mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
BUDGET SCOREKEEPING REPORT
Michael B. Enzi (Republican, WY) \u2014 2020-11-12

I rise to submit to the Senate the budget scorekeeping report for November 2020. This is my fourth scorekeeping report since I filed the deemed budget resolution for fiscal year 2021 on May 4, 2020, as required by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019, BBA19. The report compares current-law levels of spending and revenues with the amounts agreed to in BBA19. In the Senate, this information is used to determine whether budgetary points of order lie against pending legislation. The staff of the Budget Committee and the Congressional Budget Office, CBO, prepared this report pursuant to section 308(b) of the Congressional Budget Act, CBA. The information included in this report is current through November 6, 2020. prgtoken Since I filed the last scorekeeping report on September 10, 2020, two measures with significant enforceable budgetary effects have been enacted. The first measure, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act, P.L. 116-159, continued funding for all 12 annual appropriations bills through December 11, 2020, and extended or modified numerous surface transportation, healthcare, nutrition and commodities, veterans' health and benefits, and immigration programs and policies. The authorizing non-emergency provisions of the bill, which were scored to the Finance (Division C), Agriculture (Division D), and Veterans' Affairs (Division E) committees, would increase the deficit $97.6 billion in fiscal year 2021, $7.1 billion over fiscal year 2021-2025, and $8.4 billion over fiscal year 2021-2030. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 84-10. prgtoken The second measure, the Extension of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, P.L. 116-164, extended preferential duty treatment for certain apparel items produced in the Caribbean Basin through fiscal year 2030. It also extended the date through which certain customs user fees and merchandise processing fees may be collected from September 30, 2029, to October 21, 2029. CBO estimated the bill would decrease revenue by $299 million over the fiscal year 2021-2030 period, but the fee extensions would reduce direct outlays by $435 million in fiscal year 2030. On net, prgtoken the bill would reduce deficits by $136 million over the fiscal year 2021-2030 budget window. This bill cleared the Senate by unanimous consent and was charged to the Finance Committee. prgtoken Budget Committee staff prepared Tables A-D. prgtoken Table A provides the amount by which each Senate authorizing committee exceeds or falls below its allocations for budget authority and outlays under the fiscal year 2021 deemed budget resolutions. This information is used for enforcing committee allocations pursuant to section 302 of the CBA. As the table shows, five committees are currently out of compliance with their allocations. The Finance Committee's fiscal year 2021 breach is the largest for this recording period and primarily stems fr
Coronavirus (Executive Calendar)
Rob Portman (Republican, OH) \u2014 2020-11-12

I have come to the floor again today to talk about the need for us, as a Congress, to come together to address this coronavirus pandemic. We have an unprecedented healthcare and economic crisis right now, and it is important for us to figure out what we can do, what we can agree on, and then move forward. prgtoken Since this pandemic began back in March, I am told I have come to the floor now 17 separate times to urge my colleagues to work together on a bipartisan basis to try to put together legislation that will enable us to respond effectively and in a focused way to the COVID-19 crisis. prgtoken We had some early successes. Remember the CARES Act that was passed back in March. That was 8 months ago--8 months ago. Really, for the last 6 months, we haven't passed anything to address this crisis. Yet the crisis has ebbed and flowed, and, right now, unfortunately, it is at an all-time high in my State of Ohio. prgtoken I have been frustrated that we can't have that same sense of urgency and willingness to work together as we had during those first couple of months of the coronavirus pandemic. It seemed to have disappeared as we entered election season; didn't it? So, as we got closer and closer to the election, there was more and more divide and inability to come together. Now we need to get back to that sense of bipartisanship--I would even say nonpartisanship in so much of this--and cooperation for the good of our country. prgtoken It is getting worse, as I said, in my State of Ohio and around the country, and I believe we can make a difference, and that is important. There are things we can do at the Federal level that would help. prgtoken Right now, we are averaging in this country over 100,000 new cases per day. That is double the rate from just 1 month ago--double the rate from 1 month ago. It was predicted as it got colder and people were inside more. The third wave has arrived. prgtoken In Ohio, the number of daily new cases has risen every day for the past month. Just last night, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine reported nearly 6,000 new cases in the last 24-hour period, compared to 1,000 cases per day that the prgtoken State experienced just at the beginning of October. prgtoken Unfortunately, it is not just about new cases. We are seeing increases in hospitalizations. We are seeing increases in patients that are in the ICU units. We are seeing increases, sadly, in fatalities. We need to do more to help this economy, too, because the economy, as the pandemic has worsened, has begun to slow. prgtoken Initially, we had impressive economic growth--no question about it-- but it has begun to slow at a time when the economy is still down 10 million jobs since February. Think about that. We are still 10 million jobs short from where we were in February. What we really don't want is for those 10 million people to become long-term unemployed, who may never reenter the workforce. That is why it is important t
RECOGNIZING ELAINE COUTURE
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Republican, WA) \u2014 2020-11-12

