mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EQUALITY ACT
W. Gregory Steube (Republican, FL) \u2014 2019-5-17

I want to make it abundantly clear exactly what this motion to recommit does, so I am going to read it. It is very short. ``Nothing in this act or any amendment made by this act may be construed to diminish any protections under title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.'' prgtoken The threat that this bill poses for women's sports at every level is profound. As described by the Nation's leading expert on sports, sex, and biology, Professor Doriane Lambelet Coleman, she states: ``There is a significant performance difference between males and females. . . . Testosterone is the primary driver of that difference. There is a wide gap, no overlap, between the male and female testosterone ranges. . . . There is no scientific doubt that testosterone is the reason that men as a group perform better than women in sports. Indeed, this is why men and women dope with androgens. . . .'' prgtoken Requiring that biological females face competition from biological males will mean the end of women's sports in any meaningful sense. prgtoken As tennis great Martina Navratilova has written in The Washington Post: ``In its current form, the Equality Act would do significant damage to title IX prgtoken and to the Amateur Sports Act, which governs sports outside of educational settings. The new legislation would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act by redefining `sex' to include `gender identity.' Without an exception, the definition would apply to all amendments to the 1964 act, including title IX. Most schools, colleges, the NCAA, and the Olympic Committee would be affected because they receive Federal funds and operate in interstate commerce. ``The legislation would make it unlawful to differentiate among girls and women in sports on the basis of sex for any purpose. For example, a sports team couldn't treat a transgender woman differently from a woman who is not transgender on the grounds that the former is male-bodied. Yet the reality is that putting male- and female-bodied athletes together is co-ed or open sport. And in open sport, females lose. ``Some Equality Act advocates argue that this is hyperbole and outdated stereotype. They say, as the ACLU has, that there is `ample evidence that girls can compete and win against boys.' They are wrong. The evidence is unequivocal that starting in puberty, in every sport except sailing, shooting, and riding, there will always be significant numbers of boys and men who would beat the best girls and women in head-to-head competition. Claims to the contrary are simply a denial of science.'' prgtoken Those are not my words. Those are the words of female tennis great Martina Navratilova. prgtoken In footnote 44 of the committee report on this bill, the majority states: ``The committee acknowledges that the addition of sex as a protected characteristic under title VI of the bill raises some questions about how the revised title VI should be read in relation to title IX of t
EQUALITY ACT
Chris Stewart (Republican, UT) \u2014 2019-5-17

I thank the chairman and others who have worked on this. prgtoken , I am so disappointed in this legislation. I have been involved, in my time in Congress, with leaders from various LGBTQ and other organizations representing good people, as well as religious leaders, in an effort to find common ground to satisfy two important priorities. prgtoken Yes, of course--of course--we should treat each other with fairness and with dignity. I believe that all people in America should live their lives free of any discrimination. But we also have to defend the first freedom, the foundational liberty, the amendment and the principle upon which all other liberties are based. prgtoken People of faith, who are also good people, deserve to have the right to express their sincerely held religious beliefs without compulsion from the Federal Government. prgtoken This bill, unfortunately--and more than unfortunately. I mean sadly, disappointingly, this bill makes absolutely no effort to do that. It makes no effort to find common ground. prgtoken What a wasted opportunity.
RECOGNIZING BARBARA STANFIELD AS A HOSPITAL HERO OF 2019
Denver Riggleman (Republican, VA) \u2014 2019-5-17

. Madam , this week marks National Hospital Week. As such, I'd like to recognize the important work being done by one of my constituents, Ms. Barbara Stanfield. Barbara works at LifePoint Health's Sova Health in Danville, Virginia, and has been selected as a 2019 Hospital Hero by the Federation of American Hospitals, an award recognizing hospital employee for their dedicated work inside and outside the four walls of their hospital. prgtoken Barbara Stanfield has been a fixture at Sova Health for over 40 years and is best known for small acts of kindness that have a significant impact on those around her. Barbara works to comfort those receiving a difficult diagnosis, as she battled both multiple sclerosis and cancer. She further channels her experience with illness through her service on the hospital's cancer committee, which focuses on improving care, resources, and education for cancer patients in the community. prgtoken Barbara's commitment to those in need doesn't stop when she leaves the hospital though; she also supports the Relay for Life, United Way, and the Boys & Girls Club. prgtoken Madam , I hope you'll join me in congratulating Barbara Stanfield for her recognition as a Hospital Hero of 2019.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Brad R. Wenstrup (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-5-17

