mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-10-28

I reserve the right to object. I certainly welcome the Senator from Utah's interest in oversight of coronavirus emergency relief funds. There is no question Americans deserve to know where their hard-earned tax dollars are going and how these critical relief funds are being used to help communities all across our country in the wake of this public health crisis, especially for those who need it the most. prgtoken I am also thankful that my colleague agreed with the importance of conducting thorough oversight of these programs and supported the creation of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee when we passed the CARES Act. These oversight requirements, based on the successful oversight model of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, ensure that we have strong oversight of all coronavirus relief dollars through regular, detailed reports and recommendations from the PRAC, the GAO, and the inspector general. prgtoken Following guidance from the Office of Management and Budget, all COVID-19 relief funding from the legislation that the Senator has identified is already being tracked on USASpending.gov. Anyone-- anyone--can go to the website right now and see the figures. prgtoken As of August 31, Congress has provided $4.7 trillion in relief spending. The administration has committed $3.9 trillion of those funds to helping communities, and $3.4 trillion in assistance has already reached those who need help through this crisis. prgtoken I would also urge the Senator to consult the more than 1,300 oversight reports that the PRAC has already completed related to the pandemic response, in addition to the more than 100 reports that the GAO has also issued on this topic, rather than creating additional and redundant work for the GAO at taxpayer expense. prgtoken The Senator's proposal is duplicative and unnecessary, and for that reason I object.
HONORING THE LIFE OF RAYMOND MATTZ
Jared Huffman (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-10-28

. Madam , I rise today in celebration of the life of Raymond Mattz, who passed away at the age of 79 on September 2, 2021. Raymond was a revered elder of the Yurok Tribe who fought for his people's fishing rights and their reservation, including in a landmark case before the U.S. Supreme Court. prgtoken Raymond grew up in Requa, at the mouth of the Klamath River. Though his Yurok ancestors had signed a treaty with the U.S. government in 1855, it was not ratified, which led the state of California to open the Yurok Reservation to white settlement in 1892. This meant tribal fishermen had to obtain permits to fish, which severely limited the catch that the Yurok people had depended on since time immemorial. After being cited by a game warden for fishing, Raymond contested his case in state court, and then finally in the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973. prgtoken The Supreme Court overturned California's assertion that the reservation was no longer Yurok country. Following the ruling, the state turned jurisdiction of the reservation to the federal government, which banned fishing outright and led to the salmon wars of 1978. Raymond was a leader among fishermen who continued to fish despite being targets of federal agents who often violently accosted them and confiscated gear. His efforts helped lead to the establishment of the Yurok Tribe's fishing rights on the Klamath River. Raymond also served on the Yurok Tribal Council and was a member of the Yurok Cultural and Natural Resources committees. prgtoken Madam , I respectfully ask that you join me in extending condolences to Raymond's family, friends, and tribe; and in expressing our deep appreciation for his decades of contribution to tribal rights and the Yurok Tribe.
TRIBUTE TO MRS. AGATHA SHORTER-LEWIS
Salud O. Carbajal (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-10-28