. Madam , I rise today to honor Elaine Couture, who has served in the health care sector of this country for over 40 years. She has outstanding professional accomplishments in nursing and has shown dedication to her staff, community, and people in need. prgtoken Elaine Suzann Couture was born in Omaha, Nebraska on July 18, 1955, to parents Quentin and Mildred Bohrer. At a young age, Elaine knew that she wanted to be a nurse. She volunteered as a candy striper and went straight from high school to college at Montana State University- Bozeman in 1973. prgtoken Upon graduation, she worked for 10 years at Saint Vincent Hospital in Billings, Montana from 1977 to 1987 first as a bedside nurse and a flight nurse. Her ability to lead others gave her the opportunity to move into management and eventually start a new occupational medicine department. In 1987, she started at Saint Mary Medical Center as the Employee Health Manager. She was quickly promoted to the Director of Quality, and then Chief Nursing Officer. prgtoken She left Saint Mary's in 2002 for Sacred Heart, where she served faithfully for nearly a decade. In 2012, she was promoted to the Regional Chief Executive for Providence Health & Services for nearly eight years before she was promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Executive of Eastern Washington & Western Montana. She oversaw 13 hospitals and over 23,000 medical staff. prgtoken Elaine has served the people of our state, region, and country with a strong sense of self, leadership, knowledge, and passion for her work. In addition to her responsibilities for Providence, she served on numerous national and community boards including the Federal Reserve Board, American Hospital Association Rural Task Force, Washington State Hospital Association Board of Directors, Greater Spokane Incorporated Governing Board, Washington State University Advisory Board and Spokane's University District Board. prgtoken Anyone who has had the pleasure of knowing and working with Elaine, describes her as nothing but determined, energetic, approachable, and compassionate. In addition to all her professional successes, Elaine kept her priorities in life as God, Family, Word. Throughout her career she has shown dedication and a genuine care for the medical profession and those in it. This is exemplified in her willingness to give back to the next generation of medical professionals by serving as an adjunct professor as Washington State University School of Nursing following the completion of her own B.S. in 1977 and her M.B.A. in 1994 from Liberty University. prgtoken Most recently, during the Coronavirus outbreak Elaine has again led with distinction during challenging and uncertain times. She made it a priority to continuously adapt hospital and clinic operations to meet the emergent and changing needs of patients, frontline workers, and the community. prgtoken Madam , for her commitment to health care, her exceptional, en
CORONAVIRUS
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-11-12

last week, the country and the world received some really great news that we have longed for quite a while to hear. A major American drug company, together with its German partner, announced that their candidate for a COVID-19 vaccine appears to be at least 90 percent effective in trials. That is 90 percent--nine zero. Dr. Fauci called these preliminary results extraordinary. Another expert called the news ``as good as you could hope for.'' prgtoken Of course, tests and trials are ongoing. The FDA will perform its own thorough review, which will include analyzing months of safety data. The American people should rest assured there are appropriate and necessary measures to ensure the safety and efficacy of any vaccine before it is rolled out to the American people, but this will proceed with the lifesaving urgency that is called for. prgtoken Right now, COVID-19 is continuing to spread across the country at rates that are not sustainable and which we must try to slow. Yesterday, my home State of Kentucky just logged its highest ever daily total--2,700 new cases. The positivity rate of our tests is the highest since early May. prgtoken It is urgent that all Americans continue the smart steps that have gotten us this far: wearing masks, social distancing, adapting our plans and routines. This virus is not going to magically leave us alone if we decide we are fed up with taking precautions, but thank God and thanks to the brilliant scientists, we may look back on this hopeful announcement as the beginning of the end of this terrible ordeal. prgtoken I said back in March that our country was about to meet a whole lot of brandnew heroes. Many were going to be doctors and nurses. Others were going to be essential workers who kept society going. Some were going to be the men and women who worked like crazy in labs and research centers until we had this virus beaten. But every single American has a role. prgtoken As cases continue to climb, the simple advice--wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands--is now just as important as ever. So, of course, discovering the vaccine will only be a part of the battle. Once one or more candidates have been proven effective and safe, it will be a second Herculean undertaking to scale up production and distribute doses of the vaccine throughout our country. This is why this Senate and the administration have been on the case for months. prgtoken As part of the historic CARES Act, we created Operation Warp Speed--a historic effort that combined interagency government work with public- prgtoken private partnerships. This was a 21st-century Manhattan Project for a COVID vaccine. We helped fund research and development for several firms. We committed billions of dollars in advance purchase agreements. We flattened regulatory barriers to speed the process. We provided backing so that companies could begin mass-producing vaccine doses before clinical tri
Veterans Day (Executive Calendar)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2020-11-12

