mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
MOTION TO DISCHARGE--S.J. RES. 77
Doug Jones (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2020-12-9

I thank the minority leader for those remarks. I am humbled. prgtoken You know, everyone knows the old saying ``My, how time flies when you are having fun.'' My time here has drawn to a close, but despite the difficulties, the challenges, despite the rancor that we often see in this body, as well as Washington, DC, I can honestly say I have had a lot of fun. The last 3 years have been amazing, and I have loved being a Member of this body. prgtoken I actually was able to accomplish a few things, thanks to you. But you have been fun; you have not just been kind. It has really been good. prgtoken By the way, your staffs have been awesome. I know you hear that a lot from constituents. Maybe you don't hear it enough from other Senators. Your staffs have been amazing to us, and I really very much appreciate it. prgtoken You know, as the minority leader said, everybody knows I am a baseball fan. If you go into that office, you will see in my reception area all 100 baseballs that I had signed. And it was fun getting them-- either here on the floor or in a committee room, at the retreat that the had. There were so many who had never signed a baseball, and you figured out that it wasn't easy to sign a baseball. (Laughter.) prgtoken And even those who signed in their office, when we sent them to their office, they always came up and talked about it. It was a time to put politics aside and just talk a little bit--something we really don't do enough of around here, leaving the weighty politics and responsibilities that we have just to sign a baseball and talk about how much fun it was. prgtoken I remember, right after I was elected, I was talking to a friend of mine, dreaming big about the things that we could accomplish that would make a difference in the lives of the people of Alabama and the people of America. We talked about the possibility that we could work on a bill as important as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or the Voting Rights Act of 1965. But I knew--I knew, though--that such opportunities were not likely, especially in what I knew to be a 3-year window and not knowing what the future would hold--although, I have got to be honest, I had a pretty doggone good idea when I got here. prgtoken If there was one thing my momma always taught me, it was to be realistic about things. I knew it was going to be tough, but to even have an opportunity to talk and work on things that bring such transformational changes--those kind of things come along once in a generation, if we are lucky. They are that legislative equivalent of a perfect game in baseball. You are lucky if you get to be part of that in your career, but you always have to hope and you have to strive for the possible, not just the likely. prgtoken For those of you who really don't know about baseball--there may be a few--a perfect game is just that: nine innings, three outs, three up, three down. Everything has to work together in synchr
IN HONOR OF KARYL MATSUMOTO
Jackie Speier (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-12-9

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Karyl Matsumoto as she completes her remarkable service on the South San Francisco city council. She served a record 23 years, including four terms as Mayor. When you do the math, Karyl has been on the council for nearly \2/3\ of her years as a resident of South San Francisco. One has to ask if she ever had a moment to simply take a leisurely walk along the bayfront. prgtoken South San Francisco has changed remarkably since Karyl joined the council. Its population grew by 10,000 to a total of 68,000. In the Oyster Point area, biotechnology powerhouse Genentech and sister companies are rapidly replacing traditional uses such as warehouses, food factories, airline-related businesses and transportation enterprises. The Caltrain station is moving and apartments are being constructed by the hundreds within walking distance of this location and the city's BART station. The city has also become more diverse, with approximately \1/3\ of its residents being of either Asian or Latino descent. prgtoken Karyl has contributed to many of these changes. For example, she has served for over a decade on boards of the county's transportation authority and Samtrans, the provider of bus services and management of the local train service. In South San Francisco, she strongly advocated for moving the train station. Her years as a Samtrans director are among her proudest achievements. She sought to build the bus service into one that takes care of San Mateo County's wage earners, while also adapting the system to offer new express service, such as the pre-COVID line from Foster City to San Francisco. prgtoken It costs a lot to live in San Mateo County. Average rent in South San Francisco is $3,000 per month. Karyl Matsumoto realized that it was impossible for many to survive if they had to earn $120,000 per year or more just to pay rent and avoid debt. She was the first on her council to propose an increase of the minimum wage to $15 per hour starting January 1, 2021, and her colleagues adopted that proposal. She also championed affordable housing and balancing jobs with housing in order to protect lower-income residents. prgtoken During the course of her multi-decade-long public service career, Karyl Matsumoto has served on over 30 community groups and boards of nonprofits. Examples include the Peninsula Family YMCA, the San Mateo County Japanese American Citizens League, the Skyline College President's Council Advisory Board, and the United Way Community Impact Committee. She also founded the city's youth commission. prgtoken She worked for our esteemed colleague Congresswoman Anna Eshoo when Congresswoman Eshoo served on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, and for former State Senator Quentin Kopp. She co-founded the South San Francisco Community Outreach Program to bring together residents, businesses and advocacy groups on behalf of seniors, residents with special needs and other vuln
COVID-19 RELIEF
Susie Lee (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2020-12-9

