mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DELIVERING FOR AMERICA ACT
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2020-8-22

. Madam , mail is an essential government service and a critical lifeline for many, especially during this pandemic. prgtoken What have operational changes made to the postal system accomplished? Parts of the country are having their mail delayed by up to a week or more. This is harming veterans, seniors, and our rural communities. prgtoken What has the Postmaster General already done? Curtailed overtime; restricted deliveries; eliminated sorting machines; in Hartford, Connecticut, in the parking lot there is a dismantled machine; removed mailboxes; prohibiting employees from making late mail deliveries, directing them to leave mail undelivered at distribution centers overnight; warned 46 States and the District of Columbia that it could not guarantee all ballots cast by mail for the November election will arrive in time to be counted. prgtoken Yes, this is about our democracy, as well. This administration is undermining a pillar of our democracy, voting for a partisan purpose. Obstructing the Postal Service for political purposes is illegal. It is illegal to interfere with the mail. prgtoken During this unprecedented time, we must be streamlining, not sabotaging, voting by mail. prgtoken The administration wants to destroy the public's faith and trust in the public service. No, the American people are not going to let you do it. I might add, the Postal Service has a 90 percent favorability rating. It is the most popular Federal agency. Would that we had a 90 percent favorability rating. prgtoken We must fight for this essential component of our democracy and of people's lives. We will, through rain, shine, or sleet, or President .
DELIVERING FOR AMERICA ACT
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-8-22

such time as I may consume. prgtoken The other side of the aisle has a double standard. Congress provided hundreds of billions of dollars to all sorts of industries, businesses, large and small entities across the country to help them cope with the coronavirus crisis. We did not require them to come forward with detailed plans of how they are going to spend their money. But they want it for the Postal Service. prgtoken Now, the Postal Service made a public request, and they requested it and presented it to the Board of Governors, who are appointed by President , and the Board approved it unanimously. That is far more than all these other entities that we have given billions of dollars to did. And we should support the Postal Service now. prgtoken On top of it, the CBO came out with an estimate that this money would be spent in the next fiscal year, and that they needed it. The CBO record can be found online. prgtoken , I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Mfume).
KEEPING U.S. POSTAL SERVICE RUNNING
Sylvia R. Garcia (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-8-22

. Madam , I stand here today because the prgtoken United States Postal Service is under attack by the current administration. prgtoken This is an assault on our democracy and our economy, and it is hurting Americans across the country. It is hurting the veteran in my district from Pasadena, Texas, who receives his medications from the VA through the mail and who is now worried about what will happen to him if his medications get delayed. prgtoken It is hurting my neighbor from Lindale Park who cares for her elderly mother and didn't receive her Social Security check in the mail on time, further stressing her financial situation and leaving her unable to pay her mother's utilities. prgtoken And it is hurting the small businesses in my neighborhood in the Houston region, already crippled by this pandemic, that depend on the Postal Service to mail out payments and products. prgtoken Madam , we cannot stand by as people are hurting. The Postal Service delivers money, medicines, merchandise, and, yes, mail-in ballots. prgtoken Madam , we must keep the Postal Service running. People are hurting.
DELIVERING FOR AMERICA ACT
Joe Neguse (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2020-8-22

. Madam , I thank Chairwoman Maloney for her leadership. prgtoken Madam , I am proud to speak in strong support of the Delivering for America Act. prgtoken I have been here on the floor listening to this debate, and I have heard several of my colleagues describe this as a manufactured crisis. Tell that to my constituents. prgtoken Tell that to Kelsey, a small business owner in Loveland, Colorado, who is worried about her ability to get packages delivered on time to her customers because of delays at the Postal Service. prgtoken Manufactured crisis? Tell that to Marsha, my constituent in Boulder, who depends on mail-order prescriptions, which this month took nearly 2 weeks to arrive. prgtoken This is not a manufactured crisis. There is a real crisis at the Postal Service under this Postmaster General, and we, here in the House, strive to fix it. prgtoken That is why I am a strong supporter of the bill that is before the House today, ultimately to ensure that the current standards of the Postal Service are protected and provide $25 billion in emergency funding. prgtoken Let us get this done for the American people.
DELIVERING FOR AMERICA ACT
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-8-22

