mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING DR. HAFEEZ MALIK AND DR. LYNDA MALIK
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2020-7-29

. Madam , I rise in tribute to a man whose life not only stands as a testament to his own achievements but also as an illustration of the greatness of the United States of America and as an embodiment of the American Dream. prgtoken Dr. Hafeez Malik, whose son Dean Malik has resided in Bucks County with his family for almost 20 years, passed away on April 20, 2020, at the age of 90 years old. prgtoken Dr. Malik was a professor at Villanova University for over 50 years, teaching undergraduate and graduate-level courses in political science, international relations, American history, and American government. prgtoken Dr. Malik was a world-renowned scholar who dedicated much of his life to strengthening the relationship between Pakistan, the country from which he emigrated, and the United States. prgtoken Dr. Malik provided lectures to American diplomats and senior military officers on multiple occasions at the U.S. State Department, while also forming the Pakistani American Congress in the 1990s. prgtoken Dr. Malik's scholarship has become an invaluable contribution, enabling the United States to understand the nuances of diplomacy throughout the Muslim world and has guided American foreign policy for nearly half a century. prgtoken Madam , Dr. Malik's success and acclaim would not have been possible without the love and support of the love of his life, his wife of 64 years, fellow Villanova professor Dr. Lynda Malik. prgtoken Hafeez and Lynda met as students at Syracuse University in the early 1950s. They got married in 1956. prgtoken These two amazing people embarked upon an amazing, productive, and renowned public partnership grounded in the bonds of everlasting marriage, ending only with Hafeez's recent death. prgtoken Throughout the Villanova University community, in the international world of academia, as well as in their social circles in southeastern Pennsylvania, where I represent, and elsewhere in the United States and in their home country of Pakistan, Hafeez and Lynda were known as a married power couple. prgtoken Throughout the years, they shared in each other's successes as well as each other's hardships and served as productive, upstanding members of our community. prgtoken Hafeez and Lynda were also proud, patriotic Americans. Their son Dean, who is a friend of mine, is a former Marine officer, a former criminal prosecutor, a practicing attorney, and a proud Iraq war veteran. prgtoken Madam , in death, Dr. Malik leaves behind his lifelong spouse and partner, who is suffering from dementia, and a disabled older son. Nevertheless, it is a comfort to all who know them that the success earned by this couple throughout their lifetime shall go to support these family members now in their time of vulnerability and their time of need, and that their son is to carry on Hafeez's legacy of public service in this life. prgtoken Madam , I rise in tribute to a man and his wife whose life not only stands as a testament
HEALS ACT
Roy Blunt (Republican, MO) \u2014 2020-7-29

I want to talk about the portion of the bill that we have made available to our colleagues and the country this week after lots of input from our colleagues on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education part of the bill. It is about 25 percent of the bill, almost $250 billion. That money would be used to get us back on track toward vaccines that work, toward treatments that work, to provide additional resources for testing, for treatment, for care, to get us back to school, to get us back to work, and to get us back to childcare. These are all things that are critical for our economy and families to return in the way they want to. prgtoken For those things to work the way we would want them to work, our colleague Senator Alexander put it very succinctly: All things run through testing. If you are going to go back to school, if you are going to go back to work, if you are going to go back to childcare, if you are going to be in a nursing home between now and the time we have a vaccine, we need tests that are easy to take and quick to respond. A test that you can take and have the answer in 10, 12, or 15 minutes prgtoken will make all the difference, and we continue to push for that in this bill. prgtoken In fact, there is about $9 billion in a fund that maybe should have been designated a little more specifically, but it hasn't been spent. It was designed to be a testing fund. We should combine that with another $16 billion and make testing available for those priorities-- for nursing homes or in that State-Federal partnership. prgtoken In this bill, we say that a priority for the Federal Government in that partnership is tests that work in nursing homes, tests that work in childcare centers, tests that work in elementary and secondary education, and tests that work in colleges and universities, that allow people to get back into those situations, including a residential campus, to know that when you are there, you have a way to not only test people quickly but get an answer quickly. prgtoken Frankly, President is right when he says that the way current testing has been working really doesn't do much but measure how many people had the disease. It doesn't even say how many people necessarily have the disease but how many people had the disease. If you have a test and you don't get an answer for 5 or 6 or 7 days, what good did it really do you to take the test? It certainly didn't do you much good in terms of not infecting others because you didn't know that you had it-- particularly if you are in that high percentage of people who don't have symptoms but are still able to spread the disease. prgtoken That is why a test that gives you an answer in 15 minutes makes all the difference in the world. If you are on a college campus and take that test and in 15 minutes you have the answer, and if the answer is that you have this, your next place to go is somewhere by yourself. prgtoken I thin
Coronavirus (Executive Session)
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2020-7-29

