mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Introductory Statement on S.J. Res. 13
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-3-6

. . I am pleased today to introduce in the Senate, with my colleague Senator Young, a bipartisan resolution to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iraq. This legislation will formally end the authorizations for the Gulf and Iraq wars--28 and 17 years, respectively, after these AUMFs were first passed, reasserting Congress' vital role in not only declaring wars, but in ending them. The repeal of these authorizations also recognizes the strong partnership the United States now has with a sovereign, democratic Iraq. prgtoken The United States is no longer at war with Iraq and our legal frameworks should reflect this reality as much as our policy frameworks, to include the Strategic Framework Agreement that Iraq and the United States signed in November 2008, which affirms the establishment of a long-term relationship of cooperation and friendship, based on the principle of equality in prgtoken sovereignty and the rights and principles that are enshrined in the United Nations Charter. prgtoken Since 2014, U.S. troops have been in Iraq, alongside Iraqi forces, at the Government of Iraq's request for assistance in combating the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Current Administration officials, including Secretary Pompeo, Acting Secretary Shanahan and Commander of the United States Central Command, General Votel, have routinely emphasized that United States military forces remain in Iraq at the invitation of the Government of Iraq and in respect to its sovereignty. Recent presidential administrations have maintained that the 2002 AUMF only serves to ``reinforce'' any legal authority to combat ISIS provided by the 2001 AUMF and is not independently required to authorize any such activities. As such, repealing the 1991 AUMF and the 2002 AUMF would not affect ongoing United States military operations. It would however, prevent the future misuse of the Gulf and Iraq War authorizations and strengthen Congressional oversight over war powers. prgtoken It is past time to repeal both AUMFs and formally mark the end of the Iraq War that resulted in a devastating loss of life and wounded tens of thousands of our troops. It makes no sense that two AUMFs remain in place against a country that is now a close ally. They serve no operational purpose, run the risk of future abuse by the President, and help keep our nation at permanent war. prgtoken I am proud to join Senator Young in introducing a bill to repeal these outdated and unnecessary authorizations. I hope we can continue to find bipartisan compromise on these tough war power issues to include revising and replacing the 2001 AUMF.
Tribute to Franz Wuerfmannsdobler (Executive Session)
Christopher A. Coons (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2019-3-6

I come to the floor today to recognize a true public servant, an individual who has been by my side since my first year as a Senator, someone who will be dearly missed, not only in my office but by this institution as a whole as he moves on to his next chapter this week: my deputy chief of staff and senior policy advisor, Franz Wuerfmannsdobler. prgtoken Franz has had a great impact on this institution, on the staff members who served here over the last two decades, and on me. His sage advice, his patience, his incredibly calm demeanor, his willingness to mentor and guide others, his respect for this institution, and his knowledge borne out of 20 years of experience in the Senate have contributed in countless ways to the meaningful work we have been able to do here for the people of Delaware and our country. prgtoken Today, I want to recognize and thank Franz for his remarkable and his selfless career. I want to thank him for what he has done for me, for my office, for the people of Delaware, and pay tribute to the legacy he leaves. prgtoken It is a remarkable legacy. He has been on the frontlines of events and policy battles that have quite literally shaped the history of our country over the last two decades--from 9/11 to the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, from energy and appropriations efforts to sustained concerns and engagement around bipartisanship. prgtoken Franz's career in the Senate began in 1998 when he served as a legislative assistant for the late, great Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who was himself a giant of this body. For 8 years, Franz handled issues from energy to environment, to climate change and natural resources. It was also in Senator Byrd's office that Franz cut his teeth on the complex appropriations process, learning from the master appropriator himself. prgtoken Franz's career then took him to the office of former Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, where he was a trusted senior energy policy advisor, and then on the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee before finally joining my own office in March of 2011. prgtoken Franz's list of legislative accomplishments is long and impressive and reflects his deep grasp of policy and the mechanics of politics. He helped to shape elements of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. He was central to establishing reformed fuel economy standards for our Nation's automobiles and played a key role in the Recovery Act, a massive effort that helped pull our Nation out of the depths of a recession. prgtoken Franz is a person of ideas and vision. His vision for our country has led to policies that have made our Nation cleaner, more innovative, and more secure. Likewise, his vision in my Senate office has made our team more efficient, more effective, and more successful. Franz has played a key role in shaping my office early on, helping to create a
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2019
Susan A. Davis (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-3-6

