mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING DALLAS MAYOR MIKE RAWLINGS
Colin Z. Allred (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-6-19

. Madam , I rise today to honor the outgoing mayor of Dallas, Mike Rawlings, for his 8 years of exceptional service to our great city. prgtoken Under the mayor's leadership, Dallas saw incredible economic growth. Unemployment has outperformed the State and national rate for 51 consecutive months. prgtoken There is no better advocate for Dallas, as the mayor traveled all over the world working to bring investment to our city and help every part of the city succeed. He helped to improve the quality of life by adding 215 of parklands and 40 miles of trails. He has worked to close the gaps in opportunity in our city. prgtoken Maya Angelou said: ``You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.'' Mayor Rawlings showed incredible leadership in times of crisis, and there is no better example than the grace and leadership he showed in handling the July 7, 2016, attacks on Dallas police officers. He has been a unifying voice for our city. prgtoken As a son of Dallas, I want to thank Mayor Rawlings for his service.
HONORING CLYDE AND GWEN WASHINGTON FOR RECEIVING THE 2019 DUMFRIES MAYOR'S LIVING LEGEND AWARD
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-6-19

. Madam , I rise to recognize the recipients of the 2019 Dumfries Mayor's Living Legend Award. This award is presented to those who have had a profound impact on the Dumfries community through public service, civic engagement, and mentorship. The Town of Dumfries honors the recipients of this award at the Dumfries Mayor's Ball for their extraordinary contributions to our community. It is my honor to include in the Record the following individuals: prgtoken Clyde Washington: Clyde is a graduate of Norfolk State University, with a degree in Education. He also has a Master of Education degree from Virginia State University. Clyde has used his passion for education and put it back into the community, serving as an educator for 31 years in Prince William County. During his tenure, he was a coach and mentor for many young men. Clyde was also an active member of the Prince William County Education Association, both the Virginia and National Education Association, and he was the Prince William County Representative on the Virginia Education Board of Directors. He also served as a Prince William County delegate to numerous State and National Conventions. In recognition of his dedication and civic engagement, he received several honors including a certificate of outstanding achievement from former Neabsco District Supervisor, John Jenkins. While Clyde was teaching, coaching, mentoring, and being an active civic leader, he also held a seat on the Town of Dumfries Council. In 1980, he ran for the Dumfries Town Council and was elected. He went on to serve the town of Dumfries as a Councilman for twenty- eight years; several of those years serving as the Vice Mayor. He always strived to work cooperatively with each citizen and with other town officials. He is and has always been committed to the citizens and promised them dedicated service, and representation with integrity; promises that he fulfilled. Clyde is the husband of Gwen Porter Washington, who is also being honored tonight. He is also a dedicated member and Deacon at the Little Union Baptist Church, a member of the NAACP, and a Lifetime Member of the Virginia Education and the National Education Association. prgtoken Gwen Washington: Gwen was educated in the segregated Prince William County school system. She graduated from Jennie Dean High School in Manassas, Virginia. Gwen is a graduate of Virginia State University, with a degree in Education. She also has a Master of Education degree from George Mason University. Gwen is a third-generation educator which fueled her passion to teach. She invested her passion for education back into the community, serving as an educator for 33 years. Gwen's 33-year teaching career allowed her to have many rewarding experiences. She had a very successful coaching career, winning numerous championships in gymnastics, track & field, and volleyball; she served as department chair for seventeen years; she served as a workshop pr
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIFE OF ALBERT JUDD
Haley M. Stevens (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-6-19

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Albert ``Randy'' Randolph Judd on his remarkable life. Mr. Judd passed peacefully in his sleep on April 11, 2019 and is survived by his wife Patricia ``Pat'' Roan Judd of 46 years and his son Liam Judd. Known as a long-time leader in the great city of Birmingham, Randy served as a City Commissioner for 10 years and as Mayor in 1989. Mr. Judd also joyfully spent his time as a scuba instructor and underwater photographer who certified scuba students in local lakes. He remained deeply committed to philanthropic efforts related to the arts and media while supporting various charitable causes focused on those in need. Mr. Judd's remarkable life offers perspective on what makes communities and families thrive, a compassionate heart, quick wit, and an ability to show up when people need it most. Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in reflecting on the remarkable life of Albert Randolph Judd and his many contributions to his community in Birmingham, Michigan.
Nomination of Matthew J. Kacsmaryk (Executive Session)
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2019-6-19

