also exempt these pandemic-specific benefits from being factored into eligibility for means-tested programs, such as Section 8 housing, SNAP, TANF, and WIC. Furthermore, it would create a $300 Federal benefit for recent college graduates, students, and others who are willing and able to work absent COVID-19. but who do not have recent work history. Finally, this legislation would codify guidance by the Department of Labor requiring employees who are participating in ``work sharing'' programs to be able to receive the $600-per-work boost. I added provisions to the CARES Act to Federally finance these cost- effective and job saving ``work sharing'' programs, which give struggling companies the flexibility to reduce hours instead of laying off their workforce, while allowing the employees to collect unemployment insurance on the days they are not working. prgtoken The bill is supported by numerous organizations including the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), National Education Association (NEA), National Employment Law Project (NELP), National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), The Arc, United Auto Workers (UAW), National Alliance on Mental Illness. National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, National Disability Rights Network, and National Women's Law Center. prgtoken We have to be smart and this targeted, temporary measure will help ensure Americans who are out of work through no fault of their own can afford food, housing, and medicine until it is safe to go back to work. I am pleased to join my colleague in the other body, Representative Kildee, in sponsoring this legislation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues here and across the Capitol
Coronavirus (Executive Session)
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2020-5-6

I think all of us are in awe on a daily basis of those who we have a responsibility to serve. The people of Colorado, the people of Texas, and the people of Connecticut are doing just absolutely extraordinary things, and I hope that over the next several weeks we get to hear more of those stories. prgtoken At the end of last week, I got a chance, with my Governor, to go down to a healthcare facility in Bridgeport, CT. It is a healthcare facility that has been designated to serve only COVID-19-positive patients. The nurses and staff came outside into the parking lot area to have a socially distanced, masked conversation with us. prgtoken While they have struggles, and while they need help, they have a sense of mission about them that is impressive. They are working double shifts. They barely get to see their kids. They know that their lives are in danger every time they go into a facility where there are only patients who have tested positive for COVID, and yet they know they are doing something with their life today that they will be able to tell their kids and grandkids about. They are making a difference. prgtoken I think about those individuals who aren't a first responder, who aren't a healthcare worker but have found a way to do heroic things just in their neighborhoods. prgtoken Luciana Vera was already making a difference. She was a bilingual teacher in the Stamford, CT, public school system, but she heard about a crisis that one of her students was having. One of her student's mother had contracted the virus, had gone into a coma, but was pregnant and delivered a child while she was in a medically induced coma. Her husband also had the virus, as did one of her children. So do you know what Luciana did? Do you know what this teacher did? She took the baby into her home. While she taught her students online during the day, she warmed up bottles and fed that baby at night. prgtoken Jerry Sicardi is 100 years old. He lives in Stratford, CT. Even at 100 years old, he decided to get together with his daughter Judy and start making masks. We all have these stories from our States, just folks who started sewing masks and giving them out to people who needed them. Jerry gave them out to his neighbors. He sent some to the Bridgeport Correctional Center. He gave them to former students. Then, when folks learned that Jerry was pretty good at making masks, they would call, and he would make them on order. prgtoken These are the stories that could, frankly, fill up the whole day from each one of our States. prgtoken While my constituents in Connecticut, who are as generous as that, would have undertaken those actions regardless of the effectiveness of the response from their government, their actions are all the more important, given the failures of their Federal Government to do the right thing by them. prgtoken I want to spend a few minutes today talking about the administration's response to the
Coronavirus (Executive Session)
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2020-5-6