this bill was not rushed. It is long overdue. I recently joined our colleague and civil rights icon, Congressman John Lewis, on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, commemorating the march and the fight for the right to vote. prgtoken We can never forget how many people have risked and lost their lives for that right. Fifty-four years later, our election system is still stacked against prgtoken many Americans. Some eligible voters are still prohibited from voting by mail and can't make it to the polls. prgtoken Some eligible voters have still been unfairly purged from the rolls, and some communities still do not have enough polling locations, leading to long lines. prgtoken We need justice. We need to expand the fixes that have been proven to work in so many of our States, and that is exactly what H.R. 1 does. prgtoken If we are for the people, not just the ones we think will vote for us, then we should be for this bill.
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2019
Bill Pascrell, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-3-6

. Mr. Chair, I support H.R. 1 for taking needed steps to get dark money and foreign money out of our politics; restore voting rights that are under assault in States around the country; improve our election security, as you heard the last gentleman say, Bennie Thompson; and restore integrity to our democratic process. prgtoken In too many States, the clock is turning back on voting rights and election integrity. Voter suppression has become a scourge in our democracy. For anybody to deny it on this floor, they haven't been in the country. prgtoken Mr. Chair, these reforms are long overdue. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2019
Harley Rouda (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-3-6

. Mr. Chair, the people of Orange County sent me to Congress because they were disillusioned with the nature of our politics, whether it is the toxic partnership or the vice grip of special interest money on our political system. prgtoken I offer these amendments today to improve this landmark bill by regulating political ads and restore voters' confidence in our elections. prgtoken Our government has, for too long, preferred to shield special interests instead of our constituents; and that ends by getting out of politics and passing the For the People Act. prgtoken In an age of advanced cybersecurity threats, more States are looking to one of the oldest technologies in existence, paper. Currently, the majority of States utilize some form of paper ballot for elections, with more taking steps to adopt paper-only systems. prgtoken My amendment would require the use of recycled paper for Federal elections, a critical step to increasing the sustainability of our elections. Recycled paper production emits 40 percent fewer greenhouse gases, uses 26 percent less energy, and creates 43 percent less water waste than non-recycled paper. prgtoken The impact of requiring the use of recycled paper for ballots is significant when you consider the amount of paper used in the United States. In fact, Americans use approximately 85 million tons of paper a year, about 680 pounds per person per year. prgtoken Recycling just 1 ton of paper can save 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 380 gallons of oil, 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space, and 4,000 kilowatts of energy, reducing greenhouse gases by 1 metric ton of carbon. prgtoken As security concerns continue to inspire moves to replace electronic voting methods with paper ballots, we must be mindful of the environmental impact. prgtoken Using recycled paper for our ballots would improve not just our right to vote, but also save the environment. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of my amendment, and .
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2019
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-3-6

. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1, The ``For the People Act of 2019,'' which expands access to the ballot box, reduces the influence of big money in politics, and strengthens ethics rules for public servants. prgtoken I am proud to be one of 226, co-sponsors, and one of the original cosponsors, of H.R. 1, which will increase public confidence in our democracy by reducing the role of money in politics, restoring ethical standards and integrity to government, and strengthening laws to protect voting. prgtoken Specifically, the For the People Act will: prgtoken 1. Make it easier, not harder, to vote by implementing automatic voter registration, requiring early voting and vote by mail, committing Congress to reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act and ensuring the integrity of our elections by modernizing and strengthening our voting systems and ending partisan redistricting. prgtoken 2. Reform the campaign finance system by requiring all political organizations to disclose large donors, updating political advertisement laws for the digital age, establishing a public matching system for citizen-owned elections, and revamping the Federal Election Commission to ensure there's a cop on the campaign finance beat; and prgtoken 3. Strengthen ethics laws to ensure that public officials work in the public interest by extending conflict of interest laws to the President and Vice President; requiring the release of their tax returns; closing loopholes that allow former members of Congress to avoid cooling-off periods for lobbying; closing the revolving door between industry and the federal government; and establishing a code of conduct for the Supreme Court. prgtoken H.R. 1 expands access to the ballot box by taking aim at institutional barriers to voting. prgtoken This bill ensures that individuals who have completed felony sentences have their full rights restored and expands early voting and simplify absentee voting; and modernize the U.S. voting system. prgtoken Mr. Chair, this legislation and this hearing is particularly timely because more than half a century after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, we are still discussing voter suppression--something which should be a bygone relic of the past, but yet continues to disenfranchise racial minorities, immigrants, women, and young people. prgtoken The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a watershed moment for the Civil Rights Movement--it liberated communities of color from legal restrictions barring them from exercising the fundamental right to civic engagement and political representation. prgtoken But uncaged by Supreme Court's infamous 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder, 570 U.S. 529 (2013), which neutered the preclearance provision of the Voting Rights Act, 14 states, including my state of Texas, took extreme measures to enforce new voting prgtoken restrictions before the 2016 presidential election. prgtoken It is not a coincidence that many of these s
Nomination of Chad A. Readler (Executive Session)
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-3-6