later this month our Nation will mark the 50th anniversary of the momentous uprising at the Stonewall Inn, an occasion that led to June being designated as Pride Month. From parades and celebrations to quiet remembrances, millions of Americans are reflecting on the progress made in the last 50 years for LGBTQ rights, but under the current administration, I fear some of that progress is at risk. prgtoken President , who once claimed to be an ally of the LGBTQ community, has proven to be anything but that. His administration has pursued a series of administrative rule changes that seek to undermine the progress made by the LGBTQ community. That includes, at seemingly every opportunity, attempting to make life more difficult for transgender individuals, a community of people who already face daily discrimination. prgtoken The administration has worked to erase the gender identities of Federal inmates; to restrict access to healthcare and allow homeless shelters to freely discriminate against LGBTQ individuals under the false guise of religious freedom; and to ban transgender servicemembers from our Armed Services, many of whom have served this country for years, including during times of war. prgtoken If discrimination by policy were not enough, President also nominated an unapologetic anti-LGBTQ zealot for a lifetime appointment to the Federal bench, a nominee Senate s are ready to confirm on the floor this week. prgtoken Matthew Kacsmaryk has a long history of espousing uninformed, offensive, and downright bigoted views of LGBTQ individuals. In 2016, he wrote that the existence of transgender identity is a ``delusion'' and that treating transgender patients in accordance with their gender identity is ``radicalism.'' He has repeatedly disparaged the LGBTQ rights movement and described efforts to roll back progress as a ``Long War Ahead.'' He has argued that discrimination against LGBTQ persons should be legal in employment, public accommodations, and healthcare. He has opposed equality in every possible arena, including anti- discrimination provisions in reauthorizations of the Violence Against Women Act and the Runaway and Homeless Youth Trafficking and Prevention Act, two pieces of legislation that I authored and care about deeply, legislation that attempts to defend the most vulnerable in our society. prgtoken No one can credibly claim that an LGBTQ individual, seeking nothing more than equality under the law, would receive a fair hearing from a Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a man who considers himself a warrior in the effort to roll back LGBTQ rights. He is simply unfit to serve as a judge. The fact that Senate s would consider the nomination of Matthew Kacsmaryk during Pride Month adds additional insult to the LGBTQ community, which rightly speaks with a single voice in opposition to this nominee. prgtoken Protecting LGBTQ rights need not be a partisan effort.
Gun Violence (Executive Session)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-6-19

I want to thank my colleague from Connecticut for leading this discussion today on gun violence. We want to focus on one bill in particular, one piece of legislation, but I want to step back for a moment and talk about this issue more broadly in terms of what it means for the American people. prgtoken We are talking about a problem, the problem of gun violence, which is a uniquely American problem. No other country has this problem. No other country has the amount of mass shootings. I don't know the exact number, prgtoken but we have had so many that we know them by the name of the community. When we say Newtown, CT, or Sandy Hook Elementary School, when we talk about places like Columbine, or Parkland, you know what happened at those places because they have become so common. So this is a uniquely American problem that Americans have to solve. Some of those Americans, obviously, have to be Members of Congress. prgtoken You would never know there was this problem based upon the inaction by Congress, by the Senate, and, until recently, the House over many years. prgtoken The one question I have to ask is, are we going to surrender to this uniquely American problem--because the inaction by Congress over many years now would indicate to me that the answer to that question is yes; that a lot of Members of Congress, House and Senate, have concluded that there is absolutely nothing we can do to reduce even the likelihood of another mass shooting or reduce the likelihood of more and more gun violence. prgtoken So here we are. The House has passed background check legislation that, as Senator Murphy just outlined, is overwhelmingly popular with more than 90 percent of Americans who support it, and we are in day 113. It has been 113 days since the House passed it, and there is no action on the Senate floor. There hasn't even really been a debate of any kind here in the Senate on gun violence or what to do about it. prgtoken So consider that time frame and all the time that has gone by since. The one bill that dealt with this issue of gun violence that passed either House in probably 25 years is now 113 days from having any action in the Senate. So with no action on something as popular and as well-supported as that bill and on such an important issue as gun violence, I have to conclude that without any action here in the Senate, in this particular legislative graveyard, the Senate is surrendering to this problem. It is just letting this bill die in the Senate over time. prgtoken Among the many examples we could talk about, I will give you two examples from both ends of our State of Pennsylvania. In the city of Pittsburgh, we witnessed the deadly act of violence against the Jewish community. The worst act of violence against a Jewish community in American history was at the Tree of Life synagogue back in October, when a shooter opened fire on three congregations worshipping during Shabbat services. Three
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-6-19

