mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT TO THE SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA
John Garamendi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-2-23

. Madam , today I introduce legislation to adjust the Congressional designated boundary of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area. prgtoken In March 2019, Congress enacted into law (Public Law 116-9) my legislation with U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein designating California's first national heritage area. The Delta is a crown jewel of our state and an iconic working landscape, which my family has been fortunate to call home for over 40 years. It is the most productive watershed in the western United States and among the most ecologically important in the Western Hemisphere. Together, we must safeguard the Delta and the historic communities that make it such a special place. prgtoken The legislation I introduce today, at the request of the City of Rio Vista, would expand the National Heritage Area's boundary to include approximately 62 acres of adjacent publicly owned land encompassing: the decommissioned United States Army Reserve Center (City of Rio Vista), U.S. Coast Guard Station Rio Vista, Beach Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant (City of Rio Vista), and Sandy Beach County Park (Solano County). prgtoken Two of these parcels--the decommissioned United States Army Reserve Center and Beach Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant--are owned by the City of Rio Vista but technically outside the city limits. As such, it appears that these parcels were omitted inadvertently when the National Park Service prepared the legislative map for the then-proposed Delta National Heritage Area in 2010. prgtoken I hope that Congress will enact my boundary adjustment before California's Delta Protection Commission completes the management plan for the National Heritage Area.
OUR POWER, OUR MESSAGE DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-2-23

. Madam , let me thank our illustrious leader of the Congressional Black Caucus, whose visionary leadership is going to carry us into the 117th Congress. prgtoken Congresswoman Joyce Beatty acts legislatively on her history. She is from Ohio, one of the major stops of the Underground Railroad. In fact, Cincinnati, Ohio, has one of the most monumental monuments, if you will, to that freedom train, that courage, of Harriet Tubman. I might say that our chairwoman's actions are in resemblance to Harriet Tubman. We are grateful for her vision. prgtoken We will tomorrow, at the Congressional Black Caucus, unveil the talent of tens upon tens of members of the Congressional Black Caucus and lay out our legacy, Our Power, Our Message. I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership. prgtoken It is as well my honor to be able to co-chair this with, if I might with a degree of familiarity, a brother from the Bronx. I am delighted that a working man's and woman's representative has come to be able to shine, a man who is a product of public housing, public schools, and public hospitals, and who had a dream of lifting up his community and building back a better Bronx. prgtoken I am delighted that at 25, against all odds, he became the youngest elected official in New York City and the first openly LGBTQ elected official from the Bronx. He doesn't know that his reputation preceded him as a dynamic get-her-done person. prgtoken I will repeat his motto before I begin my remarks, and that is Ritchie Torres' remarks and life motto is as follows: ``My motto is life is simple. If you do nothing, nothing will change.'' prgtoken Wow, what a piercing message for all of us, s and , to do something good. prgtoken His motto is: ``If you do nothing, nothing will change. We can build a better Bronx, and we will do it together.'' prgtoken I am delighted to coanchor with Mr. Ritchie Torres for the 117th Congress. General Leave
INTRODUCTION OF THE ENDING CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOLS ACT OF 2021
Alcee L. Hastings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2021-2-23

. Madam , I rise today to introduce the Ending Corporal Punishment in Schools Act of 2021. Corporal punishment is a form of physical discipline where adults deliberately inflict pain on children in order to punish them. In schools, it typically involves the spanking or paddling of children by school officials. prgtoken Corporal punishment is harmful to long term child development. These practices are associated with physical abuse and ineffective. We as leaders should encourage our schools to adopt effective discipline strategies that will be supportive in reducing corporal punishment. prgtoken Schools must be a safe place where students are protected from harm, so that our children are able to thrive, grow, and learn. To date, corporal punishment in school is banned in 128 countries around the world. Sadly, 19 U.S. states still allow corporal punishments in their schools. Over 160,000 children in these states are subjected to corporal punishment in schools each year. This is abhorrent and unacceptable. prgtoken To end this cruel practice, the Ending Corporal Punishment in Schools Act of 2021 would prohibit any educational institution from receiving federal funding that allows school personnel to inflict corporal punishment on students and creates a new grant program to encourage improvements in school climate by promoting positive behaviors. prgtoken Madam , our schools must be a safe space for American children to learn. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this critically important bill, and hope to see its swift passage in the near future.
OUR POWER, OUR MESSAGE DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Ritchie Torres (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-2-23