I rise in opposition to the nomination of Mr. Chad Readler to the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court. prgtoken There are certainly many reasons to oppose Mr. Readler's nomination. His track record paints a very clear picture of what he values and what he does not. Mr. Readler fought to uphold President 's travel ban that targets people because of their religion. He has argued in favor of a business turning away customers simply because they are LGBT. He worked to unravel programs made during the past administration that would ensure low-income workers would actually receive their hard- earned benefits. Of the things that Mr. Readler values, protecting Americans from wrongful acts of discrimination is clearly not among them. prgtoken Yet it still remains difficult for me to understand why Mr. Readler-- and any of my colleagues who choose to advance his nomination today-- would support going back to an era when health insurance companies are allowed to discriminate against people with preexisting health conditions. I have heard plenty of my colleagues from across the aisle make public statements in favor of preexisting coverage protections. That is probably because they hear, like I do, from people all across my State who fear losing coverage as a result of having that preexisting condition. prgtoken What are preexisting conditions? Well, it is things like diabetes, asthma, or even high blood pressure, and they are a reality for over 4 million Michiganders. This range of fairly common to fairly complex conditions is experienced by one in every four children, over half of the female population, and 84 percent of adults in their late fifties and in their sixties. prgtoken Today, there is a broad consensus that we need a Federal law in place that prevents insurance companies from denying coverage or jacking up prices based on someone's health status, their age, or their gender. We have a law on the books right now that protects people with preexisting conditions, but this law must be defended, not undermined. prgtoken I worked hard to pass this important coverage during my first term in the Congress, and I have fought to preserve it every day since then. Although this fight has been successful so far, it is based on the premise that the laws passed and upheld by Congress will be defended in court. Yet the Department of Justice Civil Division, under Mr. Readler's leadership, decided not to do so. His actions fit into the story of the administration's ongoing partisan efforts to sabotage our healthcare system and dismantle strategies that would lower premiums and expand quality, affordability, and coverage, generally. The President is constantly looking for ways that he can sidestep Congress and attack legislation that has brought health insurance to over 20 million Americans and cut Michigan's uninsured rate in half. prgtoken We should not be advancing a Federal court nominee whose disregard for the r
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2019
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-3-6

I want to thank Chairwoman Lofgren for yielding, but also for her tireless leadership on so many issues that confront our country today. prgtoken I rise in strong support of H.R. 1, the For the People Act of 2019. It is a historic bill to restore the promise of our Nation's democracy and repair our democratic institutions. H.R. 1 represents a coordinated effort to protect and promote the voting rights of all Americans. prgtoken H.R. 1 would also end the culture of corruption in Washington; reduce the role of big money in politics; and make it easier, not harder, to vote. prgtoken , let me be clear. The right to vote is a sacred civil right in our Nation, but we know that there are those who want to turn the clock back on voting rights and suppress minority voters. There are those who want to undercut the power and representation of communities of color and, really, lock us out of the political process. prgtoken With this historic bill before us we say, ``Enough is enough.'' Instead, H.R. 1 will ensure that every eligible voter has the chance to participate in our democracy. prgtoken This bill also includes important provisions to ensure clean and fair elections. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill and vote ``yes'' to restoring our democracy once and for all.
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2019
David E. Price (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2019-3-6

