mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SUPPORT FOR HEALTH BILLS
Anna G. Eshoo (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-12-8

. Madam , I rise in strong support of seven bills that originated in the Health Subcommittee of Energy and Commerce which I have the privilege to chair. These bipartisan bills address the following: health threats to newborns including stillbirth, newborn hearing loss, and birth defects; improving cardiac care and oral health literacy; providing needed mental health support to doctors and other health care professionals; and improving diversity in the allied health workforce. prgtoken H.R. 5487, the SHINE for Autumn Act of 2021 seeks to reduce the impact of stillbirth by increasing research and data collection to address the tragedy of the 24,000 babies who are stillborn in the U.S. every year. s Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Markwayne Mullin, and Kathy Castor for authoring this legislation. prgtoken H.R. 5561, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2021 reauthorizes programs at the Health Resources and Services Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders to address hearing loss in newborns. s Reps. Brett Guthrie and Doris Matsui for authoring this legislation. prgtoken H.R. 5551, the Improving the Health of Children Act reauthorizes the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. This critical center at the CDC helps advance the health of babies born with birth defects, developmental disabilities, blood disorders and other disabilities. s Reps. Buddy Carter and Lori Trahan for authoring this legislation. prgtoken H.R. 1193, the Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy Act funds NIH and CDC research and public education for valvular heart disease. The bill is named in honor of Carol Leavell Barr, the wife of Rep. Andy Barr, who died last year of sudden cardiac arrest, and I thank him for authoring this legislation. prgtoken H.R. 1667, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act is named after Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency department doctor who died by suicide last year. Physicians have the highest suicide rate of any profession, and this legislation provides grant funding for suicide- prevention and peer-support at healthcare facilities. It also helps ensure healthcare professionals can ask for mental health help without facing negative consequences in their careers. I thank Reps. Susan Wild and David McKinley for authoring this legislation. prgtoken H.R. 3320, the Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act of 2021 establishes a grant program to improve diversity in the physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology, and speech-language pathology professions. I thank Reps. Bobby Rush and Markwayne Mullin for authoring this legislation. prgtoken H.R. 4555, the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2021 directs the Health Resources and Services Administration
TRIBUTE TO DR. LOUIS UCCELLINI
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2021-12-8

I rise today to acknowledge that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will soon lose a fine public servant to retirement. The National Weather Service's director, Dr. Louis Uccellini, is retiring at the end of this year. The National Weather Service--NWS--produces the weather forecasts and products that we rely on a daily basis. These predictions are critical for protecting lives and property around the country, and Dr. Uccellini has played a big part of this work for the last several decades. Before I mention any specific accomplishments, let me share a couple of numbers: 43 years of public service, 70 published scientific articles and chapters in books, and more than 4,500 employees working out of some 168 units or offices. prgtoken Dr. Uccellini--or Louis, as he urges people to call him--has been passionate about weather since he was a small child. A tremendous snowstorm caught his attention during his youth, and even now, he is still fascinated by winter weather, so much so that among the many offices, teams, and even organizations he founded is the Winter Weather desk at the Weather Prediction Center. Among his many scientific accomplishments, Dr. Uccellini co-wrote what has been deemed the most authoritative study on winter weather, appropriately called ``Northeast Snowstorms.'' prgtoken There is no aspect of today's weather forecast that Dr. Uccellini didn't either pioneer, or improve, from models that focus on individual phenomena or areas, to the first ensemble models, to seasonal forecasting models and even space weather. Louis established unified workstations that let forecasters view and assimilate multiple data inputs, and he took an entire forecast division from analog to digital. His ability to look at and integrate multiple types of data inputs and computer systems is why we as a nation can look from a daily forecast to weekly to subseasonal to seasonal. He introduced and integrated ocean, wave, water, air quality, and space models with weather models and oversaw all nine of the NWS's National Centers for Environmental Prediction before being tapped to lead the entire National Weather Service. prgtoken Yet Louis is much more than a scientist. His leadership of NWS and pioneering cultural and organizational changes led the Federal contracting trade publication FCW to name him in 2020 as one of America's top 100 Government Executives, and he was selected to serve as a National Academy of Public Administration Fellow. The ability to lead and manage an organization is difficult even when administration is one's primary profession. It is a large secondary hat for a scientist to wear, and Louis wore it with aplomb, taking the National Weather Service to new heights of organization, service, and professionalism. prgtoken In 2013, Louis took the helm of the Weather Service. He improved the organization's financial management by creating a budget and organizational
UYGHUR FORCED LABOR PREVENTION ACT
Gregory W. Meeks (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-12-8