I rise today on behalf of the people of Nevada's Third Congressional District with a plea to all of my colleagues: prgtoken We are now entering the darkest period of this pandemic. Americans are scared, and I don't blame them. Americans are also angry, and they should be. They are angry at Congress and this administration for failing to pass more relief for struggling families, frontline workers, and small businesses. prgtoken Thousands more Nevadans filed for unemployment during the last few weeks. Over 400,000 Nevadans remain at risk of eviction as housing assistance expires. prgtoken As this virus uncontrollably spreads in every corner of this country, our frontline workers and hospitals are overwhelmed with a tidal wave of new COVID-positive patients. prgtoken There is no more time for political games that have consumed Congress for months. There never was. I am pleading to my and ic colleagues, to our leadership, and to this administration: It is time to do our jobs and pass more COVID-19 relief now.
THE NIGHTMARE IS ALMOST OVER
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-12-9

I rise today to declare that our 4-year public nightmare is almost at an end. prgtoken Next month, will be sworn in as the 46th President after an honest, free, and fair election, and an ugly chapter in America's history will be over. prgtoken No more governing by tweet. No more constant lies. No more insulting our Nation while praising our enemies. No more incompetent family members conducting national policy. No more gross profiteering off of the Presidency. No more children in cages. No more promoting of white supremacy. No more attacks on American institutions like the FBI, the courts, schools, and the post office and so many others. No more payoffs. No more conspiracy theories. No more recounting ballots. And a future with no more coronavirus, hopefully. prgtoken For the last 4 years, we have been told to make America great. When is sworn in as President of the United States, we can say that we finally did.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021--CONFERENCE REPORT
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2020-12-9

I also want to thank the chairman for his extraordinary leadership in getting us to this point. prgtoken For 59 years straight we have passed the National Defense Authorization Act, and I think, honestly, without the chairman's leadership we would have failed this year. So he is owed a great debt of gratitude by all of us and appreciation, particularly from the men and women of the military. prgtoken Let me speak a bit about this year's bill: the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. prgtoken We reached a conference committee report which was fair and bipartisan. In fact, I think the best testimony of that was the vote last evening by the House of Representatives--335 to 78, with 1 Member voting present. That is, by definition, bipartisan, substantive, overwhelmingly supported by both sides as a fair--not only fair but extraordinarily beneficial piece of legislation for the country. prgtoken You don't get that vote on something that is partisan and narrowly defined and divisive. This bill is bipartisan. Again, Exhibit A: the vote last night in the House of Representatives. prgtoken We have passed it for 59 years. There should be no exception this year. This is the 60th. And I hope we complete that and I expect we will complete that tomorrow. prgtoken And, indeed, this whole effort, like everything else in this country, has been twisted and exacerbated by the COVID virus. We have to deal with that, but we recognize that, despite all the complications, despite all of the issues that come before us, one of our most important constitutional duties is to provide for the security of this Nation and provide for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States. This bill does that. prgtoken This important bipartisan legislation enhances our national security, strengthens military readiness and defense capabilities, protects our forces and their families, and it supports the defense industrial base. prgtoken This bill authorizes the active and reserve component end strength necessary to meet national defense objectives, provides a 3-percent across-the- prgtoken board pay raise for the troops, and authorizes a number of bonus, special, and incentive pay authorities necessary to retain and recruit the highest quality individuals for military service. prgtoken The conference report, as I indicated, passed by an overwhelming margin in the House, and I hope and believe we will have that same outcome tomorrow in the Senate. prgtoken Despite everything in this bill to support our forces and bolster our national security, there have been threats to veto the bill by the President. That is his prerogative as President of the United States, but our responsibility and our prerogative is to pass legislation which is sound, we hope bipartisan, and serves the needs of the Nation and, particularly in this case, the troops. And I believe we have done that. prgtoken There ha
MOTION TO DISCHARGE--S.J. RES. 77
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2020-12-9

