mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Coronavirus (Executive Session)
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2020-11-9

I appreciate what the ic leader has said. I was willing to step aside earlier when I had the floor because I understood the two leaders were coming to speak. It was a matter of courtesy to them, and I know the ic leader, at least, appreciated that. prgtoken Let me agree with what he said. You know, when I came here, the President of the United States was an unelected President, and there was an unelected Vice President. It was Jerry Ford. And then, under the change in our law since President Kennedy's death, he was able to pick an unelected Vice President. I remember and s alike welcoming him and saying: Let's go forward. prgtoken I have been here with each President--some reelected, some not--and, in every instance, I see the outgoing President welcoming the incoming President, or , and they have done it to try to make as smooth a transition not for their own political purposes but for the good of the United States of America. Everyone has done that. prgtoken I think it was George H.W. welcoming Bill Clinton, who defeated him. I remember Al Gore had more votes than , but after the Court had ruled, he graciously conceded to . I remember Hillary Clinton, with well over 2 million more votes than , but saying that here is what the electoral college is and conceded. prgtoken Now we see Joseph , with more votes than anybody has ever gotten in the history of the United States for President, and the incumbent President goes off golfing again and again and pretends he doesn't have to step back, and, in fact, actually does everything possible to make it difficult for the new President to handle the transition. prgtoken That is wrong. Just as I have encouraged both and s as President, you help the incoming President with transition, not for your political reasons or their political reasons but for the good of all of us as Americans. They are saying: Oh, no, we are going to hold the key to the door of the transition office. prgtoken Every and every voted for the money for that transition office so that whoever is President could step forward and not hurt the country by coming in without doing the necessary preparation. They are like a little child in a playground: No, we got the key; we got the key. We are not going to share the key. prgtoken Oh, come on. Do you know how this makes us look to the rest of the world? Do you know how it makes us look in my State of Vermont, where some s voted for and some voted for ? The majority voted, in this case, for . But I have been hearing from Vermonters all over from both parties: What is going on? It is over. It is done for the country. prgtoken In that regard, let me just speak briefly about the President-elect and the Vice President-elect. When I came to this body, I was the most juni
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2020-11-9

I am proud to recognize Brielle Paquette of Salem as October's Granite Stater of the Month. Brielle is using her creative talents as a videographer to help remove the stigma around mental illness and to help inspire her friends and neighbors to open up about their mental health struggles. prgtoken Brielle grew up in a family of photographers and filmmakers. From an early age, she found her passion in filmmaking. As she got older, Brielle recruited her young cousins to participate in music videos that she would direct and film, all with the hope of putting a smile on people's faces. prgtoken Brielle also grew up in a family with loved ones who experienced mental health challenges. Brielle's father struggled with alcohol abuse, and her mother lives with anxiety. Brielle developed an anxiety disorder, which she did not talk about with anyone, that left her feeling isolated from her peers. prgtoken When she entered high school, Brielle decided to use her talents with a video camera to help break down the stigma around mental illness. In 2019, Brielle submitted a PSA to a competition held by New Futures, a New Hampshire organization that seeks to promote health and wellness in the State. prgtoken Brielle wanted to highlight the high rate of mental illness in young adults. To film the video, Brielle went to a crowded area in Boston with a sign that read ``20-50 percent of adolescents struggle with mental illness. Hug to show support for people who are struggling.'' Brielle then tied a blindfold on herself and accepted hugs from strangers as her mom filmed from afar. prgtoken Brielle won the People's Choice Award for that video and since then has filmed other PSAs aimed at destigmatizing mental illness and encouraging people to open up about their struggles. She also uses her platform as Miss Londonderry to promote this important message. Additionally, as a member of her school's women empowerment club, she is working on the early stages of a new PSA on body positivity. prgtoken I am proud to recognize Brielle for her efforts to break down the barriers that too often prevent us from talking about mental illness. By using her talents to help facilitate conversations about a difficult issue and raising awareness around mental health, Brielle exemplifies what it means to be a Granite Stater. I look forward to seeing what she accomplishes next.
VETERANS DAY
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2020-11-10