when most Americans think of the sacrifices that our veterans made in the name of defending freedom, they think of those brave men and women running toward the danger. We are grateful that, in their hearts, they have that desire, but as anyone who knows or has worked with veterans knows, they also make sacrifices that really never bubble to the surface or come to our attention. Not only do they sacrifice their own safety, they give up their personal independence, the comforts of home, their relationships with friends and family, their spouses, and their children. prgtoken Think about what an extraordinary decision they have made--that the safety and security of their fellow countrymen is worth more than losing those precious days. They have made that choice. They put that service and that sacrifice in front of their desires, in front of the desires of their family. They are, indeed, called to serve. prgtoken These are the people whom we should be looking to for comfort and inspiration during difficult times. They really do have experience in that category. They have made those sacrifices, and they have made those choices knowing that it wouldn't be easy and knowing that they may not come home, but, when they do come home, that sometimes it is tough. It is tough to get back in that groove of where you were, to rekindle those relationships. prgtoken Our younger veterans, in particular, were painfully aware of this when they put on the uniform. But do you know what? They still made that choice to serve. prgtoken Here in the Senate, we have backed legislation that really has made things easier for so many of our veterans. prgtoken When I was in the House, I was honored to help shepherd passage of the VA MISSION Act, and I was grateful to see that receive bipartisan support here in the Senate. It has, indeed, streamlined many of the processes in the VA healthcare system. prgtoken Last month, I introduced a bill to provide doula services to improve maternal health outcomes for our female veterans, a population that every single month continues to increase. prgtoken Back in August, I introduced a bill that will allow our K2 veterans to obtain the special health screenings they need to check for cancer and other illnesses caused by exposure to toxic substances in Uzbekistan. prgtoken In fact, this has been a great year for veteran support. We have passed--or are very close to passing--legislation that will improve and simplify doctor-patient relationships, recordkeeping, and mental health services, and will make those and other important benefits more accessible to our veterans and their families. prgtoken If you are not already supporting these efforts, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation. prgtoken As the week draws to a close, I would encourage everyone to seek out veterans' stories and to internalize the knowledge that the sacrifices they made were for us. There is so much we can learn
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2020-11-12

today I offer my recognition of the service of Sherie Allen to Utah mothers and children. Adopted in Lancaster, CA, in 1965, around 3 months of age, Sherie was raised in a home that frequently and openly discussed her adoption. This experience instilled a passion to serve those in need of love and home. prgtoken Sherie's late husband also understood the goodwill in adoption, and together, they formed a family with eight children, four biological and four adopted. Of her four adopted children, one now lives in assisted living, two have graduated college with bachelor's degrees in biology, and the other is a high school student. Sherie and her late husband were also foster parents, providing love and care for many children before those children were placed into their forever homes and families. prgtoken In February of 2019, Sherie started Ohana Beginnings where she now serves as CEO and executive board chair. Ohana Beginnings offers support for expectant mothers facing an unplanned pregnancy who choose to marry, place their baby for adoption, or single parent. The organization's Taking Flight Initiative offers services that include housing, food, clothing, medical care, therapeutic services, and academic support. This initiative is individually designed to fit the unique circumstances of the expectant or parenting mother to set her up for future success. prgtoken This September, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute-- CCAI--honored Sherie and other outstanding individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of children in need of permanent, loving homes. Sherie's work and dedication toward serving the needs of expectant mothers and children has earned her the Angels in Adoption Honoree award. Sherie is a powerful advocate for pro-family values and has committed her time, gifts, and resources to strengthening families, helping young mothers, and protecting babies through Ohana Beginnings.
IN HONOR OF SHIRLEY E. BINARI
John Joyce (Republican, PA) \u2014 2020-11-12