. Madam , I thank the gentlewoman, as always, for the inspiration of words. prgtoken Our colleague, Congressman Jones, spoke earlier of Brown v. Board of Education. Brown v. Board of Education was the first legal case I ever read. In high school, I participated in a form of legal debate known as moot court, which taught me how to think, read, write, and speak critically and artfully. I will never forget after reading Brown v. Board of Education how inspired I felt, those words in the field of education: Separate but equal is inherently unequal. prgtoken Those words inspired me to see myself--as a young Black man--as a public servant and maybe one day as a Member of the United States Congress. prgtoken But I have to be honest. If you had said to me 1 year ago that I would become a Member of Congress during an infectious disease outbreak, that I would witness an insurrection against the U.S. Capitol during the electoral college vote count, and that I would then vote to impeach an outgoing President who had been impeached once before, I would have said that sounds a lot like a movie. prgtoken So this has been the most draining and disorienting beginning for any freshman class in the modern history of the United States Congress, but I am nevertheless honored to be here. prgtoken January 6 is a reminder that the mission of the CBC takes on a renewed urgency. The Congress Member and I sit on the Homeland Security Committee, and one of our highest priorities is going to be counterterrorism. During one of our recent hearings, I made the observation that America has a pattern of willful blindness toward white supremacist extremism as a form of domestic terror. prgtoken Even though the statistics have been clear that white supremacist extremism has been the dominant driver of violence in the United States for decades, the U.S. Government did not designate a white supremacist group as a prgtoken terrorist organization until 2020. 2020. Never mind the massacre against African Americans, against Latinos, and against members of the LGBTQ community. It took the Federal Government until 2020 to finally recognize white supremacy as a form of domestic terrorism. prgtoken I am often asked: Whom do you admire in history? prgtoken The gentlewoman brought up the Underground Railroad, and I am a great admirer of Harriet Tubman, who, as the architect of the Underground Railroad, is America's Moses. She was a genuine liberator of an enslaved people. prgtoken I also have deep admiration for Ida B. Wells, who was alone as a journalist in standing up to the campaign of domestic terrorism and lynchings against African Americans. And we have to draw from the legacy of Ida B. Wells and renew our commitment to fighting domestic terrorism in our own time. prgtoken Madam , I look forward to joining the gentlewoman in that fight and learning from her.
TRIBUTE TO MRS. MARY ELLA HARRIS
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-2-23

. Madam , I include in the Record the following Proclamation. prgtoken Whereas, the Almighty God has called to her eternal rest Mrs. Mary Ella , a pioneer civic, community, social, religious and political activist in the North Lawndale Community of Chicago and its environs; and prgtoken Whereas, Mary and her family were some of the very first blacks to move into and reside in what was then an all white community; and prgtoken Whereas, as the community changed and as Blacks poured in, many from the rural south, Mary's leadership shined like the bright light that she was; and prgtoken Whereas, Mary was not necessarily the loudest and most militant sounding person in the meetings she was always there and when she spoke, people listened and took action based upon what she said. For many years Carey Tercentenary AME Church was blessed to have four of its members known as leading activist and leaders in the Lawndale Community: Mrs. Nola Bright, Mrs. Jacqueline Ford, Mr. Theodis Leonard and Mrs. Mary Ella . prgtoken Now, therefore be it Resolved that we cherish the life, work, contributions and legacy of Mrs. Mary Ella and extend condolences to her family and friends, son, Reverend Walter , daughters, Ms. Jeanetta Lee, Ms. Pamela Ella and son, James Leo Jr grandchildren, great grandchildren and other relatives. prgtoken She served us well and now may she rest in peace.
REMEMBERING BARBARA A. O'MALLEY
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2021-2-23

today I rise to pay tribute and honor the life of the late Mrs. Barbara O' Malley, a friend, and a dedicated public servant who proudly served Maryland and our Nation as a congressional staffer for Senator Barbara Mikulski for over three decades. prgtoken Born in Fort Wayne, IN, Barbara's love of public service was nurtured early on by her father, Joseph Suelzer, a World War I veteran who served as the chair of the ic Party in Indiana's Allen County. She got an early start in politics as a congressional campaign staffer and then moved to Washington, DC, where she met her future husband, Thomas Martin O'Malley, at the Young ' headquarters in our Nation's Capital. The O'Malleys made a home in Maryland, where Barbara spent 33 years as a stay-at-home mother before her inclination towards politics called her into service once more, this time with an opportunity to work for one of the only two female Senators in Congress at that time, Senator Barbara Mikulski. prgtoken In Congress, Barbara found a second home. To all those fortunate enough to work in the Senate and especially to those who worked on the fifth floor of the Senate Hart Building, including myself, Barbara was simply known as ``Mrs. O.'' She worked as a receptionist for Senator Mikulski and was the friendly face who welcomed constituents, colleagues, friends, and even Senators to the office. With her warmth and kindness, she made you feel right at home. And with her deep knowledge of Maryland's democratic politics, you knew she meant business. She cherished working for Congress, and as a lover of history, she did not take for granted how special it was to walk the same Capitol halls as many of our former great American leaders. prgtoken Even though Barbara was committed to serving the people of Maryland, she was also equally committed to her family--her husband, her six children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In their family, Barbara and her husband, Thomas, a World War II veteran, instilled a sense of duty and public service, so it came as no surprise that their son, Martin O'Malley, went on to become the mayor of Baltimore and Governor of their beloved State of Maryland. prgtoken Dedication and commitment to public service defined Barbara's career in Congress, and we are so lucky she chose the Senate as one of the places to make her mark in this world.
EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW
Dina Titus (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2021-2-23