today in Oklahoma, people are going to work, people are going to school, people are on their job, people are in their yard, people are on bikes, people are going for a quiet run in beautiful weather because tomorrow is Veterans Day. We enjoy freedom and peace today because of what those veterans have done for a very long time. prgtoken Whatever community you are in in Oklahoma, whether you are in Oklahoma City or in Tulsa, or in Lawton, whether you are in Guymon, or Idabel, Altus, or Waukomis--it doesn't matter--you are going to find drawings; you are going to find displays; you are going to find military hardware; you are going to find memorials and monuments to veterans who have served because across our State we remember extremely well the sacrifice that has been made for the quietness of this day, the ability to have an election, the ability to send our kids to school, the ability to work hard, to fight off a virus, the ability to invent and innovate because 1 percent of our Nation has set aside their life to be able to guard the rest of the 99 percent of us. We in Oklahoma could not be more grateful for the service of those women and men over the years and currently. prgtoken As a nation, we pause on Veterans Day and remember, but I think about veterans who don't just pause once a year to do it. It is part of who they are. They served our Nation in the military, and they find ways to continue to serve veterans and to serve the people around them in their community every single day. prgtoken There are people who work at the veterans centers in Oklahoma who are remarkable people who help veterans literally every week to be able to work through and navigate the bureaucracy. Our office works with them to try to get solutions and answers if they have issues with the VA or they have issues with trying to get their medals or whatever it may be. But these volunteers are scattered all across our State. prgtoken We have staff members today who are working in veterans facilities scattered all over the State who are taking care of veterans who are basically in an assisted living-type environment or in a nursing long- term care environment. Those individuals get up every single day and love on veterans. They look them in the eye, when they are now at their weakest moment of their life since their infancy, and say: Our Nation still cares about you. prgtoken There are people today in Oklahoma who work on Federal housing programs designed to help veterans who are homeless on the street to get care, to find a place to live, and to get established. There are people in Oklahoma today who are working with Federal programs to help veterans who have struggled with addiction, some who didn't reacclimate well. They are helping them right now because our Nation has not forgotten about them. prgtoken While we grieve with those who grieve--because Veterans Day also brings back the memory, for some families who are
VETERANS DAY
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2020-11-10

tomorrow we celebrate Veterans Day, the day set aside to honor all those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. prgtoken This year, we observed the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, and our Nation's World War II veterans, the veterans of the ``greatest generation,'' have been on my mind a lot. prgtoken Sixteen million Americans served in World War II--16 million. These veterans were a fixture in our lives. So many Americans grew up with a dad or a grandfather or a grandmother who had served in World War II. I was one of them. prgtoken My favorite veteran, my dad, was a World War II pilot who flew Hellcats off the deck of the USS Intrepid in the Pacific. I came to know the values of the ``greatest generation'' through my dad-- humility, patriotism, quiet service. prgtoken These warriors who helped save the world didn't brag about their achievements. They deflected praise. If they hailed any exploits, it was those of their comrades. My dad won the Distinguished Flying Cross--or, I should say, received the Distinguished Flying Cross, but that is not what he talked about. He did, however, talk about Cecil , one of South Dakota's aces, whose advice for a deft maneuver saved my dad's life during a dogfight. It was a move straight out of ``Top Gun,'' only decades before the movie. prgtoken My dad always talked about how South Dakota is the only State with two aces with more than 20 shootdowns during World War II. And he talked about the other pilots in his squadron and praised their character and their service. prgtoken As I said, these veterans of the ``greatest generation'' have been a fixture in our lives for a long time. But 75 years on from the war, their numbers are dwindling and dwindling quickly. prgtoken My dad died in August of this year at the age of 100. We lose more and more of these veterans every day, and they will be sorely missed, but their legacy lives on in the generations of veterans that have followed them. prgtoken In every age and every era, men and women have stepped forward to answer the same call that the ``greatest generation'' answered. And in every era, those men and women, the men and women of the U.S. military, have embodied the values that characterized men like my dad--humility, courage, love of country, self-sacrifice, a love of freedom and for their fellow man. prgtoken Service in the military was once commonplace. But in an age when only a small percentage of the population serves, we need to ensure that we don't forget the vital role of our Armed Forces and the price our men and women in uniform pay to ensure that all of us can live in freedom. It has been said 10,000 times--but it is no less true the ten thousandth and first time--that we live in freedom every day because of the men and women of the U.S. military. We owe them a debt we cannot hope to repay. But on Veterans Day and every day, we can remember to say thank you. prgtoken I cannot close
2020 ELECTIONS
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-11-10