. Madam , I rise today to honor Shirley E. Binari of Huntingdon County for her service in the United States Air Force. Shirley is an outstanding Pennsylvanian, and I am grateful for her service to our nation, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and our community. prgtoken In Pennsylvania and across the country, our veterans have served and sacrificed for Americans' freedom and our values. They answered the call to serve and fight for us--at a great cost. Truly, our veterans are the best of America. prgtoken In Congress, it is my privilege--and my responsibility--to stand up for those who have served our country in uniform, as well as to recognize these brave Americans. As a nation, we are indebted to them. On behalf of the 13th Congressional District, I thank Shirley for her service to our nation and our community.
IMPACT AID CORONAVIRUS RELIEF ACT
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2020-11-12

this summer, Senator Smith and I introduced the Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act. If enacted, this bill would provide much needed relief to school districts participating in the Impact Aid Program. And given the many other prgtoken strains they are feeling due to the ongoing pandemic, it can't come soon enough. prgtoken By way of background, public school districts on military installations, Tribal land, and other Federal public property, or with students living on these Federal properties, can participate in the Impact Aid Program, which includes nearly 40 school districts in the State of South Dakota. prgtoken This program is of vital importance to the financial well-being of these schools, as it reimburses them for revenue shortfalls due to the reduction or absence of a local tax base because of the presence of Federal property prgtoken In order to determine grant awards through this program, school districts must annually calculate the number of federally connected students that they have enrolled. While generally a prudent exercise, during a pandemic, conducting this type of count has presented a new set of challenges for administrators. prgtoken The Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act is a commonsense, bipartisan approach that would not cost a dime yet would provide financial stability to school districts by allowing them to use last year's student headcounts on impact aid applications that they are completing this fall. Doing so would prevent the reporting of noticeable, but likely temporary, declines in student enrollment, which would lead to student reduced impact aid payments next year. prgtoken Distance learning has made collecting student data more challenging as well. Districts are also experiencing declines in student headcount due to parents choosing to temporarily homeschool their children during the pandemic. prgtoken Unless Congress allows these school districts to use last year's student headcounts on this year's impact aid applications, schools will have the undue burden of collecting this data during an otherwise challenging time and could very well experience a reduced impact aid payment next fall. Our legislation will ensure that they have certainty in the near term. prgtoken A companion of our bill passed the House by unanimous consent on October 2, and impact aid school districts are eager for the Senate to do the same. I hope we can get that done today. prgtoken I yield to the Senator from Minnesota for some comments.
Coronavirus (Executive Session)
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-11-12

the world is celebrating major developments in the global race for a vaccine. All year, since this pandemic hit, our greatest scientific minds have been working around the clock to develop a vaccine that will finally bring the pandemic and the crisis associated with it to an end. Researchers are testing dozens of vaccines in the hope of finding at least one that can stop the spread of the virus, which has claimed more than 1.2 million lives worldwide and nearly 240,000 here in the United States alone. prgtoken Early data from Pfizer's vaccine trial gives us a lot of reasons to be hopeful when the company announced on Monday that its vaccine was more than 90 percent effective in preventing the disease. For reference, standard flu vaccines for the seasonal flu are typically 40 to 60 percent effective, so 90 percent is a big deal. This breakthrough is a testament to the ingenuity and the near-universal commitment to trying to find a vaccine that will eliminate the threat of this pandemic, and it is a sign of hope for all people around the world. prgtoken Later this month, once Pfizer has collected the recommended 2 months of safety data, the company plans to request emergency authorization for the vaccine from the Food and Drug Administration. By the end of the year, it will have manufactured enough doses to immunize 15 to 20 million people. Congress has made tremendous investments in the development of therapeutics and of vaccines through the CARES Act, and I am incredibly proud of the men and women who have led this fight on the frontlines, including in my State of Texas. prgtoken During preclinical trials over the summer, scientists at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio tested the Pfizer vaccine on monkeys, with impressive results. Dr. Deepak Kaushal, who oversaw the study, said they saw a 100-percent protection rate in the monkeys that were given the Pfizer vaccine. prgtoken Once it was ready for human trials, hundreds of Texans volunteered to be vaccinated. Nearly 200 patients from Austin have participated in the study. The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has enrolled more than 500 participants at its three sites in Galveston, League City, and Clear prgtoken Lake City, and hundreds more in the Dallas-Forth Worth area have volunteered to be part of the trial. prgtoken One of those Texans is a woman named Andrea Lucia, who received her first dose of the vaccine from a clinic in Keller, TX, in late September and returned for the second dose 3 weeks later. Like other volunteers in a double-blind study, where half gets a placebo and the other half gets the vaccine, Andrea doesn't know if she received the vaccine or not, but every week, she is asked if she has any symptoms. Andrea said she will have occasional followup appointments over the next year and a half, and once the vaccine becomes publicly available, she will find out if she received it already through