mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
INVESTING IN A NEW VISION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION IN AMERICA ACT
John B. Larson (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2020-7-1

I rise today thank Chairman Neal and Chairman Thompson for their work on the GREEN Act, included in H.R. 2. prgtoken As a longstanding proponent of utilizing the tax code to support green energy, I am thrilled that this legislation extends and expands tax incentives that have a proven track record of increasing deployment of these technologies. prgtoken In particular, this legislation is a win for the fuel cell vehicle industry in Connecticut and nationwide. Light-duty fuel cell vehicles are electric vehicles that generate electricity onboard through an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen, not combustion. These cars emit zero carbon, zero NOx, zero SOx, and zero particulate matter from the tailpipe, and are capable of traveling 300 to 400 miles on a tank of fuel, with refueling in just three to five minutes. This technology is one of the most promising avenues to reduce emissions in the medium and heavy-duty sector. prgtoken The GREEN Act extends the expiring alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit (30C), a necessary incentive to build-up a hydrogen refueling network to make widespread adoption possible. Additionally, the legislation modifies the credit to better support electric vehicle charger deployment. I look forward to working with Chairman Neal, Chairman Thompson, and the Ways and Means Committee to similarly ensure that the 30C credit is optimized for fuel cell vehicle infrastructure and to continue broader efforts towards supporting clean energy technology.
INVESTING IN A NEW VISION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION IN AMERICA ACT
Daniel T. Kildee (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-7-1

. Madam , I thank my friend, the gentleman from Oregon, for yielding, but especially for leading us to this moment where we have the opportunity to do something big and meaningful that will put millions of Americans back to work in a meaningful way and stimulate this economy and also position us to lead in the 21st century. prgtoken I will say this, however. We have been through this before. I have been here 8 years, and every year somebody from the other side comes down to this floor to offer the same amendment to take away an important protection that is actually quite simple. prgtoken It just simply says people who work for a living ought to be paid a fair wage, a wage that is consistent with the prevailing wages in the community so that people don't have to work full time and live in poverty, as tens of millions of Americans do right now. prgtoken It is pretty straightforward. Thankfully, even when the were not in the majority, there were enough thoughtful s on the other side who would join with us to protect workers. prgtoken But I do find, and I know this is an issue that is very difficult for many of our Members to take, and it is an emotional subject because it is the same leadership that pushed through a tax bill that granted huge economic benefits to a very small number of people at the very top who now want to pull the rug from under working families. This can't stand, and it won't.
INVESTING IN A NEW VISION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION IN AMERICA ACT
Peter A. DeFazio (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-7-1

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken I am not quite certain what the gentlewoman is objecting to. Now, I realize her State has a $7.25 an hour minimum wage. Great, work 40 hours a week, live in abject poverty. Okay. prgtoken So the wages for Davis-Bacon projects in her State aren't much better. These aren't living wages. They aren't family wages. They aren't wages where you can go home to your family, not have to hold a second job, raise your kids, clothe them, send them to school, give them a good education, maybe help them pay for postsecondary education. prgtoken No, she is complaining about carpenters under Davis-Bacon in her State, they earn $25,000 a year under Davis-Bacon. Wow. Wow. 25,000 bucks a year. That is outrageous. If they worked for the State minimum wage, we could get that down to less than $20,000 a year. That is great. What kind of carpenter are you going to get for that wage? I don't think you are going to find any living in your State anymore. prgtoken Ironworkers, well, they get a bit more, kind of up there on the heights and all that. They get up to almost $28,000 a year. $28,000 a year for an ironworker? Amazing. prgtoken Oh, and then truck drivers. The heavy truck drivers who work on construction, they get $13.50 an hour. So she is alarmed at these outrageous wages that are being paid to these people and how it is impinging upon projects in her State. Why, they could get lots of people to do that for $7.25 an hour. Of course, they wouldn't have any skills, but what the heck. prgtoken So, you know, what we have found, first off, these aren't union negotiated, these are done by locale because, yes, these wages would be much higher in other areas. Apparently, in her State you can buy a house for 15 or $20,000 down there or rent a nice apartment for 400, 300 bucks a month, so you can live on those kinds of wages. But other places it is not so inexpensive. prgtoken And what we are trying to prevent is history. Low-bid contractors that often come in from out of State provide shoddy workmanship, but, yes, it was cheaper, it is cheaper. If you want a crappy job, hire somebody who is the low-bid contractor, who has unskilled people working for them. prgtoken We are setting a standard here. Studies show that the most in any region around the country, because these are done in very discrete regions--there are quite a number of regions in her State, I was using the averages here; some of them are even lower, a few are higher. But the average, under a dispassionate analysis by the EPI, would be it could raise wages by as much as 10 percent. Wages are one-quarter of the job cost. So 10 percent of one-quarter would mean you would add 2\1/2\ percent to the job so people could have a decent living wage, decent benefits and raise a family, maybe even own a home, car. Wow. prgtoken Of course, they couldn't take transit to work if the s were successful in their version of thi
HONORING THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF MR. BOBBY J. MORROW
Filemon Vela (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-7-1