. Madam Chairwoman, I rise in support of this amendment. It is a straightforward amendment transferring $13 million from the Federal Prisoner Detention prgtoken account to support local delinquency prevention grants authorized under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. prgtoken Last Congress, I was honored to work with my colleague, the gentlewoman from North Carolina, then chair, now Ranking Member Virginia Foxx, to reauthorize JJDPA, and it passed without opposition and was signed by the President last year. prgtoken Included in that bill was an overhaul of title V of the act which authorizes grants for local delinquency prevention. That overhaul included provisions of the Youth PROMISE Act which I first introduced in 2007. prgtoken The Youth PROMISE Act model is based on what we all know, and that is, that evidence-based prevention and intervention programs can stop young people from heading down the wrong path and instead, keep them on the right track, usually saving more money in the long run than the programs cost. .
FUNDING FOR WAR AND THE WAR POWERS ACT
Brad Sherman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-6-19

we spent many hours in this Chamber talking about the amendments to the appropriations bill, this combination of several appropriations bills, that we will pass later this week. prgtoken What I would like to take a minute to talk about is an amendment I didn't offer because we got the material in the base text. prgtoken Our Constitution creates a tension between Article I and Article II when it comes to the power to wage war: the Commander in Chief on the one hand versus the authority of Congress to declare war on the other. prgtoken Thomas Jefferson determined that it was necessary to get the approval of Congress before he deployed Marines to the shores of Tripoli, our first non-declared war, our first intervention in the Middle East, and a precedent that should have been followed by subsequent Presidents. prgtoken But in fact, since the days of Jefferson, on many occasions, Presidents just sent our troops in without seeking authority from Congress. That is why in 1973, in the wake of the Vietnam war, this Congress passed the War Powers Act, also known as the War Powers Resolution. It provides that the President cannot deploy for more than 60 or 90 days without an authorization to use military force. prgtoken Now, that act of 1973 is not everything it should be because it did not encompass the idea of bombing without deploying troops for periods of 60 or 90 days. It is unclear, perhaps. It is in need of revision, perhaps, but it is the only legal restraint on a President committing us to war without any approval from this Congress. prgtoken But every Attorney General since the 1970s has advised Presidents that the War Powers Act isn't actually binding on them, that a President can send unlimited troops into battle for an unlimited period for any purpose. This is not what should be, and yet many constitutional scholars agree with these provisions, with this interpretation. That is prgtoken why the provision that we have in this appropriations bill is so important. prgtoken I want to commend the subcommittee and the full committee for including in the base text the provision that says no funds shall be used in contravention of the War Powers Act. This is a provision I originally proposed as an amendment on this floor in 2011. We lost the first time, but we ultimately prevailed, and now it is part of the base text. This adds the power of the purse to enforce the War Powers Act. prgtoken I am pleased to report that Attorney General Mukasey, a Attorney General, a strong advocate for Presidential power, testified before the Foreign Affairs Committee that he believes and would advise the President that they need not follow the War Powers Act but that they dare not spend a penny in contravention of the War Powers Act if this provision is included in the relevant appropriations bill. So I commend the committee for including this and assuring that any reasonable Attorney General will tell any President they mus
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Bradley Scott Schneider (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-6-19