I rise in support of H.R. 8015. prgtoken This upcoming 2020 general election will be like no other we have witnessed. Americans will cast their vote to elect a new government amidst a dangerous pandemic that has devastated countless American families. To date, over 170,000 Americans have died due to COVID-19 and over 5.6 million Americans have been infected. The pandemic has disrupted our health, economy and our way of life, including our democratic traditions. Americans are rightfully worried about how to safely cast their vote this November. prgtoken Public health experts agree that voters will be empowered to protect themselves and their families by having safe voting options, which includes absentee voting. Having the option to vote by mail ensures that voters who cannot vote in person don't have to choose between their health and their right to vote. prgtoken The engine of voting by mail is the United States Postal Service. In every election, postal workers provide an essential service to our democracy by processing and delivering millions of absentee ballots for domestic, overseas and military voters. This November, several million Americans will depend on the Postal Service to exercise their right to vote. prgtoken But in recent months, new leadership at the Postal Service directed drastic operational policy changes that disrupted mail processing and slowed mail delivery nationwide. The impact of the delays has been harmful to Americans, especially senior citizens, veterans and the sick, who depend on the Postal Service to receive medications, retirement checks and other essentials. Former Postal Service executives, election administrators and voter advocacy groups have warned that ongoing delays in mail services will likely disenfranchise voters that will cast absentee ballots this November. prgtoken The Delivering for America Act will work to restore prompt and reliable mail delivery services to the American people. The bill rolls back the recent disruptive operational changes at the Postal Service and prohibits the Postal Service from implementing any further changes that will delay mail and reduce delivery standards. prgtoken The bill also works to protect access to absentee voting and prevent voter disenfranchisement caused by delayed mail. It does this by ensuring that all election mail, including absentee ballots, will be treated as first-class mail, and will receive a postmark, or other indicia indicating date of receipt. In addition to protecting the absentee voting system, these changes will help maintain trust and confidence in the Postal Service. prgtoken And lastly, the bill will appropriate much needed funding support to the Postal Service in the amount of $25 billion which will help ensure the long-term financial stability of the agency, and was requested by the Board of Governors appointed by President . prgtoken As November 3rd nears, and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to
DELIVERING FOR AMERICA ACT
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-8-22

I had not necessarily intended to speak after the minority leader, but I cannot help but respond to some of what the minority leader had to say. prgtoken First of all, he practices the President's favorite tactic. Distract. Speak about that which is not relevant. All the are voting. They may be voting at that machine. They may be voting at that machine over there. They may be voting at that machine, or they may be voting at that machine back there. They may be voting by proxy, which you didn't like. The minority leader sued, and the Court said it is up to the House to decide its own rules. prgtoken Now, when we passed the HEROES Act 100 days ago tomorrow, what did the minority leader say? Let's wait and see what happens. And what has happened since then? Thousands, tens of thousands of people have gotten sick, and thousands and thousands of people have died in those days. Let's wait and see. prgtoken And what did the majority leader, who can put a bill on the floor, what did he say? Let the States go bankrupt. prgtoken , there has been a lot of talk on the floor about bring this bill or that bill or the other bill. The Senate is controlled by your party, I tell my minority friends in the House. They haven't passed a single bill in 70 days, in 100 days, not a single bill. Why? Because they would have to compromise. prgtoken And you say we need to bring things to the floor. The minority leader, of course, had a man named Garland, from February to January when was the President of the United States, and refused to consider it. Do you think there is a Founding Father who thought that advice and consent meant that they could simply ignore the President's nominations? I think not. prgtoken Some people talk about, Oh, there are some very, very important things to do. One of them, the gentlewoman from North Carolina--now, let me, 84,631 deaths since HEROES passed. Let's wait. We passed HEROES. No action in the -controlled and led United States Senate. So don't whine to me about what you want on the floor. Don't whine to me about we could have done this, we could have done that, we could have done the other. prgtoken , I was just talking to the chief of staff of the White House, and I kidded him, I said, You know, when you were here in the House and we had leadership and they offered solutions, you undermined them. prgtoken Who says so? John Boehner says so. You had the opportunity to make a deal. prgtoken Now we control the House, and very frankly, the majority leader cannot pass a bill because 20 of your Members in the United States Senate want to do nothing, and just tell the people who are suffering, who are on unemployment, who don't have childcare, you are on your own. prgtoken Now, I have heard all this talk about what we could have done. Do it. Do it. Nancy Pelosi and Secretary Mnuchin got four deals done. Most of you voted for them, and they passed overwhelmingly in a bip
REFLECTING ON THE LIFE OF BILL HALL, SR.
Joe Cunningham (Democrat, SC) \u2014 2020-8-22