. Madam , I rise today in support of the Equality Act. prgtoken For far too long our Nation has failed to read and live up to the words that adorn the front of the United States Supreme Court: Equal Justice Under Law. prgtoken We now have a rare opportunity to explicitly push our Nation to live up to its founding ideals and make that phrase ring true for all Americans. No matter who you are or whom you love, under the Equality Act you will be guaranteed the exact same protections as everybody else. prgtoken LGBTQ individuals should not have to worry when they try to access a small business loan, seek healthcare, or buy a home. prgtoken Madam , I am proud to cosponsor this historic civil rights legislation, and I look forward to casting my vote in support of its passage.
COLONEL CARLYLE ``SMITTY'' HARRIS POST OFFICE
Kweisi Mfume (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-2-23

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I thank the distinguished gentleman for his remarks, and I thank him for his service, as well. The distinguished gentleman also is a Major General of the Army National Guard Element, Joint Force in Mississippi. I don't take that lightly. I appreciate all he has done, and I appreciate him calling the name of Sam Johnson, who I served with previously in this body. prgtoken Madam , I went to the Hanoi Hilton as a tourist, and stood there in pain looking at what he and Senator McCain, and so many others went through in that facility. I mean, it just brings you back to Earth. And sometimes we take lightly the service. Sometimes, we take lightly the fact that some of our servicemen and women were captured. And sometimes, we take lightly the fact that war can happen at any time. And when it does happen, we hope that it will continue to always bring out the best in all of us. prgtoken Madam , it is my pleasure to stand here and to give these remarks from our side of the aisle about Smitty. I talk about him as if I know him, but when I read about him, I feel like I do know him. prgtoken My thanks to the gentleman from Mississippi and the gentlewoman from South Carolina for leading this discussion on the other side. prgtoken Madam , .
INTRODUCTION OF THE FRANCIS G. NEWLANDS MEMORIAL REMOVAL ACT
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2021-2-23

. Madam , today, I rise to introduce the Francis G. Newlands Memorial Removal Act, which would remove the plaque and inscriptions bearing Francis G. Newlands' name from Chevy Chase Circle, a federal park located both in the District of Columbia and Maryland. I am pleased Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland joins me in introducing this bill. This bill is part of a series of statue and memorial removal bills I am introducing during Black History Month. prgtoken Newlands was a U.S. senator from Nevada, a conservationist and the founder of the Chevy Chase Land Company, which developed the Chevy Chase neighborhood that touches D.C. and Maryland. Newlands was also a segregationist. He built Connecticut Avenue and ran a streetcar up the road to the newly built Chevy Chase Lake. However, homes on Connecticut Avenue were purposely priced to keep working families out, and covenants were later added to many of the property deeds in Chevy Chase explicitly prohibiting the land from ever being owned by African Americans or Jews. These covenants have since been declared void. prgtoken Newlands went further to keep Black and white Americans separate. In the late 1800s, he and Senator William Stewart secured 2,000 acres of land for Rock Creek Park. Establishing this park not only increased property values for landowners like Newlands and Stewart, but also kept white communities distinct from emerging Black communities on what they called the ``wrong side of the park.'' Newlands' racist views went even further. In 1912, he called for the repeal the 15th amendment, which gave African American men the right to vote. prgtoken The fountain was established in 1932 by Congress. In 1990, the Chevy Chase Land Company also added the plaque next to the fountain. A resolution to remove Newlands' name from the fountain was first introduced by the D.C. Chevy Chase Advisory Neighborhood Commission in 2014. On July 27, 2020, the commission voted unanimously to ask the National Park Service to remove the bronze plaque bearing Newlands' name and to begin discussion on a new name for the fountain. This bill would remove Newlands' name from the fountain and remove the plaque entirely. prgtoken I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.
IMPEACHMENT
Mitt Romney (Republican, UT) \u2014 2021-2-24