. Madam Chair, I rise in support of the amendment offered with my colleague from New Hampshire, Congresswoman Annie Kuster. prgtoken Department of Defense leadership is needed to develop lead-free electronics to solve a pressing defense industrial base supply chain issue. prgtoken Throughout the world, the commercial electronics industry converted to lead-free component technology years ago. However, the defense electronics industry here at home remains reliant on lead-based assembly technology. prgtoken That's because Defense electronics in a fighter jet have different performance requirements than commercial electronics such as in an iPhone. These defense platforms require a much longer lifespan and the ability to perform in extreme environments. prgtoken Our amendment seeks to address the difficulty and cost DOD has experienced in trying to source lead-free electronic technologies, which will only increase as time goes on. prgtoken Additionally, without research and investment, our defense industrial base will continue to face challenges incorporating newly developed technologies, ultimately adversely affecting our military readiness. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to back our amendment to bolster U.S. efforts to develop lead-free defense electronics and look forward to working with Rep. Kuster and the defense subcommittee on this issue.
Gun Violence (Executive Session)
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2019-6-19

from Virginia for his eloquence and passion on this issue. prgtoken I have never talked to him about this, but there is one thing we had in common across the country when I was the attorney general for the State of Nevada and when he was the Governor of Virginia. It was the Virginia Tech shooting. prgtoken As the attorney general, after that horrific, horrific shooting, I wanted to prgtoken make sure that we were passing commonsense laws so that nothing like that could ever happen again. So, in the State of Nevada, when I was the attorney general, I introduced legislation to ensure that when our courts would adjudicate an individual who was mentally ill, the information would get to our law enforcement by way of a background check. We passed that legislation. Yet I am here to tell you that more needs to be done. prgtoken I agree with my colleague in that I would have hoped that the Virginia Tech shooting would have been the last that we would have ever seen in this country, but it was not. Almost 2 years ago, hundreds of people were wounded, and 58 were killed in my hometown of Las Vegas at the Route 91 Harvest music festival. It remains the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. It is not something for which we would have ever imagined citing a statistic in the State of Nevada nor could anyone ever want that. prgtoken Two weeks after that shooting, I delivered my first official address on this Senate floor. My maiden speech, I called it. I called for action to prevent the next mass shooting. Among other things, I asked for universal background checks on firearms. prgtoken Americans support these virtually unanimously, and you have heard the statistics from my colleagues on the floor today--that 97 percent of them want sellers to look closely at who exactly is trying to buy a gun. Yet the Background Check Expansion Act, which is supposed to close loopholes on background checks, hasn't received a vote in this Chamber. Not only has it not received a vote, but we can't even debate it. We can't even come to the floor and debate the issues about which we know Americans across the country want us to do something. Not only have we not had a vote on the Background Check Expansion Act, but neither have we had a vote on dozens of other vital pieces of legislation that would make us safer. prgtoken I have sat here for the last 2 years and watched as the leadership has been perfectly happy to have stopped the Senate from voting on these laws. In fact, I have heard, unfortunately, Senator Mitch McConnell jokingly call himself the Grim Reaper, whose job it is to bury legislation. That is why we have this legislative graveyard. I will tell you that the American people don't think that it is funny. The mothers and fathers of children who have died as a result of gun violence aren't laughing, and neither is my hometown of Las Vegas--a community that is still healing f
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2019-6-19

. Madam , I had a family commitment and so I missed Roll Call vote number 324 regarding the ``Lesko Amendment to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``No.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 325 regarding the ``Jackson Lee Amendment to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yes.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 326 regarding the ``Jackson Lee Amendment to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yes.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 327 regarding the ``Gosar/Luetkemeyer Amendment to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``No.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 328 regarding the ``Grijalva Amendment to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yes.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 329 regarding the ``Gosar Amendment to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``No.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 330 regarding the ``Speier to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yes.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 331 ``Meadows Amendment to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yes.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 332 regarding the ``Lowey Amendments to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yes.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 333 regarding the ``Empowering Beneficiaries, Ensuring Access, and Strengthening Accountability Act of 2019, as amended.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yes.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 334 regarding the ``Grothman Amendment to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``No.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 335 regarding the ``Walker Amendment to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``No.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 336 regarding the ``Palmer Amendment to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``No.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 337 regarding the ``Arrington Amendment to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``No.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 338 regarding the ``Banks Amendment to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``No.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 339 regarding the ``Lowey Amendments to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yes.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 340 regarding the ``Allen Amendment to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``No.'' prgtoken I missed Roll Call vote number 341 regarding the ``Visclosky Amendments to H.R. 2740.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yes.''