. Madam , today I rise to celebrate the life of Mrs. Agatha Shorter-Lewis, a member of CA-24's NAACP Branch. Mrs. Shorter-Lewis has been described as ``a social justice, human and civil rights champion,'' because of her hard work fighting for equal rights throughout the Central Coast. Agatha Noel Shorter-Lewis was born in Los Angeles, California on September 7, 1950, to Leon and Martha Shorter. As a young woman, she studied at a community college in the Los Angeles area, transferred to the University of California, Santa Barbara and earned a bachelor's degree in sociology in 1975. prgtoken In 1973, Mrs. Shorter-Lewis began volunteering with Santa Barbara County Probation Department, interned with them in 1974 and in 1975 at the age of 24, she took the test for Deputy Probation Officer II and scored 1#. On January 20, 1976, Mrs. Shorter-Lewis was sworn in as the first Black female Deputy Probation Officer hired by Santa Barbara County. Her first assignment was working with Juveniles. prgtoken In an April 2001, Santa Maria Times newspaper article, Mrs. Shorter- Lewis recounted her time at the Probation Department noting one case stands out: ``A boy, who just wouldn't go to school and was giving his parents, school administrators and teachers chaos. She told him, ``Listen, if you don't get up and go to school on time, I'm going to have to get there to your house and when you turn over, I'm going to be in bed with you, because I told you to get up and go to school.'' The young man thought she was playing with him and wasn't going to do it. Early one morning his mom called saying he wouldn't get out of bed. She told his mom ``I'm on my way'' and when she arrived at the house, she told the mom ``don't wake him up anymore, begging him to go to school'' and eased up in bed with him. When he turned over, he said ``Oh, Oh, Miss Shorter, Miss Shorter, I'm going to school, I'm going to school.'' She said, ``sure you are going to school because I'm going to wait right here until you get up.'' She drove the boy to school that day and his mother never had problems with him again. While at Probation, Mrs. Shorter-Lewis helped countless youth and their families changing their lives through dedication and caring while providing structure to help them reach their full potential. Mrs. Shorter-Lewis served the last 8 years with the department in the Adult Investigation Unit, investigating felony offenses, and determining whether or not to grant probation. She represented Probation in Court once a week as a Hearing Officer in Judge Rogelio Flores courtroom. prgtoken Mrs. Shorter-Lewis served 27 years as Deputy Probation Officer, retiring on April 27, 2001, due to health issues. prgtoken Mrs. Shorter-Lewis married Rev. Henry Littleton Lewis, Jr. on January 16, 1993. Their wedding was the biggest wedding event in Santa Maria, with 25 bridesmaids many of whom were Judges, attorneys, and Probation Officers and more than 1,000 guests
PROTECTING STUDENT ATHLETES FROM CONCUSSIONS ACT OF 2021
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-10-28

as our students return to in-person instruction, they also will return to school sports. We encourage our students to be active and play schools sports to promote healthy habits, team-building skills, and socialization, which are especially important after a year of remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet every year, more than 140,000 estimated student athletes sustain a concussion, and that is just the reported count. We can be sure that many more go unreported and untreated. prgtoken The health benefits of competing in school sports are undermined if students are staying out on the field after an injury, especially concussions. Unfortunately, many student athletes return to play prematurely, and there is growing evidence that untreated concussions can have detrimental, long term effects on their health and academic performance. prgtoken That is why last week I reintroduced the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act. My bill would direct states to develop concussion safety plans for public schools that include a concussion safety awareness component. Certain States, like Illinois, already have such procedures in place, but it is high time we make this true for all States. By equipping our schools and communities with evidence-based guidance for responding to concussions, we can keep our students and their futures safe. prgtoken The bill also would require States to adopt a ``when in doubt, sit it out'' policy. If there is even the possibility that a student athlete has suffered a concussion, their health and safety ought to be the No. 1 priority. That means, if an athlete is suspected of having sustained a concussion, they should sit out and not be allowed to return to play the same day. They should return to play only once evaluated and cleared by a qualified healthcare professional. prgtoken Let's be clear: A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that affects brain function. It is, by no means, something we can simply shake or walk off. Getting your ``bell rung,'' like they used to say in my day, is a serious threat to a young person. The still-developing brains of students make them more susceptible to injury, making concussions all the more dangerous. prgtoken A ``when in doubt, sit it out'' policy, endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Academy of Neurology, will put the decision to return to the game in the hands of qualified healthcare professionals. It will prevent student athletes from experiencing successive injuries by staying in the game when they are not fit. It will give student athletes time to heal and help ensure that short-term symptoms do not become long-term effects. prgtoken As we return to in-person instruction, we must use common-sense and evidence-based approaches to ensure student safety. For school sports, this means we have to put the necessary procedures for preventing, detecting, responding to, and treating concuss
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2021-10-28