I just have these last remarks. prgtoken I also want to thank Mr. Smith. As indicated by the , from the time that I have been in Congress, his focus has been on human rights around the world. As the indicated, and as I indicated with Mr. McCaul and you will see coming up with these other bills, we have worked collectively, leaving politics out of it, focused on leading the world. That is what I look forward to, locking arms, sending that message around the world that we are not going to allow slave labor to flourish and to exist on this planet. prgtoken , .
NATIONAL FOREST RESTORATION AND REMEDIATION ACT
Kim Schrier (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2021-12-8

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I thank Mr. LaMalfa for his kind words and for cosponsoring this bill with me. prgtoken My bill, the National Forest Restoration and Remediation Act will help the Forest Service fund the cleanup of damaged public lands. prgtoken This bipartisan legislation, which passed unanimously out of the Committee on Agriculture would allow the Forest Service to collect and keep interest earned on settlement funds, much like other Federal agencies do, in order to supplement their already strained restoration efforts. prgtoken The Forest Service is responsible for overseeing the remediation and restoration of lands damaged by mining activities and human-caused wildfires. And when the negligent actions of companies or individuals result in damages to Forest Service property, officials enter a settlement agreement with the responsible parties to hold them accountable. The Forest Service then uses the settlement funds to restore the affected lands. prgtoken At the moment, the Forest Service does not have the authority to retain interest on those settlement funds like other Federal agencies, like the Department of the Interior and the EPA do. The National Forest Restoration and Remediation Act would simply allow the Forest Service to retain interest on settlement funds and apply those additional resources to restoration work that is abundantly needed. Without this additional funding, the value of settlement funds diminishes over time, and the Forest Service can face long-term budget shortfalls for environmental cleanup. If this bill had been in effect between fiscal years 2015 and 2019, the Forest Service would have received more than $7.5 million to supplement their environmental restoration work. prgtoken So as we confront another potentially devastating wildfire season, it is so important to ensure that the Forest Service can use accrued interest to protect and remediate our forests. prgtoken The Forest Service provides many important environmental services in Washington State, including mitigating wildfires and improving forest health. This is especially critical in places like Chelan County in my district where 82 percent of the land is owned by the Forest Service. prgtoken According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there were over 50,000 human-caused wildfires last year burning nearly six million acres nationwide. And over half of the wildfires on Forest Service lands are started by humans. prgtoken My bill will ensure that when we hold bad actors accountable for negligent behavior, the Forest Service can fully use the fines and the interest to rehabilitate the land. prgtoken I was so proud to introduce this bill with my colleagues Representatives LaMalfa, Rosendale, and Neguse. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill to protect our Federal public lands.
EXTENSION OF COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND PAYMENTS TO TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-12-8

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I rise in strong support of H.R. 5119, a bill to extend the availability of Coronavirus Relief Fund payments allocated to Tribal Governments under the CARES Act of 2020 for 1 additional year. prgtoken This bipartisan bill was introduced by Mr. O'Halleran of Arizona and Mr. Young of Alaska with companion legislation sponsored by Mr. Sullivan and Ms. Murkowski in the Senate. prgtoken The historic CARES Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020, and included critical aid for States, territories, Tribes, and large localities to combat the coronavirus pandemic. However, the Treasury Department did not have a preexisting allocation process for disbursing the $8 billion set aside for Tribes. prgtoken According to a GAO review, it took extra time to set up these processes. Treasury also established some allocation methodologies without consulting with Tribes first, which led to legal challenges and even further delays of emergency relief. prgtoken Taken together, these delays have resulted in a compressed timeframe for Tribal Governments to put their CARES Act funds to work, which is unacceptable in light of the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on the Tribal community. prgtoken According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 infections were 3.5 times higher for American Indians and Alaska Natives compared to White Americans during the first 7 months of the pandemic. Other reports revealed that 1 in 475 Native Americans in the U.S. died from COVID-19 compared to 1 in 825 White Americans. prgtoken The ravages of the pandemic have been compounded for our Tribal neighbors due to longstanding health disparities and social inequities. The deaths of Tribal elders from COVID-19 caused an incalculable and irreplaceable loss of cultural knowledge and language. prgtoken Tribes must be given a fair opportunity to put Federal aid dollars to work tackling these serious issues. H.R. 5119 is a commonsense step to ensure that Tribes have parity with recipients who have not faced similar delays in gaining access to CARES Act funding. prgtoken Finally, I want to assure my colleagues that CBO has confirmed that this bill does not increase Federal spending. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and .
TRIBUTE TO JULIA RITA URSONE
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-12-8