. Madam , I rise today to reflect on the great life and legacy of Bill Hall, Sr. A remarkable businessman, dedicated father, and Lowcountry icon, Bill Hall embodied the American dream. He built his legacy from the ground up. Bill started his career bussing tables at age thirteen, moved up to grocery boy, and in the blink of an eye, his hard work left him running one of the most popular restaurants in the Palmetto State. prgtoken Bill set a standard for hospitality and it started with a smile and a handshake. This is what you expected the minute you stepped into Hall's Chophouse and Bill never failed to deliver. Running restaurants from coast to coast was a family affair. Jeanne Hall, the love of his life, was always by Bill's side and his sons, Tommy and Billy Hall, can be found running operations at his establishments in the gentlemanly fashion their father passed on to them. prgtoken Bill loved his work, his family, and the Lowcountry. Our community is heartbroken by this loss as we mourn a phenomenal leader. My thoughts are with his loved ones and employees. Bill will be profoundly missed, but never forgotten.
DELIVERING FOR AMERICA ACT
Mary Gay Scanlon (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2020-8-22

. Madam , ``I'm writing to you today after having skipped a day of my high blood pressure medication for the first time.'' ``I have not seen a Postal Service carrier in my neighborhood for a week or more, not received mail for 10 days. The last couple pieces of mail were 30 days late.'' ``I am a small business owner. I am in a real bind. I usually ship packages to customers. Switching to UPS or FedEx would be too expensive. I would likely lose customers.'' prgtoken These are just a few of the thousands of messages that my office has received from constituents who have been caught in the crosshairs of this administration's war on the U.S. Postal Service. prgtoken We are here today to deliver a message to this administration: Don't mess with the USPS. prgtoken This vital public service is essential in our everyday lives. In a pandemic, it is a lifeline. prgtoken These are the real consequences of this administration's ill- conceived efficiency measures, which have disrupted postal service across the country. Those consequences have made their way to the doorsteps of seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and countless families and businesses, large and small. prgtoken As millions of Americans are expected to vote by mail, many for the first time, we need to give Americans the peace of mind that their mail will be processed swiftly. That is why I am prgtoken proud to support the Delivering for America Act.
HONORING SALVATORE ``SAL'' ROTELLA
Mark Takano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-8-22

. Madam , I rise today to honor a visionary who believed in education for the masses, Salvatore ``Sal'' Rotella. He dedicated his life to a uniquely American form of education--America's community colleges. prgtoken He led the Riverside Community College District from 1991 to 2007 while I was a trustee. prgtoken Sal oversaw the expansion of RCCD into a system of three separately accredited colleges while facing severe fiscal constraints. prgtoken He healed a divided faculty and continually challenged the board of trustees to do the right thing. prgtoken One of Sal's signature achievements was Passport to College which helped students believe that college was an attainable dream for them. prgtoken But Sal was more than just a leader. He was an exceptional family man and a mentor to me and so many others. He had a way of getting people to take their lives seriously, as if they really mattered. prgtoken Now that he is gone, I take comfort in knowing that his life's example will live on through others who have learned from him.
PROTECTING THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
Brian Higgins (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-8-22

. Madam , for 228 years the United States Postal Service has delivered for the American people. It is an institution built on trust, trust that the United States military veterans will receive their prescriptions each and every month, trust that Social Security recipients will receive their checks each and every month, and trust that small businesses can manage and grow with the assistance of the United States Postal Service. prgtoken Today, the trust and confidence of the United States Postal Service is under attack by the very administration and Postmaster General who should be protecting the time-honored tradition of that institution. prgtoken Yesterday we stood outside the mail processing facility in Buffalo where five sorting machines were removed without explanation. prgtoken This House will approve today the Delivering for America Act, an act to protect the United States Postal Service from the destructive acts of the President and his postmaster disaster.
SUPPORTING THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-8-22

. Madam , through the Civil War, the Spanish flu, the Great Depression, and two world wars, the United States Postal Service has not stopped. No matter the conditions--snow, rain, heat, or darkness--the dedicated men and women of the Postal Service have carried out their mission with pride. The Postal Service is one of the great pillars of our democracy. It is enshrined in the Constitution, and it is an essential service for so many. prgtoken The actions by the Postmaster General in recent weeks is a sabotage campaign aimed at manipulating the mail service, but whatever the intent, it is hurting everyday Americans--seniors, veterans, and working men and women. prgtoken In Michigan we have been told that just this month 10 mail sorting machines have been removed and destroyed. This American institution is being deliberately dismantled. It is not only an attack on the Postal Service, it is an attack on our Constitution, our way of life, and, yes, our democracy. prgtoken My message is simple: protect the Postal Service and our Republic.
IN MEMORY OF DR. JOHN DENT MARSHALL, JR.
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2020-8-22