today I am introducing legislation to allow the District of Columbia to receive funding and other benefits under the Coastal Zone Management Act. I am pleased to offer this companion legislation to a bill introduced by the Congresswoman from the District of Columbia, Eleanor Holmes Norton. prgtoken Few of us realize that 70 percent of the District is located within the coastal plain. Similar to my State of Delaware, sea level rise, upstream sources of water, and degraded infrastructure mean that the District could experience serious future cleanup and repair costs due to flooding, including damage to Federal property, which makes up almost 30 percent of the District. Since 1950, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, reports there has been a 343-percent increase in nuisance flooding in prgtoken the District. Since 2006, D.C. has experienced two 100-year flooding events. Scientists predict that tides on the Atlantic coast could rise 2 to 4 feet by the year 2100, causing as much as $7 billion worth of property damage in the District, which would regularly be under threat by floodwaters. This fact was highlighted by a study released by the nonprofit Climate Central last week. Needless to say, these events will become more and more common due to climate change and sea level rise. prgtoken The District of Columbia would use funding from the Coastal Zone Management Program for flood risk planning and environmental restoration to prevent and mitigate future flood damage. At the same time, this work would help to restore and conserve the District's coastal resources such as habitat, fisheries, and endangered species. prgtoken If included in the Coastal Zone Management Program, the District of Columbia would be eligible for $1 million or more of Federal funding annually to assist in coastal flood-control projects, to combat non- point source water pollution, and to develop special area management plans in areas experiencing environmental justice and/or flooding issues. prgtoken The National Coastal Zone Management Program, housed in NOAA, was established through the passage of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. At the time, Congress recognized the need to manage the effects of increased growth in the Nation's coastal zone, which includes jurisdictions bordering the oceans and the Great Lakes. prgtoken There are currently 34 jurisdictional coastal zone management programs, including both States and territories. In order for the District of Columbia to participate in the program, Congress must pass this amendment to the Coastal Zone Management Act that would include the District under the definition of a ``coastal State.'' prgtoken I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill I am introducing today be printed in the Record following my statement.
HONORING THE MEMORY OF ALEX ODEH
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-10-28

. Madam , I rise today to honor the memory of Alex Odeh, a peace activist who worked to promote civil liberties for Arab Americans in the United States and civil and human rights around the world. prgtoken A Palestinian immigrant, a published poet, lecturer of Arabic language and Middle East history at Coastline College, Alex was someone who embodied the best America has to offer. prgtoken Through his work with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, he dedicated his life to achieving true equality and equity for all. prgtoken And for daring to push for a better tomorrow, Alex was murdered on October 11, 1985, when a pipe bomb exploded as he entered his ADC office in Santa Ana, California. prgtoken This horrific act of domestic terrorism targeting Arab Americans was not new, and I am proud to say it has failed to achieve its objectives. prgtoken Arab Americans and Palestinian Americans are still here, loud and proud, speaking truth to power, and carrying on Alex's fight in his memory. prgtoken Our politics of love are the only response. Those who support oppressive policies in Palestine that murdered Alex and those who continue to fearmonger and whip up hate against us to this day will not win. prgtoken We will never give up, Alex. I am proud to be here because of you.
INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FLOOD PREVENTION ACT OF 2021
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC) \u2014 2021-10-28

. Madam , I rise to introduce the District of Columbia Flood Prevention Act of 2021. The bill would amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA) to include the nation's capital in the definition of ``coastal state.'' Senator Tom Carper, the Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, has introduced the companion bill in the Senate. Our bill would correct an apparent oversight in the omission of the District of Columbia from the CZMA by making the District eligible to receive federal funding and oversight for federally issued permits, facilities and actions that affect our coastal waters. The District urgently needs the protection of the CZMA because of serious flood risks that currently affect federal assets, residents and businesses, including the National Mall and the cluster of downtown federal agencies. prgtoken Congress has authorized a number of programs to help states and territories respond to floods and mitigate risk through resiliency projects. An effort to reduce coastal flood risk, the CZMA provides planning and technical services to assist states in protecting, restoring and developing coastal communities and resources. Once the federal government approves a state's coastal management plan, the state becomes eligible for grants. Federal actions must be consistent with the state plans and vice versa. prgtoken Even though the District, including the federal complex, is located on two rivers, and has suffered substantial coastal floods in the past, it was omitted from the list of eligible states and territories in the CZMA. It is notable that under Section 304 of the CZMA, ``coastal state[s]'' include the states and U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands and American Samoa). Because territories are included in the definition of ``coastal states'' while D.C. is absent, it appears that D.C.'s omission is a mistake, which only Congress can correct. This oversight likely occurred because the CZMA was passed in 1972, which was before the District achieved home rule. prgtoken Scientists have predicted that the tides on the Atlantic Coast could rise two to four feet by the year 2100, causing property worth as much as $7 billion in the District to be routinely under threat by floodwaters. This damage includes private homes and businesses and the National Mall, federal buildings and three military bases located in the District. The Anacostia and Potomac Rivers, which surround the District, are tidally influenced, part of an ``intertidal zone'' between high and low maritime tides. In addition, the Maryland and Virginia coastal zones each include the tidal Potomac River, with Maryland's zone ending at the District line. prgtoken I initially offered the D.C. Flood Prevention Act in a previous Congress. The bill passed the House as part of the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities
SENATE RESOLUTION 432--RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2021 AS FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH AND CELEBRATING THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF FILIPINO AMERICANS AND THEIR IMMENSE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE...
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2021-10-28