I would restate my request, whenever I come to the floor, that the Presiding Officer wear a mask because he has people sitting in front of him that could be at risk. Remembering Paul Sarbanes prgtoken , this weekend, we lost a former Member of this body who truly embodied the spirit of service that should animate all of our work. His name is Paul Sarbanes. He passed away a few days ago. He was a longtime chair of the committee of the Presiding Officer. prgtoken As chair of the Banking and Housing Committee, he was always a voice for consumers and working families, standing up against powerful corporate interests. The accomplishment that bears his name, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, was a landmark law in our efforts to hold corporations accountable. It helped protect Americans who invest hard- earned money for retirement and for their kids' education from corporate banking fraud, the kind that bankrupted families after scandals like Enron. prgtoken Senator Sarbanes also never ignored the housing part of our committee's jurisdiction. He fought to make sure that all Americans could find and afford a place to call home. Whenever developers tried to make a deal in Maryland, he was always adamant they include affordable housing in their projects because, fundamentally, he never forgot where he came from. The son of Greek immigrants, Paul Sarbanes grew up a working-class kid, bussing tables at his family's restaurant on the Eastern Shore. prgtoken In the Senate, he cared about getting results for the people he served, not about getting the credit. Some of his colleagues called him the ``stealth senator.'' He welcomed the nickname. He told the Baltimore Sun that stealth is ``one of the most important weapons in our military arsenal. . . . If you let somebody else take the credit, you can get the result.'' prgtoken Senator Sarbanes was the definition of a true public servant. May he rest in peace as he joins his beloved wife Christine. Connie and I pray for Representative John Sarbanes, his son, and the entire Sarbanes family. prgtoken I hope my colleagues will join me in honoring Senator Sarbanes by building on his legacy, standing up to the corporations that have too much power in this country, and fighting for the working people we serve. Paul Sarbanes, like many others in this body, understood the dignity of work National Defense Authorization Act prgtoken , yesterday the House overwhelmingly passed the NDAA conference report by a veto-proof majority of 335 to 78. That bill includes our comprehensive bipartisan reform of our anti-money laundering laws. prgtoken I would like to thank my colleagues, especially Senator Crapo and other Banking and Housing Committee colleagues: Senators Warner, Jones, Reed, Rounds, and off the committee, Senators Wyden, Whitehouse, Graham, and Grassley, and the Presiding Officer, Senator Cotton, for his wo
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021--CONFERENCE REPORT
Christopher Murphy (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2020-12-9

reserving the right to object, this is a substantial proposal, one that merits full consideration on the floor of the Senate with the opportunity to debate and amend to understand how many government agencies would be affected, to understand whether it merits a sunset date, to understand what the effects would be, not just on the regime of Venezuela but the people of Venezuela, and for that reason I will object.
MOTION TO DISCHARGE--S.J. RES. 77
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2020-12-9

I come to the floor today to really highlight the important work that has been underway by Members on both sides of the aisle in the Senate and Members on both sides of the aisle in the House to try to come up with an agreement to deliver urgently needed relief to address the challenges from the coronavirus that people are facing across this country. I also hope that we can work together to get this across the finish line and that Senate leadership will be willing to join in that effort. prgtoken I think most of us are painfully aware of the devastating impact this pandemic has had in communities across our Nation, but the numbers do bear repeating. More than 15 million Americans have been infected with the virus, more than 285,000 Americans have now died from COVID, and we recently hit a new record high of 102,000 people hospitalized with COVID. Just to provide some context, our largest city in New Hampshire is Manchester. It has 112,000 residents. So we have enough people in the hospital across this country to fill the city of Manchester. prgtoken The situation is dire. People need help. Every one of those numbers that I have referenced is much more than a number; it reflects an American life, an American family, our communities. The human toll of this crisis is crushing, and we are up against the clock as our hospitals run out of beds. prgtoken This crisis has been all-encompassing. In addition to the severe strains on our healthcare system, so many others are being battered by this pandemic. prgtoken Small businesses are closing, and even more are on the verge of collapsing if we don't get them some help. prgtoken Our transportation networks, from buses to airplanes, have been forced to lay off staff, cut routes, and in some cases just discontinue service altogether. prgtoken American families are going hungry. We have all seen the long lines on the news at night showing the number of people waiting to get food from food banks. prgtoken Too many people are facing homelessness. In New Hampshire, in the city of Manchester alone, we have 35 homeless encampments--35. Two years ago, we did not have that number of homeless. prgtoken Parents are struggling to help their children continue their education at home, sometimes with no access to broadband or really bad access. We know women are leaving the workforce because of the strains of trying to provide support to their children and deal with the other challenges of COVID. prgtoken State and local governments have been stretched to the maximum. In New Hampshire, we are facing severe budgetary shortfalls, and many of our communities may have to make some difficult decisions to cut first responders or teachers or other municipal workers if they don't get help. prgtoken We hear every day the number of people who need our help, and they can't wait any longer. This is the holiday season, the end of the year. We are headed into the worst months of winter. In
THE FOUR CHURCHWOMEN
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2020-12-9