I intend to talk about section 230 here in just a moment. I just want to react to what the ic leader said and also make some observations generally about where I think we are with respect to a coronavirus relief bill. prgtoken The ic leader indicated that the bill wasn't a serious bill. Frankly, I think it could be argued that the bill he has endorsed, passed by the House of Representatives, was not a serious bill. It was about $3.5 trillion, which would make it about $1 trillion larger than the massive coronavirus relief bill we passed unanimously in the Senate back in March. That bill, at the time, for a lot of people, represented something unlike anything they had ever seen before, both in terms of scale and scope, the expanse of all the issues that it addressed. I think in many respects it was a bill that most Members believed at the time that we needed to get as much assistance out there as quickly prgtoken as we could, and as a consequence of that, there was broad support for that. prgtoken We are at a different point now, obviously, several months later, and have some perspective that enables us to look at what might be effective, what has worked, and what hasn't worked. We have gotten a lot of input from State and community leaders, from businesses, schools, hospitals, and healthcare providers who have been impacted by the virus, and have been able to respond to what has already been done by the Congress in terms of assistance. prgtoken So I think at this point, as we look at what the greatest needs are, it is pretty clear that we have to do something to provide safety net assistance for those who have lost jobs in the form of unemployment insurance. I think there is a commitment on both sides to address that. prgtoken I would argue that the proposal advanced by the , which would just be a continuation of the existing program, is not one that I think most people across this country think is wise policy, and certainly to the degree that it provides an incentive for people to stay home and not go back to work, it does provide a disincentive to work. prgtoken I think that is something this legislation ought to address, and that is pretty much a widely held view, not just by s but by . There are here in the Senate, in the House, and ic Governors who have said that the existing unemployment benefit needs to be modified, needs to be reformed, needs to be revised. prgtoken The question has been raised: What level? It strikes me, at least, that we ought not be putting a benefit out there that exceeds the amount that people would make if they were actually working, because what that essentially says is that those who are working, those who stayed in the workforce are basically paying benefits to those who did not, when, in fact, if there weren't a benefit that exceeded the amount that they made when they were wor
HEALS ACT
Todd Young (Republican, IN) \u2014 2020-7-29

I rise to discuss the HEALS Act. prgtoken As we continue to confront this coronavirus pandemic, we have to ensure that our schools and our employers can safely reopen. Our healthcare providers must also have the resources they need to continue to provide essential care to all Americans to fight this virus and to help this Nation return to some semblance of normalcy as quickly as possible. We have to also provide liability protection for those schools, businesses, and healthcare providers while they do their very best to operate safely during this unusual, once-in-a-generation, once- in-multiple-generations pandemic. The HEALS Act will help to provide these protections. prgtoken The HEALS Act also includes several provisions that I have been championing, including legislation to address unemployment insurance system reform. prgtoken We note that there have been a lot of challenges associated with the legacy computer systems, and we should never ever have to endure this again. prgtoken Financial assistance to help childcare providers reopen has also been another priority of mine. I recognize that our childcare providers play an essential role in not just caring for our children and ensuring they remain educated and in a safe environment when their parents aren't around but in also being critical to our broader economy. If your kids aren't taken care of, you can't go to work, and Hoosiers want to go to work. prgtoken Finally, we have telehealth legislation that has been included in this HEALS Act that will lead to greater affordability and access, especially as many of these authorities are made permanent in the future. This is a way to bend the cost curve down and provide a higher value for each of those healthcare dollars in our moving forward. prgtoken It also includes the TRUST Act, which is something that I helped to introduce in order to establish a bipartisan national plan to finally begin tackling the long-term drivers of our national debt once we get through this coronavirus pandemic. I have been talking about this and have sometimes been criticized for talking about fiscal responsibility and the largest drivers of our long-term national debt. I am unapologetic every time I talk about it. This TRUST Act would establish a bipartisan national plan to finally begin tackling this, and I hope it will remain in the package as negotiations continue. prgtoken Most importantly, I am glad the HEALS Act includes some really important features of my RESTART Act, which is a bipartisan piece of legislation that I introduced with Senator Bennet. We now have somewhere north of 42, 44 bipartisan cosponsors. We have 50 national groups--and growing--that are supportive of this legislation. It is very important that these features remain in the HEALS Act. prgtoken Like my RESTART Act, the HEALS Act recognizes the need for having long-term working capital loans and targeting that relief toward businesses that h
SAMI'S LAW
Rodney Davis (Republican, IL) \u2014 2020-7-29