. Madam , I rise today to honor a compassionate medical doctor, fiery civil rights activist, a tremendous man of faith, and great friend of longstanding, Dr. John Dent Marshall, Jr. Sadly, Dr. Marshall passed away on August 12, 2020, at the age of 74 after a long and courageous battle with COVID-19. His homegoing service will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2020, at the Hillcrest Abbey West Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. in Savannah, Georgia. On Saturday, August 29, 2020, a memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the Restoration Church of Americus, Inc. in Americus, Georgia. His passing leaves a tremendous void in the lives of his family, friends, and the countless lives that he touched as a medical doctor and civil rights activist. prgtoken Dr. John Dent Marshall, Jr. was born on June 13, 1946, in Savannah, Georgia, the eldest son of the late Lila S. and John D. Marshall, Sr. He was educated in the Chatham County Public School system, where he graduated from Alfred E. Beach High School with prgtoken honors in 1964. He continued his education at Savannah State College (now University), graduating with a B.S. degree in Biology in 1968. prgtoken He answered the solemn call to serve his nation during the Vietnam Conflict, proudly serving in the United States Air Force for four years where he was stationed at Fort Rucker, Alabama as a Weather Observer Specialist. prgtoken Following his service in the Air Force, he engaged in further career and educational pursuits. He worked for Green Giant, Inc. in Chicago, Illinois and for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Marshall also graduated from Meharry Medical College in 1982, fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a Medical Doctor. prgtoken He began his three-decade medical practice in Plains, Georgia. The highlight of his time there was having our 39th President, Jimmy Carter, as one of his patients. After leaving Plains he opened a practice in Leslie, Georgia, but went on to make his greatest impact in Americus, Georgia, where he operated a Family Medical Practice for 24 years. prgtoken Our late and beloved colleague, Congressman John Lewis, often said that ``When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something: you have to do something.'' Dr. Marshall was a dedicated civil rights activist who did just that. prgtoken He said what others were afraid to say. He fought battles that others were afraid to fight. He truly gave a voice to the voiceless and hope to the hopeless. Dr. Marshall was actively involved and served faithfully as the president of the Americus-Sumter branch of The NAACP for 14 years. He was also the owner and publisher of the Americus Sumter-Observer Newspaper, which he used as a platform to expand his civil rights advocacy by exposing injustice, holding those in power accountable, and highlighting stories that may not otherwise have been told. prgtoken Dr. Marshall loved his family
DELIVERING FOR AMERICA ACT
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2020-8-22

we just heard more of the same on the other side of the aisle, denial and disinformation. And I find it particularly ironic that my friend from North Carolina would cite the unanimous decision of the Board of Governors. prgtoken Well, guess what? That same Board of Governors unanimously recommended the $25 billion you are declining that is in this bill today. It is interesting how we cherry-pick facts. prgtoken , I rise today in support of the Delivering for America Act. prgtoken There is an ongoing and concerted effort to disrupt the timeliness of mail delivery and to erode public confidence in the Postal Service, all leading, if successful, to the largest voter suppression in American history since Jim Crow. prgtoken The effort is being directed by the new Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, a crony and major donor of the President. A President who opposes mail-in voting for everyone apparently but himself and his wife. A President who has called the Postal Service a joke and a scam, and who threatened to veto the CARES Act with $2 trillion for desperately needed assistance all over this country simply to block this funding. prgtoken On August 18, the Postmaster General announced, finally, he put a hold on some of the sweeping operational changes that were not only misguided amid a pandemic, but actually eroded public confidence in America's favorite government agency, the Postal Service. prgtoken All in a day's work for someone unqualified and unfit to begin with for the office he now occupies. prgtoken By now we should all know better than to take the administration at its word. And despite the Postmaster's reported retreat, the sabotage continues. The Postmaster is still not advocating for additional funding for the Postal Service, despite the recommendation by his own Board of Governors. He is still not committed to using overtime as a tool during the pandemic to compensate for 40,000 postal workers who have had to quarantine or gotten sick. prgtoken The Postmaster's announcement didn't commit to reversing the cuts to service and capacity, especially restoring sorting machines that absolutely are critical tools in moving large volumes of mail, especially on the eve of a consequential national election. prgtoken That is why this bill would restore the service delivery standards and operations in place before Mr. DeJoy took office. prgtoken The Postmaster's announcement didn't include an agenda to support election mail that demonstrates a commitment to helping the Postal Service fulfill its historic role in this upcoming election in a pandemic. That is why this bill will ensure that election mail is prioritized for expedited delivery, as has been the practice in previous years. prgtoken The Postmaster's announcement did not explain to the public, whom he serves, how an executive could fail so spectacularly and still keep his job. So we still have work to do because the sabotage continues. prgtoken We must restore