I rise today in recognition of Filipino American History Month. Throughout the month of October, people across the United States come together to pay tribute to the rich culture, history, and heritage of Filipino Americans. prgtoken Since the first permanent Filipino settlement in the United States was established more than 250 years ago, Filipino Americans have played a notable role in the development of our country. As the third largest Asian American and Pacific Islander group in the United States, Filipino Americans add to the fabric of our society through contributions in healthcare, the arts, prgtoken business, journalism, and in government and military service. prgtoken Filipinos and Filipino Americans have a longstanding history of serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. In 1915, Fireman Second Class Telesforo Trinidad was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism in rescuing two shipmates after a boiler explosion on board the USS San Diego. He survived and continued serving during WWI and WWII until his retirement in 1945. Today, Telesforo Trinidad holds the distinction of being the first Filipino American and the first and only Asian American in the U.S. Navy to receive a Medal of Honor. prgtoken Filipino Americans have also contributed as leaders in important workers' rights and civil rights movements. In 1965, Larry Itliong, Peter Velasco, and Philip Vera Cruz led Filipino American farm workers to strike, demanding better pay, benefits, and working conditions. The Delano Grape Strike was one of the most pivotal civil rights and labor movements in American history. prgtoken Earlier this month, Maria Ressa, a Filipino-American journalist and author, became the first person born in the Philippines to win a Nobel Peace Prize. Maria, a ``fearless defender of freedom of expression,'' was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for working to expose the abuses of power and growing authoritarianism in her native country. She also founded Rappler, a digital media company for investigative journalism that has documented how social media is spreading fake news and manipulating public views. prgtoken While Filipino American History Month is a time of celebration and commemoration, we must also recognize the disparate impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on communities of color, including the Filipino-American community. Approximately one in four Filipino- American adults serve as frontline healthcare workers. High representation in essential work and other socioeconomic factors like living in multigenerational homes, poverty, limited English proficiency, preexisting health conditions, and a lack of health insurance, put these communities at higher risk for COVID-19 transmission. As a result, Filipino-Americans comprise an estimated 32 percent of COVID-19 deaths among nurses despite representing only 4 percent of registered nurses nationwide. In spite of the emotional and physical toll of the
FURTHER SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2021
Peter A. DeFazio (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2021-10-28

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , I rise in support of H.R. 5763, the Further Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2021. prgtoken Here we are again, calling up yet another short-term extension of Federal highway, transit, highway safety, motor carrier, research, and transportation financing programs. prgtoken As I stated when the House took up the first extension on October 1, the House of Representatives did its work last summer, which included a 5-year authorization of surface programs, well in advance of the need for any extensions. And the Senate did later pass a 5-year authorization. prgtoken We haven't yet found a path forward for both Chambers to pass the same version of the bill, but we need to act immediately to be certain we don't have a lapse in authorization. There are adequate funds in the highway trust fund to cover this extension. No additional funds will be necessary. prgtoken If we don't, on October 31, 3,700 employees will again receive furlough notices that they cannot report to work on November 1, or have to work without pay, with a temporary shutdown of those programs. prgtoken The Federal Highway Administration won't be able to provide any new funding to States, the District, or territories. They will be able to continue reimbursing, but a lot of States are beginning--they have initiatives and applications pending for new programs, and all those would be set aside and delayed. prgtoken The Federal Transit Administration won't be able to issue new funding to 1,300 transit grantees that rely on Federal grants to fund construction; buy vehicles and equipment, an ongoing process; and, in some cases, pay for operating costs. The FTA can continue to make payments for grants issued before October 1--again, not adequate looking at future needs. prgtoken The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cannot award new grants, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration must stop issuing new motor carrier safety grants. prgtoken And the Office of the Secretary will not be able to make any further TIFIA loans. prgtoken The Further Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2021 will allow the Department of Transportation to restart operations of programs funded by the highway trust fund through December 3, 2021, which will be a momentous day around here. It also authorizes DOT to provide backpay for employees in the event of a temporary shutdown. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this extension which will help provide additional time to work through the final resolution of a long- term surface transportation bill. prgtoken Madam , .