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken I rise today to thank Chairman DeFazio, Ranking Member Graves, and all who have worked hard in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to get this legislation to the floor known as ``Sami's Law.'' I, too, support this legislation. I also want to applaud the dedication and the hard work of the sponsor of Sami's Law, and that is none other than my good friend, the Representative from New Jersey, Mr. Chris Smith. prgtoken I met with Sami's parents at the urging of Mr. Smith a few months ago. Marci and Seymour Josephson, your government today will show you that it is working for you and for all Americans, and that is because you have a tireless advocate, somebody who I have never seen work harder on an issue that is so important to so many young people in this country than Mr. Smith did. There has been no one in my time in Congress who has come to me on this floor advocating for a single issue that can mean so much to kids like my daughter who is in college, like my sons who are in college that is going to have an impact on their generation as much as the advocacy of Congressman Chris Smith because this bill is going to pass today. We are one step closer to making Sami's Law law. prgtoken As we know, this law is going create minimum standards and requirements for safety for passengers who utilize ridesharing platforms. We want to make sure that digitally they know that the driver they have reserved is the driver who is rolling up next to them to pick them up. This verification process is essential in making sure tragedies that took Sami's life don't happen to other families. prgtoken This bill also creates an advisory council, Sami's Law Council, to make safety-related performance standards and recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation. prgtoken Also a very important point: To keep bad actors out of this arena, we are also going to ban something that I learned about, again, from Congressman Smith, that there are bad actors that were able to purchase Uber and Lyft stickers, put them on their car, and they were able to do it on Amazon, and they had zero experience and zero intention of ever legally getting the clearance to participate in those rideshare programs. prgtoken This is going to save people in America. I support this legislation. prgtoken And my last message to Marci and Seymour Josephson: Sami's legacy lives on after we pass this bill in the House of Representatives today. Thank you for your tireless advocacy, Marci and Seymour, and thank you for sending such a tireless advocate to the House of Representatives in Congressman Chris Smith. prgtoken Madam , .
TRIBUTE TO U.S. SENATE PAGES
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-7-29

it was my privilege to select three outstanding high school students from Kentucky for this summer's U.S. Senate Page Program. These talented young people completed a highly competitive application process, and they represent the next generation of Kentucky's leaders. prgtoken I would like to take a moment to commend Jackson Hester, Charlotte McCarthy, and Thomas Schrepferman for their interest in serving the Commonwealth of Kentucky and our great Nation. Their applications showed a broad range of leadership experiences and extracurricular activities. These Kentuckians and their families should be proud of all they've accomplished at this young age. prgtoken Unfortunately, the coronavirus crisis made it impossible for the Senate Page Program to bring these students to Washington this summer. The virus may have canceled this opportunity, but it can never change the great potential these young people have in store. I would like to thank Jackson, Charlotte, and Thomas for their commitment to public service and extend my best wishes for a bright future.
TRIBUTE TO REAR ADMIRAL MICHAEL SCOTT SCIRETTA
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2020-7-29

today I honor a superb leader, liaison, and warrior. After 3 years of service as director of the Navy Senate Liaison Office, RDML Scott Sciretta recently promoted from captain to rear admiral, lower half. On this occasion, I believe it is fitting to recognize Rear Admiral Sciretta's distinguished service and dedication to fostering the relationship between the U.S. Navy and this Chamber. prgtoken Rear Admiral Sciretta is a 1992 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University. A surface warfare officer by designation, Rear Admiral Sciretta has led our Nation's young men and women on shore and at sea, most prominently in command of USS Jason Dunham, USS Cowpens, and USS Lake Erie. The Navy has consistently relied upon Rear Admiral Sciretta for his exceptional leadership and unparalleled work ethic. prgtoken Rear Admiral Sciretta has excelled in numerous other leadership positions in the Navy, most recently as the director, Navy Senate Liaison. In the Russell Senate Office Building and around the globe, Rear Admiral Sciretta filled the role that was initially created and held by Senator John McCain after his return from Vietnam as a Navy captain. Decades later, Rear Admiral Sciretta had the job of coordinating a weeklong series of logistical movements around the country that enabled present and former Members of both Chambers to honor a late colleague and dear friend. prgtoken Over the course of the last few years, Rear Admiral Sciretta led 45 congressional delegations to 35 different countries. He escorted over half of the Members of this Chamber on travel and became a trusted adviser and friend to many of us. I have had the pleasure of traveling with Rear Admiral Sciretta on a number of trips. He distinguished himself by going above and beyond the call pf duty to facilitate and successfully execute each and every trip, despite any number of weather, aircraft, and diplomatic complications. prgtoken Recently, Rear Admiral Sciretta departed Washington for Key West, FL, to serve as the deputy director of Joint Interagency Task Force South and lead operations to combat illicit trafficking. This Chamber will feel Rear Admiral Sciretta's absence. I join many past and present Members of Congress in my gratitude and appreciation to Rear Admiral Sciretta for his outstanding leadership and unwavering support of the missions of the U.S. Navy. I especially recognize his patient and supportive family, Mrs. Sharon Diane Sciretta, Navy Lieutenant James Francis Sciretta and his wife, Ms. Delma Eylin Sciretta, and Navy Midshipman Adam Joseph Sciretta. I wish this Navy family ``fair winds and following seas.''
CHILD CARE IS ESSENTIAL ACT
Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL) \u2014 2020-7-29