I rise this December in reflective remembrance and commemoration of the valiant lives of the famed four American churchwomen, who were brutally raped and murdered by the El Salvadoran military 40 years ago on December 2, 1980. prgtoken Their names were Sisters Dorothy Kazel, Ita Ford, Maura Clarke, and Jean Donovan. Their mission, and ultimately their lives, were sacrificed to the service of the forgotten and the impoverished in El Salvador. These courageous women of faith were hallmarks of their community and their mission of accompaniment in the nation amidst turmoil. prgtoken , 40 years ago, in the midst of a civil war, the U.S. Government funded and supported the El Salvadoran military that on December 2, 1980, murdered these evangelical saints. In their protection and companionship of refugee families, they were targeted as enemies of national interest in the country. These four women were nothing less than lionhearts of political and social righteousness that respected all people. prgtoken , in recognizing their legacy, I ask for a moment of silence as we recall, each time we mourn their names, the loss of these four saints.
HONORING THE CAREER OF LISA PITTMAN
Rob Bishop (Republican, UT) \u2014 2020-12-10

yesterday, I called Lisa Pittman, who is the counsel for our committee, to make sure we had somebody covering us for floor time. prgtoken She chastised me then, saying that under my condition, I need to ask about calling a doctor first, not calling a lawyer. prgtoken No, Lisa, we call you not just for legal advice but for all sorts of things. For 38 years, she has been a true public servant, with 33 consecutive years here in the House where she has served with poise under pressure and always brings an air of stability. prgtoken We ask opinions of a lot of people, but we always double-check by going to Lisa because she understands it all. prgtoken She served under 17 leaders in Natural Resources. I still think I am her favorite one--trust me. But even yesterday, she still told my chief of staff that she gets choked up when she looks at the Capitol dome or hears the Pledge of Allegiance. It is still magical to her. prgtoken As our committee mom, when she brings cupcakes to everyone on their birthdays and special occasions, her kindness is magic to the rest of us. prgtoken So, when I leave at the end of the month, no one is really going to care. When Lisa leaves at the end of the month, it is going to take decades to replace the institutional knowledge that she brings to this place. prgtoken Lisa, we thank you. And, , I appreciate your indulgence.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021--CONFERENCE REPORT--Continued
Mike Braun (Republican, IN) \u2014 2020-12-10

Rick mentioned that back in 2018, we ran on what we are talking about today. We wouldn't be honest to the people who elected us to come here. prgtoken I had eight pages of prepared remarks. This is something I have talked about so often. I am going to cover some new terrain to make it relatable to the citizens across this country about how this place works and how it is so different from how anything else works. prgtoken A few of us come from the world of accountability--the business world--where you don't have the luxury of doing what we do here in the Federal Government. Listen to this closely because this is what most citizens don't understand. We are given the revenues here in this place, and our only job, No. 1, should be not to spend more than what we are given. We don't do that. prgtoken We borrow 23 percent, roughly, of what we spend. Try taking that to your banker, running a business, see if you can get a loan doing that. That is just a real simple way to look at how we do this year after year. prgtoken On Main Street, whether you are running a business, whether it is your household--I served in State government for 3 years. We were smart enough to have a balanced budget amendment. We believed in things like a rainy day fund. It was in our DNA. We didn't have to think about it; that in the long run, you are not going to succeed if you spend more than what you take in. prgtoken Coming out of World War II was the highest level of national debt we ever had--roughly, where we are now. That generation, we know what they went through. They were savers. They were investors and not only in government. We are now spenders and consumers. prgtoken You would think that in the biggest business in the world--we spend about $4.5 trillion a year. We take in maybe about $3.5. Of course, in a year like this, where you had a pandemic, add another $3 trillion or so to the national debt. And structurally, we will be marching, over the next 5 to 7 years, to where that goes to $1.5 trillion a year. Start adding all that up. prgtoken Here is what is going to happen. When we are in a position like we are now, where you can borrow money for nearly nothing--we are the only reserve currency in the world that allows us to do it--that doesn't mean you should do it because we are piling up obligations on our kids and our grandkids, and we might as well admit it. How have we evolved to get to where we are now? I don't think that is as much an issue as we know where we are now. It is not sustainable. prgtoken Here is what is going to happen to the most important programs we have and that everybody likes: Social Security, Medicare. Medicare has been around since the mid-1960s. All of us have been paying into it, employers and employees. Every penny will be exhausted out of the trust fund, and that was about 5 to 5\1/2\ years. Now it has advanced, due to our current financial situation, to maybe 4 or 5. What happens? This