today, I rise to recognize Mrs. Julia ``Julie'' Rita Ursone, a longtime Connecticut resident who turns 100 on January 8, 2022. prgtoken Born in Providence, RI, Mrs. Ursone was the child of Italian immigrants who became U.S. citizens. She moved to Stamford, CT, in 1947, where she has lived ever since. prgtoken Mrs. Ursone grew up during the Great Depression and readily supported American efforts during World War II through factory work. prgtoken To this day, she still lives in the house she built in 1951 with her late husband, who served in World War II and was an active member of their community. Passionate about doing her part in support of our Nation, Mrs. Ursone remains an active voter. prgtoken I hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating Mrs. Julia Ursone, her son Lou, and the rest of her family on this milestone of her 100th birthday.
GUN VIOLENCE
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2021-12-8

I rise today, as I have done too many times before and as my colleague Senator Murphy did just last week, to reiterate what people across my home State and the entire country have been calling for for years now, calling for us to take action here in the Senate to end the crisis of gun violence that we are seeing in our schools, in our neighborhoods, and across our country. prgtoken Last week, we mourned the deaths of four high school students following the tragic shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan. My heart goes out to those four students' families and friends, and my heart goes out to every student at Oxford High who is now carrying the trauma of that experience. prgtoken My heart breaks for every student in this country who grows up thinking something like this will eventually happen to them at their school, and my heart hurts for every parent who worries every time they send their kid off to school because--let's face it--school shootings are a very real threat in this country. prgtoken As a parent and a grandparent and a former preschool teacher, I know school is supposed to be a place where our children feel safe, where they can go to learn and grow and see friends, where they can be kids, but after weeks like last week, that feeling disappears, following school shootings like the one we saw in Michigan or threats to schools like we saw last week in my home State of Washington. prgtoken Just last week, my hometown high school, Bothell High School, was shut down over concerns about a threat of violence. Ferndale High School was in lockdown Wednesday because of a threat of a gun on campus. That same Wednesday, the day after the shooting in Michigan, threats were made targeting three schools in Mukilteo School District, forcing local law enforcement to mobilize resources and personnel--all of that in just 1 week. prgtoken While, luckily, none of those threats we saw in my home State escalated any further thanks in large part to the quick work of local officials, in the same week, Seattle saw six shootings in just over 24 hours. From January through October of this year, Seattle has already seen more than 500 shooting incidents. It is already the most shootings the city has seen in the last decade. prgtoken I am not the only one who thinks this cannot continue. I know because for years I have heard from students and teachers and parents from my State who want major Federal action to finally end the gun violence epidemic in this country. People want an end to these school shootings, an end to shootings at our churches and places of worship, an end to the shootings at our malls and stores, and an end to the gun violence that doesn't always make the news but happens on our streets and in our neighborhoods. prgtoken As Senator Murphy said last week, we are the only high-income nation in the world where this happens. But it happens because we let it happen because, despite how many times my D
Unanimous Consent Request (Executive Calendar)
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2021-12-8