I rise in opposition to the Child Care Is Essential Act. prgtoken Everyone in this Chamber can agree that access to childcare will be vital to the continued reopening of our economy, especially as more and more parents return to work. However, this legislation is not the answer. It would cost an astronomical $50 billion, an amount higher than the total revenue of the childcare industry in the United States, and twice as high as the Bipartisan Policy Center reports that childcare providers actually need. prgtoken Further, this legislation places so many reporting requirements on agencies that $5 billion of that money, a whopping 10 percent, will go to administrative expenses, rather than helping children get the care that they need. This is not where the red tape is, by the way. The bill places additional and unneeded regulatory burdens on childcare centers that would increase their costs and require them to follow State and CDC guidelines on operations, even when those guidelines may directly contradict each other. The Child Care Is Essential Act also unfairly limits access to these funds. Licensed-exempt facilities like at many churches will be prohibited from accessing these funds. prgtoken Childcare is essential as parents begin returning to the workplace, however, this bill spends too much taxpayer money and places an undue and unworkable regulatory burden on facilities, Federal agencies, and yes, on families. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this legislation, and I ask my ic colleagues to actually come to the table on a bipartisan solution to this issue.
REMEMBERING CATHY MARCHEL
Roger Williams (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-7-29

I rise today to honor and remember one of Texas' finest servants, Cathy Marchel. prgtoken Cathy went home to be with the Lord in January after serving our Cleburne community for almost two decades with strength, grace, and unmatched character. She took all of the gifts she possessed and used them in powerful ways to improve her world and those around her. prgtoken She radiated joy with her beaming smile and gracious attitude. She was a leader and a fighter and someone we all looked up to for guidance. No one worked harder for their constituents than she did, and her impact will be felt for decades to come. prgtoken Our community has lost a selfless, devoted servant, and many of us have lost a dear friend. There is most certainly a void in her absence, but we find hope in the promise that she is now with our savior, and we look forward to the day when we all will be reunited. prgtoken May God bless the entire Cleburne community and the Marchel family. prgtoken In God we trust.
HEALS ACT
Joni Ernst (Republican, IA) \u2014 2020-7-29

4 years ago, Jill Larsen opened Crayons 2 Pencils Early Learning Center in Norwalk, IA. This state of the art childcare center offers full day, before and after school care, and preschool-only programs for children from 6 weeks old to school age. They have even expanded to include a learning center and recreation center. It truly is topnotch. But when COVID-19 hit, Crayons 2 Pencils' enrollment dropped from 150 children to 32. And it was only through the Paycheck Protection Program that this childcare center was able to stay afloat and keep their workers paid. prgtoken Jill Larsen's story is not unique. Without the help of the Paycheck Protection Program, so many of our small businesses and childcare programs across the country would have gone under. Ninety-nine percent of Iowa's businesses are small businesses, and the Paycheck Protection Program has been a critical lifeline for so many of them. prgtoken I hear it time and again on my 99-county tour--most recently on a Main Street tour in Albia with some outstanding female small business owners. Nearly 60,000 small businesses in Iowa have received PPP loans, saving hundreds of thousands of jobs. But, folks, there are more funds left in the program, and many of these folks need additional help. That is why we should allow our most distressed businesses to receive a second PPP loan--so they can continue to keep workers paid and their doors open. The HEALS Act would make that possible. prgtoken While the Paycheck Protection Program helped the Crayons 2 Pencils daycare center keep their employees paid, as folks are getting back to work, these critical facilities are facing new challenges--making up for losses from decreased enrollment, trying to expand to accommodate more kiddos due to school closures, or acquiring critical medical supplies or PPE to create a safe and clean environment for these families. prgtoken Just recently, I held a telephone townhall, and I was joined by Iowa's director of health and human services, Kelly Garcia. We heard the concerns of Iowa parents and talked about the solutions we are working on at the State and Federal levels when it comes to childcare access and affordability. prgtoken Our working parents are anxious and concerned about what lies ahead. Do they have to quit their jobs to stay at home with the kids? How much will childcare cost? What happens if childcare providers can't open back up? prgtoken This is the reality for so many. That is why I made it a top priority to provide additional resources for our childcare programs and our families. Included in the HEALS Act is my bill to create back-to-work childcare grants, which would give providers the resources they need to make it through this crisis. It would also help them access PPE and other medical supplies so they can adhere to the safety guidelines and provide a clean and safe environment. prgtoken But it doesn't stop there. I am also working to assist o