once again, I have listened to the arguments of the respective counsel, studied briefs, and weighed evidence in an impeachment trial of President . This is not a responsibility I sought or expected. I certainly did not anticipate having to serve a second time as a Senator-juror in an impeachment trial. prgtoken An initial question shaping the context of this trial was whether or not the Senate has constitutional jurisdiction to try a President who is no longer in office. The Constitution gives the Senate the power to try all impeachments. In this case, where the House impeached the President while he was in office, it is particularly clear that the impeachment is constitutional and therefore that this trial is constitutional. The weight of legal opinion and historical precedent affirms this conclusion. Further, the Senate decided this question in the affirmative. I believe its decision was correct: The Senate must not surrender its power to hold accountable those who abuse their office or threaten our Republic, even in their final days in office. prgtoken In following the oath in an impeachment trial and in our deliberations on the final question, I believe it is up to every Senator to determine what to consider and what the Constitution and their conscience require of them. The conclusion I reached on the final verdict will not surprise anyone who read my reasoning in the first impeachment trial: I consider an attempt to corrupt an election to keep oneself in power one of the most reprehensible acts that can be taken by a sitting President. The second impeachment resulted from the President's continued effort to do just that. prgtoken His attempt to pressure Georgia's secretary of state to falsify the electoral results was itself a heinous act that merited impeachment. President summoned his supporters to Washington on the very day of the electoral vote count, knowing that among the people he gathered were many who had committed violence in the past and who had violent intent. Despite the obvious and well-known threat of violence, he incited and directed thousands to descend upon the seat of Congress as it was undertaking the constitutionally prescribed process to certify his successor. And then he not only failed to defend the Vice President and the others at the Capitol who he saw were in mortal danger, he also incited further violence against the Vice President. prgtoken The President's conduct represented an unprecedented violation of his oath of office and of the public trust. prgtoken There is a thin line that separates our democratic republic from an autocracy: It is a free and fair election and the peaceful transfer of power that follows it. President attempted to breach that line, again. What he attempted is what was most feared by the Founders. It is the reason they invested Congress with the power to impeach. prgtoken Accordingly, I voted to convict President
CORONAVIRUS
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2021-2-24

it is the end of February. Almost exactly a year ago, America was getting its first cases of COVID-19, and they were being reported in the media. We were learning about it but didn't know much at that point. We knew it spread across China. We knew what was happening there. But in the weeks ahead and by the middle of March, just a few weeks from now, our country started going into lockdown. prgtoken We experienced something we had never experienced as a country: a mandatory shutdown across the entire country, followed by instructions to senior adults and people with comorbidities to stay in their homes and not get out. For millions of those senior adults, they asked the same question almost a year ago: When can I get out of my home? When can I see people? And the answer consistently was: Once there is a vaccine. When we get a vaccine in place, this will be better. We don't know how long that will take, but once we get a vaccine, we will be able to turn this around. prgtoken Seniors heard that over and over and over and over again for the last 11\1/2\ months. And, now, thankfully, millions of seniors have been vaccinated. We have 42 million Americans that have gone through the full regimen. In my State, almost 20 percent of the adults in my State have already had their vaccine. We are one of the top States in the country, by percentage, getting vaccines out to individuals. Almost every person in every assisted-living nursing home, critical care facility, staff, and residents have been vaccinated. Almost every single senior adult in my State has been fully vaccinated, and we are into the second round now of teachers and those with comorbidities and other folks that has already begun. prgtoken But interestingly enough, seniors are still asking the same question. I had my shot. I had my second shot. It has now been the 10 days past my second shot, but nothing is changed. prgtoken A couple of weeks ago, I asked CDC a very simple question. It is the question that I am getting asked that I continue to ask CDC. When will instructions come out on what seniors need to do now? Can they get out? Can they hug their grandkids? Can they go to Walmart? Can guests come to assisted-living facilities? prgtoken They were all together during Christmas and Halloween and now Valentine's Day, and they are used to having kids come in and sing songs and people come to visit them. None of that happened last year, and now, they are asking a simple question: When will CDC give guidelines for what happens now? CDC currently has said over and over again: Wait. We are thinking about it. We are researching it. prgtoken CDC needs to act on this. Seniors have been cooped up for a year. They were told months ago, ``Once you get a vaccine, this will get better,'' and they are now finding they had their vaccine and nothing is getting better. They need hope. They need to know the next step. prgtoken So my simple challenge to CDC has be
IN RECOGNITION OF THE NEW OXFORD MARCHING COLONIALS
John Joyce (Republican, PA) \u2014 2021-2-24

. Madam , I rise to congratulate the New Oxford High School Marching Colonials on their victory in the V- USBands Pennsylvania State Championship. prgtoken The New Oxford High School Marching Colonials include 52 students in grades 9-12. A competitive band for many years, the band persevered through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and competed in the virtual V-USBands circuit. From their home stadium in New Oxford, the band designed a new, original field show called ``Together,'' which is intended to convey a message of unity. prgtoken In addition to the state championship, the New Oxford Marching Colonials also earned special awards for High Music, High Visual, High Percussion, and High Colorguard. The band also competed in the V- USBands National Championship, in which the students placed fourth and received a special award for Best Colorguard. prgtoken I congratulate the dedicated members of the New Oxford Marching Colonials, their instructors, and families on this remarkable achievement, and I wish the students every continued success.