now, my colleague from South Carolina began his remarks with two of my very favorite subjects: supporting America's senior citizens and playing in the NBA, a lifetime dream of mine. prgtoken But the fact is, this unanimous consent request from my colleague is essentially a different way to do the same thing as the Kennedy request. And, colleagues, it is wrong for exactly the same reason. prgtoken The prospect of default is not simply a matter of the two sides squaring off over who has got the best talking points. The fact is, default would just be an economic disaster. prgtoken I just laid out what it would mean for our small businesses and our folks who depend on keeping interest rates from shooting into the stratosphere, and the military would have difficulty getting paid. That is not what America wants. prgtoken Colleagues, I was just home this weekend. I got around my State, and what people said overwhelmingly is--they said: ``Hey, I heard you guys just got together''--I say to my friend from South Carolina--``and you guys got an agreement on keeping the government open. Heard that wasn't going to happen.'' prgtoken And then they said: ``Ron, what you have always tried to do since those Gray Panther days''--and my colleague from South Carolina knows I always try to be bipartisan. prgtoken They said: ``Keep it going. Keep going with that bipartisan effort.'' prgtoken Now, they are listening to a debate about my colleagues trying to bust up an agreement between the ic leader, Senator Schumer, and the leader, Mitch McConnell, to make sure we pay the bills for costs that have been incurred. prgtoken So my colleague from South Carolina has asked for consent, and I think it would be a mistake for this country and be a mistake particularly for our country's senior citizens that I have devoted so much time to. For that reason, I object.
ACCELERATING ACCESS TO CRITICAL THERAPIES FOR ALS ACT
Frank Pallone, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2021-12-8

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , in July, the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing to learn about the challenges associated with finding treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS. prgtoken We heard from the lead scientist from the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, and researchers at top universities, who discussed the difficulties scientists have had in understanding the complexities of the disease and developing biomarkers, a critical tool for drug development. prgtoken FDA told us about the guidance they had provided to the industry on ensuring clinical trials were inclusive, and the agency's willingness to consider novel clinical research methods. However, we also heard from patients who said that FDA's guidance was not doing enough to get results on the ground. prgtoken Given the length of time it often takes to diagnose ALS, many patients have found themselves locked out of clinical trials, despite the guidance urging developers to allow more flexible enrollment. prgtoken As a result, patients and their families are left to fight this devastating disease with very limited medical interventions. According to the patient advocates, FDA's guidance was not being implemented by developers and was not being followed by the agency itself. So H.R. 3537, the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act, takes real steps to improve processes and activities at FDA to ensure patients can access clinical trials. prgtoken This legislation will help us get closer to effective cures and treatments for ALS. It requires FDA to develop and carry out an action plan to show how the agency will address ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases over the next 5 years. prgtoken The bill also creates a new grant program at FDA to cover research costs to characterize rare neurodegenerative diseases, identify molecular targets for the diseases, and increase efficiency and productivity of clinical trials. prgtoken Additionally, the bill creates a new grant program at the Department of Health and Human Services that will help pay for investigational drugs to prevent, diagnose, mitigate, treat, or cure ALS in expanded access programs. Expanded access is an important pathway for patients to receive experimental treatments, which should only be used when clinical trials and other effective treatments are not available. prgtoken , in committee, we ensured there would be a path forward for patients who are not able to participate in clinical research, but also clarified the intent and parameters of the program to maintain the scientific integrity of our research agencies. prgtoken The legislation now requires the Government Accountability Office to measure the program ahead of a 5-year sunset to ensure that these novel grant programs are benefiting patients and researchers. The grants included in this bill are charting new territory for NIH, and it is i
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-12-8

I rise to speak in support of the Revitalizing Small and Local Businesses Act, which I introduced today. prgtoken Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, historic underinvestment in certain communities left their small businesses and business districts more vulnerable to economic shocks and limited economic opportunities. prgtoken Main Street programs and business district organizations have played an important role in supporting businesses through the economic crisis and will continue to play a critical role in supporting a strong, inclusive recovery. While many communities need place-based supportive services tailored to their unique needs, Federal investments have not meaningfully supported these entities. prgtoken As we work to build back better, we have an opportunity to improve equitable access to economic development resources by leveraging the expertise of nonprofit partners with deep connections to small businesses and the organizations that serve them. prgtoken That is why I am proud to introduce this bill together with Senator Wicker to create a new $250 million Economic Development Administration grant program to support place-based supportive services to provide on- the-ground assistance in both urban and rural communities. prgtoken This bill would strategically and efficiently deploy funding to support the vital work of local programs to revitalize small businesses and business districts as these communities, particularly low-income, rural, and minority communities, seek to recover from the devastating economic effects of the pandemic. prgtoken It would support job retention and creation opportunities as well as deliver vital technical assistance to small businesses. prgtoken I thank Senator Wicker for coleading this bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us in support of this bill to empower place- based entities to respond to economic recovery needs through locally tailored solutions.