. Madam , due to the death of my father, I was unable to attend the following votes. prgtoken Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 185; YEA on Roll Call No. 186; YEA on Roll Call No. 187; YEA on Roll Call No. 188; NAY on Roll Call No. 189; NAY on Roll Call No. 190; YEA on Roll Call No. 191; YEA on Roll Call No. 192; NAY on Roll Call No. 193; NAY on Roll Call No. 194; YEA on Roll Call No. 195; NAY on Roll Call No. 196; NAY on Roll Call No. 197; NAY on Roll Call No. 198; NAY on Roll Call No. 199; YEA on Roll Call No. 200; YEA on Roll Call No. 201; and NAY on Roll Call No. 202.
CELEBRATING ARMED FORCES DAY
Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-5-17

. Madam , tomorrow, May 18, our Nation celebrates Armed Forces Day. prgtoken Recognized the third Saturday in May since President Truman, Armed Forces Day is a time for us to pay special tribute to the brave men and women serving in all areas of the military. prgtoken It is also a time to educate the public on the impacts that our servicemembers have on communities across the country. prgtoken As the proud father of a soldier, I am endlessly grateful for the selfless actions of our servicemembers and their devotion to country. prgtoken Our servicemen and -women serve throughout the world as a beacon of light, carrying with them our values of liberty and justice. This service is often done on foreign lands and away from family and friends, but their willingness to defeat any threat that seeks to harm American values and interests never wavers. prgtoken Madam , with this day, we hope to show our appreciation so those honored are aware of how much we think of them and their sacrifices.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Bill Johnson (Republican, OH) \u2014 2019-5-17

. Madam , I was absent during last night's amendment votes and final passage vote on H.R. 987 due to travel for an unavoidable medical appointment back in Ohio. Below is how I would have voted on the amendments and final passage. prgtoken Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 210; NAY on Roll Call No. 211; NAY on Roll Call No. 212; YEA on Roll Call No. 213; and NAY on Roll Call No. 214.
HONORING STUART SLIGH, SR.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2019-5-17

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Mr. Stuart Sligh, Sr for winning the Savannah Morning News Unsung Hero Award for 2019. prgtoken Presented annually at the Best of Preps banquet in the First Congressional District of Georgia, the award honors individuals who unassumingly prgtoken offer their time and resources to local high school sports teams so they can perform at the highest level possible. prgtoken This year's recipient, Mr. Sligh, Sr founded the Stuart Sligh Jr. Memorial Foundation in honor of his 16-year-old son, a standout athlete at Savannah Country Day School in both baseball and football who tragically passed away in a car accident. prgtoken Raising money in Stu Sligh's memory, the foundation has contributed over $50,000 to school athletics across the Savannah area, as well as other organizations in the State, like the YMCA. prgtoken The donations have gone toward purchasing pitching machines for baseball teams, new jerseys for football teams, and much more. prgtoken I thank Mr. Sligh for his work in our community and congratulate him on winning the 2019 Unsung Hero Award.
EQUALITY ACT
James Comer (Republican, KY) \u2014 2019-5-17

I rise today representing a district in which school sports are at the heart of community gatherings. prgtoken In Kentucky, basketball is a way of life. In my district, students practice their whole life to have the chance to attain athletic scholarship opportunities from universities they would otherwise be unable to attend. These students go on to accomplish great things and give back to their communities because of the scholarships they gain from athletic competition. prgtoken This legislation would essentially subvert the purpose of gender divisions in these competitions by allowing biological males who identify as female to compete against girls in the same division. We have already seen instances where young women were denied scholarship opportunities because biological males competed in the same category with them and placed higher on the podium in track competitions. prgtoken A bill with a name like the Equality Act sounds like a bill that in some way advocates for all people. That is what we strive for in this country: equality before the law. That is why, over the more than two centuries this country has existed, we have, thankfully, updated our laws to right wrongs and bring us closer to treating all people with the dignity they deserve. prgtoken But as I look at H.R. 5, I am deeply troubled, and I believe most Americans would be deeply troubled by what is really there. prgtoken I serve as ranking member for the Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee for the Committee on Education and Labor. In our subcommittee, we held a hearing on the Equality Act, and what became abundantly clear was that this legislation would alter Federal nondiscrimination law in ways that would have unintended effects we cannot know today. prgtoken This bill is following in the tradition of others we have seen so far throughout this Congress: a clever name, an allegedly noble purpose, but a vehicle for serious, harmful consequences. prgtoken Equality and freedom must coexist. H.R. 5 totally redefines one and delivers a serious blow to the other.
EQUALITY ACT
Vicky Hartzler (Republican, MO) \u2014 2019-5-17