I rise today to pay tribute to the extraordinary life of Mr. Bobby J. Morrow and recognize his achievements as a three-time Olympic gold medalist. prgtoken Mr. Morrow was a resident of San Benito, TX for much of his life. He attended San Benito High School, where he excelled athletically in both track and football. Following graduation, Mr. Morrow was a sprinter for Abilene Christian University, where he would go on to break and defend records on the national collegiate scale. prgtoken At just 21 years old, Mr. Morrow travelled to Melbourne, Australia, for the 1956 Olympics to represent the United States of America. Mr. Morrow would win three gold medals in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and 4x100-meter relay--even going so far as to break the world record in the relay, and match it in the 200-meter dash. His success on the collegiate and Olympic levels earned him the Sports Illustrated's title of ``Sportsman of the Year'' in 1956. He would also collect the Amateur Athletic Union's James E. Sullivan Award in 1957 before being inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975. prgtoken Bobby Morrow was not only a talented athlete, but also a kind and giving man. He donated all of his Olympic medals in hopes of inspiring others to pursue their own dreams. Mr. Morrow is survived by his longtime, loving partner of 20 years, Judy Parker of Harlingen, TX, his five children, eleven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. prgtoken His rare talent and character are remembered throughout San Benito and the 34th Congressional District of Texas. San Benito CISD has dedicated two athletic facilities to him as a tribute to his athletic excellence and to share his inspirational story. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating and remembering the life of Mr. Morrow.
INVESTING IN A NEW VISION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION IN AMERICA ACT
Jahana Hayes (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2020-7-1

. Madam , I thank Congressman Courtney for yielding. prgtoken Connecticut farmers are in dire need of this amendment. Connecticut's agricultural industry encompasses everything from greenhouses to dairy farms. The greenhouse and nursery industry are the largest agricultural production sectors in the State, and they account for about $4.7 billion in Connecticut's economy. But these are family farms, not large corporate farms. prgtoken When they have to pay more to transport products due to unfair truck weight limits, there is a meaningful impact on their ability to stay afloat. For this reason, the Connecticut Legislature passed a law in 2013 to allow for the increase in truck weights within the State. prgtoken However, this change, as my colleague Mr. Courtney says, requires a Federal fix to truly take effect. Putting Federal policy in line with State policy would be a lifeline for my local farmers. We are not talking about a hypothetical benefit. We are talking about real, tangible benefits. prgtoken This amendment would achieve parity with neighboring States where weight limits are much higher. As you heard, in Connecticut, you can only carry up to 80,000 pounds, unlike our neighbors, Massachusetts, which is up to 127,000 pounds, and New York, which is up to 143,000 pounds. In order to do business with those States, it requires multiple, inefficient trips. prgtoken This amendment is not just about fairness. It is about doing what makes sense for most of Connecticut's agricultural sector. This would be a vital lifeline for the industry that is the backbone of my State's economy, and they are already struggling. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to at least recognize the importance of this amendment, and I thank my friend, Mr. Courtney, for his partnership in this effort.
MOVING FORWARD ON PATH TO SUSTAINABILITY
Mike Levin (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-7-1