I had to look at my watch today to remind myself it has been a week since the November 3 general election. I must say, it seems it has been much longer than that. prgtoken Just as we have every 4 years throughout our Nation's history, the American people voted for our next Commander in Chief. In the months leading up to election day, we know the atmosphere was tense. The days of counting that followed it have been, as well, but I have full faith that our constitutional Republic is working just exactly the way it should. prgtoken A record-setting 150 million people and counting cast a ballot this election. In my State, there were 10.9 million voters--almost 11 million. The last time I was on the ballot, there were 4.7 million. So we have seen a huge influx of people and increased participation in the electoral process, and I think both of those are good things. prgtoken The reason people come to Texas is that we are still a land of opportunity, where people can come and work hard, start out with little, build something for themselves and their families, provide value to others so they can come find a job and provide for their families, which is, to me, the definition of the American dream. prgtoken We know that election workers and poll workers have worked across our country to ensure that every legal vote--whether it was in person or by mail--will be counted, and that is as it should be. I know major media outlets have projected that former Vice President has secured enough electoral votes to be our next President, but there are still votes to be counted. As my friend the majority leader noted yesterday, the Constitution gives no role in this process to wealthy media companies. prgtoken Between recounts and legal challenges, it is tough to say exactly when the election will be certified. But if there are irregularities, if there are prgtoken questionable practices or wrongdoing, President and his campaign--like every other candidate and their campaign--are entitled to seek legal remedies in court. Of course, if they do, they will be obligated to present evidence, which I understand is in the process of being marshaled, and to do so, obviously, with dispatch. prgtoken But while this process may seem drawn out to us living in the moment, legal challenges are not unprecedented. For example, back in 2000, we remember--some of us remember, most of us remember--the example of Al Gore, the ic nominee for President who didn't concede the election until December 13. During the weeks following the election, the American people waited patiently as the courts weighed in, and once they did, we all accepted the result. Acceptance of the result is key. I had faith in the process that led to that result just as I have faith in the process and institutions that are working now. prgtoken When the Electoral College meets on January 6, 2021, every American should have confidence in the free and fai
VETERANS DAY
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2020-11-10

. Tomorrow is Veterans Day. Since the end of World War I, Americans have taken this day to recognize the sacrifices made by our veterans, and they did that in service to our country. prgtoken For the third consecutive year, my office recorded the oral histories of Iowa's veterans for the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project. I would urge some of my colleagues to take a look at that and see if they can help add a lot of their veterans from their respective States to the history project at the Library of Congress. prgtoken We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude for their patriotism, and it is vitally important to record the stories of veterans so that future generations will always remember their service and the sacrifice that it takes to preserve our freedom. prgtoken . prgtoken .
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
James E. Risch (Republican, ID) \u2014 2020-11-10