and I rise in strong support of H.R. 1. It is a comprehensive, once-in-a- generation blueprint for reforming our democratic prgtoken system, ranging from gerrymandering to voter suppression, and voting rights to the dominance of unaccountable big money in our politics. It is an urgent priority rightly numbered H.R. 1, and basic to everything else we need to do. If our democracy doesn't work, nothing works. prgtoken It represents a culmination of issues I have worked on during my entire time in Congress, particularly, the way moneyed interests can corrupt our politics and how they drown out the voices of everyone else. prgtoken The For the People Act will modernize our Presidential public financing system. It will establish a new public matching system for congressional races to empower small donors. It will crack down on improper super-PAC coordination with campaigns. prgtoken H.R. 1 also includes my legislation to repeal the IRS dark-money rule, and it expands my original stand-by-your-ad provision to require corporations and other groups to disclose the top funders when they run political ads over the air or on the internet. prgtoken These reforms will empower American voters and encourage more diverse candidates to run for office, and will help break the stranglehold of big money on our politics. prgtoken Let's deliver on the promises we have made to restore integrity, accountability, and transparency to our democracy. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1.
Introductory Statement on S. 674
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2019-3-6

Today I am introducing the ``Clean Corridors Act of 2019.'' This legislation authorizes $3 billion in grant funding to public entities for installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure and hydrogen fueling infrastructure along designated corridors. prgtoken Earlier this week, Chairman Barrasso and I sent a letter to the full Senate requesting Senators' priorities for a surface transportation bill reauthorization this Congress. The surface transportation bill is the primary authorizing legislation for the programs of the Federal Highway Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation, among other programs related to surface transportation. prgtoken As the Ranking Member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, this legislation is a reauthorization priority of my own. prgtoken Nearly two years ago, the Rocky Mountain Institute published a report that said re-installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure should be, quote, an ``urgent priority in all states and major municipalities. Getting it right will require unprecedented cooperation by many stakeholder groups. The time to act is now.'' prgtoken I agree. This legislation would provide grants for the installment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and hydrogen fueling infrastructure along the National Highway System. This bill is the product of remarkable collaboration between stakeholders, and it will take us one step forward in reducing emissions, improving air quality, and enhancing energy security and fuel choice. This legislation is endorsed by stakeholders from across the electric vehicle supply chain, including the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, Electric Drive Transportation Association, Edison Electric Institute, Auto Alliance, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the American Highway Users Alliance. prgtoken As I have stated before, the threat of climate change is greater than any one state, or region or country--we all have to do our part, and the federal government has a leadership role to play. By deploying necessary electric and fuel cell vehicle charging infrastructure, and supporting growth of these needed technologies, doing so will help us lower the rate of emissions of carbon into our atmosphere. prgtoken Even better yet, this legislation will help us in our efforts to put the United States back in the driver's seat of the world's clean energy economy, while creating green manufacturing jobs here at home. This legislation is a true win-win for our environment and our economy, and it is my hope that the Senate will support this legislation and that it will be enacted this Congress.
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2019
G. K. Butterfield (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2019-3-6

I rise in support of my amendment to improve early voting in rural communities. prgtoken My amendment would ensure that early voting locations in rural communities are placed strategically in communities to provide the greatest access to rural voters seeking to cast their ballots. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment. prgtoken My amendment, , gets to the heart of what we have been trying to do here today with H.R. 1, and that is to make voting easier. prgtoken My amendment builds on the underlying text of H.R. 1 that directs States to locate early voting locations within walking distance of stops on public transportation routes by recognizing that rural communities face very different challenges to voting as compared to voters in urban communities. prgtoken In many rural communities, , like the ones that I represent in eastern North Carolina, there is no public transportation in many of those communities, so polling locations in these communities need to be located where these voters will have the best chance to let their voices be heard in our elections, and my amendment would simply ensure that that happens. prgtoken , rural communities are facing many challenges, but their ability to participate in our elections should not be one of those challenges. I think all of us on both sides of the aisle can agree on this. prgtoken During the markup at the committee, I got a good feeling about it, and I hoped my friend from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) would be willing to work with me in getting this amendment passed. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and .