. Madam , today, the House of Representatives took a significant step forward for the American people by passing the Moving Forward Act, a $1.5 trillion legislative package to invest in America's infrastructure and create jobs. I am proud to support this legislation. prgtoken Among other things, this package will help combat the climate crisis and grow clean energy jobs. It includes my Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act, which facilitates renewable energy development on public lands and sets a goal to develop 25 gigawatts of renewable energy generation on our public lands by 2025. prgtoken I also worked to ensure that the package includes local priorities like my Desalination Development Act, which will provide Federal funding for desalination projects like those in my district. prgtoken Finally, the Moving Forward Act includes my amendment to authorize nearly $3.4 billion to construct, maintain, and renovate Department of Veterans Affairs capital infrastructure. The amendment also prioritizes service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses to complete many of these projects. prgtoken Ultimately, the Moving Forward Act puts our country on the path to a more sustainable future, and I urge the Senate to take it up immediately.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021--Continued
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2020-7-1

I am here today to support my colleagues and our cause to keep Americans in their homes. It is very simple. The House has already passed a number of bills to do just that, and the Senate needs to do the same thing. prgtoken In this pandemic, housing is healthcare. I know that a lot of Americans have had their lives upended by this coronavirus pandemic, but I would like you to imagine for a moment how much more chaotic your life would feel if you found out that tomorrow you are going to be evicted. Imagine trying to make sure you are washing your hands while you are living in your car. prgtoken We are in the middle of a public health crisis where we need people to be socially distancing, and that means they simply must have a safe, stable place to be at the end of the day. prgtoken We realized this months ago in my State, and that is why Governor Sisolak put a hold on evicting residents through August 31 of this year. prgtoken And Congress? Well, we passed the CARES Act to provide unemployment benefits and one-time relief. Those funds, plus the ban on evictions, were intended to help keep families in their homes. prgtoken We are 60 days away from resuming evictions in Nevada. In my State and across the country, the wave of evictions we have been holding off for a month is going to come crashing down if we do not act now. prgtoken Nevada has the highest unemployment rate in the entire country. In May, it was over 25 percent--as high as the national rate during the worst of the Great Depression. On top of that, some Nevadans haven't yet received their unemployment benefits or their pandemic unemployment benefits. prgtoken Across the country, almost half of workers earning under $40,000 a year have lost income. Some people just don't have the ability to fully pay for the rent or mortgage, particularly when we are asking them to shelter in place. prgtoken The thing is, in Nevada, we were already in the midst of a housing crisis even before this pandemic hit us. Almost half of Nevadans are renters. That is 45 percent. Of those renters, half are cost-burdened in some way, meaning that they pay more than 30 percent of their income in rent. prgtoken Now, the Silver State has the biggest shortage in the country of affordable housing for the very lowest income Nevadans. We have just 19 units for every 100 that we need. prgtoken Eviction isn't just a matter of spending a few days scrambling to find a new place. The financial consequences can follow families for years, and as for the effects on children's physical and mental health, well, there is no way to undo that. prgtoken Believe me. I know. The foreclosure crisis hit Nevada in 2008, and I saw up close the pain that caused throughout my State when people were evicted from their homes. Lenders took the homes of more than 219,000 Nevada families during that period of time. That is why it is so vital that we pass legislation now to help Nevadans and people all
INVESTING IN A NEW VISION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION IN AMERICA ACT
Max Rose (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-7-1

. Madam , I rise in opposition to this amendment. prgtoken And, quite frankly, I am dumbfounded. You are aware that this conversation is in public. So I won't put words in your mouth, but I will use your own words. prgtoken You say today you don't want to consolidate wealth amongst the few. What do you think your tax scam did? prgtoken This is about workers. prgtoken You say you are worried about deficit spending. Hallelujah. Suddenly you are worried about it. You weren't worried about deficit spending when it came to endless wars. You weren't worried about deficit spending when it came to a tax scam. prgtoken This conversation is in public. You don't get to go back to your districts now and say you are on the side of workers. prgtoken But whose side are you on? Because there is one thing this amendment will do. It will boost corporate profits, it will put money in the hands of billionaires, and it will rip off workers. prgtoken So today out in public, you reveal yourselves * * *. We are going to make sure that people remember this.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021--Continued
Martin Heinrich (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2020-7-1