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-11-10

on another matter, I don't think many of us expected President to leave the Office of the Presidency with grace--a quality he has not once demonstrated during his long career in business or his very short career in public life. But the extent to which the prgtoken Party is legitimizing the President's assault on our democracy is infuriating and deeply, deeply wrong. prgtoken The President is not merely bringing forward well-founded legal challenges. He is not simply taking advantage of the ability to request a recount in States where one is possible. He is declaring himself to be the winner of an election that he lost. He is claiming to win States that he lost. His legal team is filing scores of frivolous, unsubstantiated lawsuits. He is undermining faith in our elections and poisoning our democracy during one of the most delicate moments in our constitutional system, something we treasure: the peaceful transfer of power. prgtoken The President has fired the Secretary of Defense, threatening the continuity of our national security policy because he is having a temper tantrum. Not only does this put at risk a smooth transition in one of the most sensitive and critical areas of our government, it creates an opening for our adversaries to take advantage of instability and inexperience. prgtoken The current Attorney General of the United States has made a show of authorizing Federal probes into supposed election fraud, lending a veneer of false credence to the President's delusions. It violates the longstanding tradition of avoiding even the appearance of law enforcement interference in our elections. Almost immediately, Attorney General Barr's decision prompted the Chief of the Justice Department's elections branch to resign in protest. prgtoken The Government Services Administrator, GSA, has still not signed the paperwork necessary for the transition team to begin its work. And here in the Senate, the leader and several Members are trying to give their President air cover. prgtoken Yesterday, in the same breath that Leader McConnell celebrated the reelection of certain Senators, he declined to congratulate the winner of the Presidential election because the election results have not been officially certified. The political right seems eager to celebrate the results it approves of while delaying judgment and casting doubt on the results it doesn't. Indeed, the leader could not even mention two words, ``,'' who, regardless of what Senators may think, will be the next President of the United States. prgtoken Two Members of this Chamber have called on their own secretary of state--a fellow --to resign for no other apparent reason than the fact that President did not win their State. They allege the secretary of state did not deliver honest and transparent elections. That is really a stunni
REMEMBERING MARY ``ELAINE'' MANLOVE AND LAMBERT ``WAYNE'' MANLOVE, EDWARD MICHAEL RUSH, JR., PASTOR LOTTIE MAE LEE-DAVIS, AND GLORIA IGNUDO CORROZI
Christopher A. Coons (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2020-11-10

2020 has been a difficult year for so many. We have lost far too many mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, neighbors and friends. prgtoken My own heart and the hearts of many in Delaware grew heavier this week as we said goodbye in Delaware to a whole series of friends, folks who had long been champions of our community, folks who were exactly the sort of people who helped build and sustain community. prgtoken I am grateful for the privilege of the floor to speak for a few minutes about the legacy of these lions of Delaware, these folks who were giants of service and who gave their hearts to us. prgtoken On Monday, we said goodbye to Elaine and Wayne Manlove, who were loved by so many, and I rise first to pay tribute to them--some of the most special people I have ever known. prgtoken They were killed in a tragic accident literally the day before last Tuesday's election. On that day, we lost two of Delaware's greatest diamonds, Mary ``Elaine'' Manlove and Lambert ``Wayne'' Manlove from Hockessin and Ocean View. It was always striking they went not by their first names but by their middle names. They were known as Elaine and Wayne Manlove. These are proud patriots, people dedicated to our State and community who spent decades giving to others. prgtoken Elaine I knew best in her role as State elections commissioner and as someone who fought hard here for funding for election security and election systems. The very last time I saw her, she was proudly showing off the brandnew statewide election system in Delaware. She didn't, tragically, get to see the fruits of her labor--the deployment of these new, state-of-the-art digital voting machines. Her many professional achievements in that role: increasing our voter rolls, modernizing machines, bringing elections to the classrooms, carrying off just this last Tuesday a near flawless statewide election. While impressive, it was just a very small part of who Elaine was. prgtoken Deeply proud of her Irish heritage, known for her kindness and her generosity, her Irish Catholic faith that she and Wayne shared was a foundation for them and for their family and their lives. prgtoken St. Patrick's Day in Wilmington was often the highlight. Elaine was one of the folks who helped organize the annual St. Patrick's Day mass and breakfast--a breakfast that raised money for the St. Patrick Center that serves some of the neediest and most marginalized in Wilmington but a breakfast that was a celebration of the intersection of faith, politics, service, hope, and community. prgtoken My own wife Annie worked with Elaine for years in New Castle County government long before her time as the State elections commissioner, and they remained close for years afterward. Annie knew her as the best mom and grandmother and friend to so many people. prgtoken Margaret Aitkin, one of Elaine's closest friends, who also served with her and my wife in county governmen