I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 5, a deceptively named bill that is anything but equalizing. In fact, this bill legalizes discrimination, government-imposed, top-down discrimination against those with time-honored views of marriage and gender. prgtoken This bill should be renamed the ``Inequality Act,'' as its policies at the State level have already been used to eliminate safe spaces for women, irreparably harm children, trample parental rights, undermine the free exercise of religion, and dismantle female athletics. prgtoken As a mother, teacher, and former track coach, I am deeply concerned about the implications of this bill on and off the playing field. prgtoken Title 9 of the Civil Rights Act, the provision guaranteeing girls the same educational opportunities as boys and which launched competitive female sports into the arena, is rendered irrelevant and outdated under the Inequality Act. prgtoken Under H.R. 5, high school female athletes will miss competitive opportunities because boys take home the medals. prgtoken Selina from Connecticut trained hard, set goals, and persevered, but she couldn't overcome the biological advantage men have over women when two biological boys who identify as female outpaced her in a recent girls' track meet. prgtoken On average, there is a 10 to 12 percent performance gap between elite males and elite females in athletics. The gap is smaller between elite females and nonelite males but still insurmountable. It is no surprise that men are taking home the gold in women's sports. prgtoken In future Olympics, it would only take three biological males who identify as female to prevent the best female athletes from reaching the medal stand and eight to keep them off the track entirely. prgtoken If we continue down this track, how long will it be before nations recruit men identifying as female to out-medal other countries and ultimately uproot the ancient tradition of the Olympics? prgtoken To put in this perspective, Olympic, world, and U.S. champion Tori Bowie's 100-meter lifetime best time was beaten 15,000 times by men and boys. In another case, Olympic, world, and U.S. champion Allyson Felix's 400-meter lifetime best was outperformed more than 15,000 times by males. prgtoken In case after case, men identifying as women are outcompeting, outrunning, outfighting, and outcycling women. Welcome to the brave new world of women's sports under H.R. 5. prgtoken The importance of Title IX is found not just on the field. As Duke law professor Coleman testified before the House Judiciary Committee, ``Tens of thousands of girls and women are now eligible for college scholarships, ensuring educational opportunities that for many wouldn't be realistic otherwise.'' prgtoken Unfortunately, H.R. 5 erases these educational opportunities, further disenfranchising women. Women-only scholarships would be a thing of the past if this bill passes. prgtoken , either we want a level playing fi
EQUALITY ACT
Christopher H. Smith (Republican, NJ) \u2014 2019-5-17

H.R. 5 puts the Hyde Amendment and other federal and state laws that bar taxpayer funding for abortion at serious risk. prgtoken H.R. 5 also weakens conscience protections for health care providers opposed to being coerced into participating in the killing of unborn babies. prgtoken H.R. 5 defines ``sex'' to include ``pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.'' The term ``related medical condition'' means ``abortion.'' In the case Doe v. C.A.R.S the Third Circuit stated, ``We now hold that the term ``related medical conditions'' includes an abortion.'' Furthermore, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which enforces Title VII, interprets abortion to be covered as a ``related medical condition.'' prgtoken To further clarify, the bill goes on to state: (b) Rules.--In a covered title referred to in subsection (a)--``(l) (with respect to sex) pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition shall not receive less favorable treatment than other physical conditions; . . . prgtoken In other words, a provider may not withhold a ``treatment option,'' including ending the life of an unborn baby. prgtoken In a legal analysis released today, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops states: Existing prohibitions on the use of government funds for abortion can be undercut in three ways. First, federal and state governments are themselves providers of health care. Therefore, they would themselves be subject to the constraints that the Equality Act places on all health care providers and, as such, would likely be required to provide abortions. This conclusion is reinforced by the bill's expansive definition of ``establishment,'' which is not limited to physical facilities and places. Second, it would seem anomalous to, on the one hand, mandate that recipients of federal funds provide abortions, as the Equality Act can be read to do, but, on the other hand, prohibit use of such funds for abortions. It can (and likely will) be argued that these newly-enacted provisions, which would likely require recipients of federal funding to perform abortions, would thereby repeal by implication previously-enacted legislation forbidding the use of those very same funds for abortion. Third, even if the bill were not construed to require the federal government to fund abortions, it could still be construed to require states that receive federal funding to do so with their own funds, which would be a departure from the longstanding principle that the federal government not require government funding of abortion even on the part of state governments. The possibility that the Equality Act may be used to undercut the Hyde principle against government funding of abortion has been noted even by those endorsing the bill. Kate
EQUALITY ACT
Louie Gohmert (Republican, TX) \u2014 2019-5-17