Americans are demanding an end to the persistent racial injustice and violence that inflicts our country. prgtoken Protestors have gathered outside of the White House and the Capitol. New Mexicans from our biggest city to our smallest communities are marching for meaningful change. prgtoken I have joined these protests in Emancipation Hall, in the streets of Washington, DC, and now I am joining them from the U.S. Senate floor. prgtoken The systemic racism being called out is real, and it is all around us all of the time. Within law enforcement, we have seen it in the horrific videos documenting the racist violence that took the lives of Black men and women at the hands of police officers and extrajudicial killers. prgtoken As a father raising two sons, my heart aches for the parents whose sons' and daughters' names we now chant loudly in the streets. prgtoken It is unacceptable for any American to live in fear of violent encounters when they enter public spaces or retail stores or just go out for a walk. The very fact that painful experiences with law enforcement are ubiquitous among so many in our Nation should be evidence enough that our current model of policing is not working. That is why I am proud to support my colleagues Senator Booker and Senator to cosponsor the Justice in Policing Act. prgtoken This sweeping legislation reforms the police system as Americans across the country demand an end to police violence that is disproportionately targeting communities of color. It would address qualified immunity standards in Federal law which currently stand in the way of police officers being held accountable in court when they violate constitutional rights. prgtoken It would improve transparency in police departments by creating a national police misconduct registry, requiring accurate data reporting on misconduct and use-of-force incidents and ensuring problematic officers cannot avoid accountability by simply changing departments. prgtoken It would also institute a real national ban on choke holds and other deadly, restrictive airway holds. We have seen this use of lethal force kill George Floyd and Eric Garner before him and earlier this year, in Las Cruces, NM, when a police officer killed Antonio Valenzuela with a vascular neck restraint. While I hope that justice will be served for Mr. Floyd's and Mr. Valenzuela's families, I know that these men should never have died in the first place. This lethal and unnecessary type of force should not be allowed anywhere in America. prgtoken The Justice in Policing Act would put an end to the injudicious use of no-knock warrants that led to the murder of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, KY. prgtoken In order to prevent future extrajudicial killings like the murder of Ahmaud Arbery earlier this year by vigilantes in Georgia, the Justice in Policing Act would also finally designate lynching as a Federal crime. prgtoken The legislation would also make broa
INVESTING IN A NEW VISION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION IN AMERICA ACT
John Lewis (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2020-7-1

I rise in strong support of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. This vital legislation makes critical investments in our nation's transportation, upgrades our drinking water and energy systems, and builds new hospitals, schools, and homes. prgtoken My constituents in Metro Atlanta know all too well that we have fallen behind in building for the future. Every day, we waste time and gasoline in some of the worst traffic in America. We have uneven access across our region to transit and safe bicycle and pedestrian paths. Our schools and water systems struggle to keep up with the demands of our time. prgtoken We need something new. Our current system puts good jobs out of reach, good homes out of grasp, and good air out of breath. For too long, our nation's transportation system prioritized highway expansion and exclusionary legacies that result in gentrification and displacement. These transportation planning policies contribute to racial and socioeconomic disparities in income, health, education, and environment. We can and we must do better. prgtoken The bill before us puts our country on the right track. H.R. 2 is a model that builds a 21st century transportation and infrastructure foundation. It increases funding for transit expansion, highway repair, and connectivity in low-income communities. It ensures that drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians can safely use roads. H.R. 2 also makes a down payment towards leaving a planet that is a little cleaner and a little greener for our children. prgtoken I am pleased that H.R. 2 also includes three amendments critical for my constituents in Metro Atlanta. The first amendment allows Federal funds to build noise barriers that protect older neighborhoods from highway noise. In my district, many communities predate the interstate system. Over time, these highways became wider, busier, and louder, and the trees that kept the sounds down have worn thin. Residents are sick and tired of the noise and want some peace and quiet. My no-cost amendment will improve quality of life in frustrated communities across America. prgtoken The bill also includes my proposal about disputed changes in airport ownership. This amendment enacts current rules which maintain the Federal government's neutrality on these sensitive local matters. This common-sense policy provides certainty for passengers, airlines, concessionaires, and airport employees. prgtoken Finally, I am proud to co-sponsor an effort led by my friend, Ms. Napolitano of California. Our amendment overturns a Federal rule on sales taxes that uniquely affects Clayton County in my district. It would recover $24 million per year for the county, its cities, and the Clayton County Public Schools. prgtoken When I first came to Congress, I joined what was then the House Public Works and Transportation Committee to work on many of these issues, and I am proud to continue to prgtoken address transportation equity on the House Wa