. I rise to discuss the next steps the Senate should take in dealing with the COVID-19 global pandemic. prgtoken I applaud the bipartisan result Congress has shown in passing four important pieces of legislation to provide trillions of dollars of aid to Americans in the midst of this catastrophe. prgtoken My heart goes out to people who are suffering. When we were last here voting sort of near midnight on March 25 or early in the morning on March 26, 675 Americans had then died of coronavirus. Now, more than 72,000 have. In the few weeks we have been away, the number of deaths has increased by more than 70,000. Millions have been diagnosed. Those numbers are rising every day. prgtoken The crisis has been the most severe economic shock our Nation has experienced in decades, even more severe than the economic collapse of 2008-2009. prgtoken , just a personal privilege. I know four people who have died of coronavirus. prgtoken Jeanette Galliano, my brother Steve's mother-in-law, died in a senior facility in New Orleans in the last few weeks. prgtoken Lois Shaver. Lois is the mother of one of our closest friends, the godmother of our middle son. Lois died in a nursing home in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia in the last few weeks. prgtoken Gerald Glenn was a minister, a bishop, and pillar of the Richmond faith community. He was somebody I appointed to boards when I was Governor. Senator Warner did the same. Bishop Glenn passed away of coronavirus right after Easter. prgtoken Dolson Anderson was a longtime friend. His wife Linda was one of my prgtoken agency heads when I was Governor. As Dolson was providing care for Linda after knee surgery, he contracted coronavirus, and after 16 days on a ventilator, he died. prgtoken There are two other names. My next door neighbor, Dean DeForest. My wife Anne and I have lived next to Dean and Mary Ruth for 28 years. Dean died after 2 weeks, after a long battle with lung cancer, not coronavirus. But what coronavirus meant for Dean and so many like him was he couldn't have family with him in the normal way. He couldn't have a funeral or a memorial service or family gathered to grieve in the normal way because of people's worry about infection. prgtoken Then there is Lorna Breen. Lorna was a Charlottesville native who was working as an emergency room physician in New York Presbyterian and was so stressed out by what she saw. She developed coronavirus. She went back to the hospital to work as soon as she could, and it was too much for her. She went home to be with her family in Charlottesville, and about 10 days ago, she died by suicide after facing the tremendous burden of being a first responder. prgtoken I want to mention all of them. All of us--everyone in this Chamber, everyone who works here--have direct personal connections. The suffering is massive, and it is likely to continue. Because it is, Congress should do more. The American public expects us to, and we should
CARES ACT
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-5-6

I take this time to go over with my colleagues the status of where we are in regard to the provisions in the CARES Act that relate to small businesses. prgtoken First, I want to make it clear that our top priority for America's businesses, whether they be small businesses or large businesses, is to get this COVID-19 behind us, to stop the spread of this deadly disease, and to give confidence back to the American people that it is safe to pursue their economic desires and therefore to have businesses be able to go back to a situation where they have customers and they can be open for business. We have appropriated significant resources in order to make sure we do what is right financially to deal with this deadly disease, and we have provided the tools to protect our economy. prgtoken Let me talk a little bit about the attention to small business. I am pleased and proud to be the ranking on the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. I serve with Senator Rubio, who is the chairman of the committee. We have worked together, and s, in order to help small businesses during this pandemic. We did that because we understand that small businesses do not have the same degree of financial resiliency that larger companies have. When they are going through an emergency situation, when they are going through a pandemic, they don't have the same capacity to get credit and to get the cash they need that larger companies have. prgtoken We also understand that small business is where the job creation mostly will take place in our country. Most jobs are created through smaller companies. We also understand that smaller companies are more innovative. They come up with new and creative ways in order to build our economy. But we recognized that we had to do something to make sure they could survive through the pandemic, and that is where the CARES Act came in. prgtoken On a bipartisan basis, we crafted new tools under the Small Business Administration to help small businesses. I was proud to work with Senator Rubio, Senator Shaheen, and Senator Collins. The four of us got together well before the CARES Act was brought to the floor of the U.S. Senate in order to deal with what is necessary to keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic. New tools were created, and the CARES Act enacted tools that can help small businesses survive this pandemic. prgtoken The program that is getting the most attention is the Paycheck Protection Program, the PPP program. In the original CARES Act, we authorized and appropriated $349 billion for that program, and then we replenished in a second round an additional $310 billion, for a total of $659 billion for the PPP program. prgtoken It is a program in which small businesses go to their financial institution and take out a 7(a) loan, which is a loan that is provided for under the Small Business Act, but there are private lenders that lend the m