I appreciate the efforts of my friends across the aisle who believe that they are acting on behalf of equality. I realize that they believe that their way of approaching things includes much more wisdom than that of Moses, who is the only great lawgiver depicted in this Chamber with a full face rather than a side view. prgtoken I would only submit we are not wiser at this time than Moses. I have heard comments from my friends, including my friend the former law professor saying he was impressed with the ability of the courts to sort out these civil rights issues. prgtoken But as my friend Justice Scalia once told me: If you guys are going to screw up legislation over in Congress, don't come running to us all the time because you don't know how to make laws that are fair. prgtoken That is what we have here. In an effort borne out of the best intentions, we want to help the feelings of people who are gender confused or just suffering gender dysphoria, the opposite of euphoria. We don't want to hurt their feelings. prgtoken We are told that 25 percent of all women will suffer sexual assault. The literature is clear that women suffer post-traumatic stress disorder after sexual assault at three to four times the rate that soldiers do, and that they are traumatized and retriggered by being in a confined space like a dressing room or a restroom when a biological man comes into that private area. prgtoken We are going to say to those women: You know what? You have just got to get over your trauma because for the less than 1 percent who though a biological man but think they may be a woman, so they are confused gender-wise, we don't want to hurt their feelings. So you are just going to have to get over your trauma. prgtoken This is what is going on here. If you look at the battered women shelters around this country, who pays for most of those? It sure appears to me, for the ones I see, they are Christian, Salvation Army, Catholic. I have been told by many of these folks: We are just barely surviving financially. This will force us to change our accommodations, and we will go out of business. prgtoken We believe, as Christians, that Moses had it right on males and females. Although there are people wiser in their own eyes than Moses and Jesus, who said exactly verbatim what Moses did, if an orthodox synagogue says, ``You know what? We think men should be rabbis,'' but they don't hire the biological woman who says, ``I feel like I am a man today,'' then they can be sued. But this bill gives not only the claimant the ability to sue but also allows the Attorney General to come in with the full force of the United States Government and destroy that synagogue or that Christian organization. prgtoken I know there are people here who think, ``I do a whole lot more good than these Christian organizations,'' but do you really? prgtoken This is borne out of good intentions, but it is going to be so destructive to common sense an
COMMENDING THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION
Doug LaMalfa (Republican, CA) \u2014 2019-5-17

. Madam , I rise to commend the Federal Railroad Administration and the administration for putting a stop to the wasteful Federal spending on California's high-speed rail boondoggle. This will save nearly $1 billion that can be used for anything else to help Americans' transportation system. prgtoken At a time when tax increases on every mile you drive are being contemplated ostensibly for our highway needs, how can we keep wasting dollars on a project that ``has repeatedly failed to comply with the terms of the 2010 agreement and has failed to make reasonable progress''? prgtoken It is no longer even a high-speed train project nor does it even connect San Francisco to L.A. but, instead, terminates in an almond orchard somewhere north of Bakersfield. prgtoken It has tripled in price since 2008, when put in front of the California voters, and is still at least $70 billion short of the $100 billion tripled price or more. That $70 billion will not be coming from this Congress. prgtoken Let's channel these hard-earned tax dollars into highways people need, want, and can actually use, or water storage, or just about anything else.
EQUALITY ACT
Virginia Foxx (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-5-17

. Madam , I thank the gentleman from California for yielding and for his tireless work exposing the deep flaws in this bill. prgtoken Madam , I rise as the leader of the s on the Education and Labor Committee, which should have had an opportunity to consider this legislation fully, considering its vast implications for educational institutions and employers. prgtoken We did not have that opportunity. Instead, we had a single subcommittee hearing. prgtoken As a fierce advocate for the Education and Labor Committee, I would never deem any subcommittee unimportant, but it was the subcommittee with the smallest membership. prgtoken On top of that, somehow the decision was made to bring this bill to the floor under a closed rule with no amendments. So, I commend my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee for their work on behalf of all of us. prgtoken This bill may have ``equality'' in its title, but it does not serve all people. prgtoken Its mandates for specific accommodations in shared facilities puts job creators, particularly those in small businesses, schools, and other community-serving facilities on the hook for Washington's half- baked ideas. prgtoken Its vague and circular definitions of gender identity will lead only to uncertainty, litigation, and harm to individuals and organizations that will be forced to comply with a law the authors don't even seem to understand. prgtoken This is a classic example of passing something now and figuring out what it actually means later. prgtoken We have been here before. If the Devil is in the details, we are in for a lot of devilish surprises. prgtoken This is no small price for some greater good, as the bill's proponents have argued. prgtoken Opening schools and workplaces to expanded liability based on, as the bill states, a ``perception or belief, even if inaccurate,'' of suspected discrimination. prgtoken Madam , I am going to repeat those words, because they are so unbelievable: ``a perception or belief, even if inaccurate,'' of suspected discrimination. prgtoken How can we write legislation like this? It would have untold chilling effects on hiring, career advancement, and one could easily see discourse in the classroom. prgtoken Where the bill is alarmingly clear, however, is in its meticulous and intentional destruction of religious freedom protections. prgtoken American employers and educators have grown accustomed to clumsy and misguided mandates coming down from Washington shrouded in good intentions. Other laws under the jurisdiction of the Education and Labor Committee are littered with them, but this time something is different. prgtoken The provision in H.R. 5 that guts the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 is clear in its intent. This bill is a brazen attempt to replace timeless, inherent religious liberties with the identity politics of the moment. prgtoken My colleagues on the other side of the aisle could have been given the benefit of the doubt