mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF S. CON. RES. 5, CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-2-5

. Madam , I thank Mr. Morelle, the gentleman from New York and distinguished member of the Committee on Rules, among other committees of the House, for bringing this important rule to the floor. prgtoken Madam , we just left a meeting with President where we had a discussion about how this legislation meets the needs of the American people. As our colleagues may be aware, early this morning, before 6 a.m the Senate passed a budget bill, which is identical in instruction to the bill that we sent there. prgtoken We had the debate on that bill on Wednesday. It passed with a strong vote in the House, and then went to the Senate. It comes back to us now and we are addressing it. So that is what brings us to the floor now. prgtoken What brings us to the floor now is the opportunity to crush the virus, to put vaccines in the arms of the American people, money in the pockets of the American people, children safely in school, people back in their jobs. prgtoken We can do that following science and good governance to make it happen. We must do that in a way that addresses the disparities. It is almost sinful to see the disparity in access to some of the vaccines and everything that happened up until now. prgtoken As I mentioned the other day in the debate on the budget bill, the GAO has put out a report that at least 90 percent of their recommendations to the administration on how to address the COVID crisis were ignored. Twenty-seven out of 31 were ignored. prgtoken This legislation, again, based on science and knowledge, and respect for all the people in our society and in our country, addresses many of those concerns in a more current way as now we have more access to vaccines and people more willing to participate because they have hope. That is what this legislation does. It gives us hope. prgtoken It is a reconciliation bill, which means we can just pass it with 51 votes in the Senate. It would be my hope that we don't have to use it as a reconciliation bill, that we will be able to have bipartisanship with the facing of the facts of what is needed to meet the needs of the American people, both in this body and in the United States Senate. But in order to have a guarantee that the people's needs will be met, we are passing this legislation today. prgtoken I hope that we will have a very strong vote in favor of crushing the virus, money in the pockets, people back to work, and children, children, children safely in schools.
HONORING PATRICK FORD AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK
Cynthia Axne (Democrat, IA) \u2014 2021-2-5

. Madam , I rise before the House to honor Mr. Patrick Ford, Doctor of Physical Therapy and CoFounder and President of Project Onyx. Patrick, who lives in Bondurant with his family, is an example of how an individual can turn their words of wanting to make the world a better place into concrete actions that improve the lives of those in our communities. Through the work of Project Onyx, Patrick and fellow co-founder, Mr. Elijah Muhammad, owner of Unorthodox Fitness, work to ``envision a community full of healthy, active individuals who have equal access to health and fitness services provided by diverse and culturally competent professionals'' and currently work with a group of 20 young men from around Central Iowa. prgtoken After the death of George Floyd in the summer of 2020, Patrick felt called to take action within his community. Reflecting on his own experiences as a biracial Black American, he wanted to work to create a world that would be more just for his daughter to grow up. In June of 2020, he approached Elijah with the idea to address underrepresentation and disparities in health outcomes for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and as a result, `Project Onyx' was created. He became determined to work toward increasing representation in the field of health and fitness and encouraging young BIPOC to enter or explore a career within the health field; having seen firsthand the racial disparities in access to healthcare, fitness, and wellness programs as a full-time physical therapist. prgtoken The goal for 2021 is to expand programming beyond the current location in Grimes and allow young people from across Central Iowa to access Project Onyx and double the current participation. In addition to health and wellness services, Patrick's vision for a youth empowerment program came to fruition as a program that blends a physical workout with conversations and dialogue about community issues. Project Onyx's mentorship program provides a launching pad for BIPOC youth who are interested in careers in health and wellness by giving them hands-on experience and career guidance. In the future the partners would like to work towards funding for scholarship opportunities and additional ways to reduce barriers towards a career in health, whether this be a certificate program or four-year degree. prgtoken Patrick is keenly aware of the importance of access to health and wellness programs and understands the negative impact of the absence of these programs in communities of color. Through Project Onyx, Patrick is using his education and experiences to help remedy this cultural inequity and serves as an example to all of us of how we can make a difference in our communities. Having never previously felt compelled to take action or be an activist he reevaluated his priorities and determined to make the world a better place for his daughter to live. prgtoken I commend Patrick for beginning to address the impor
HONORING STEPHEN GALE
Mike Thompson (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-2-5

. Madam , I rise today to honor Stephen Gale upon his retirement as Senior District Representative in my Santa Rosa office, and to recognize his longtime commitment to his community in Sonoma County. prgtoken Stephen knows the meaning of hard work. From picking apricots in his teens to earning the title of youngest Section Head at Hughes Aircraft Company, Stephen has been known as a humble, yet driven man. Not content with this early success, he returned to school, earning a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Embarking on his second career, he found success as Director of Strategic Investments at Fair Isaac and founder of Wellspring Business Development. prgtoken Stephen has always had a passion for public service. Before joining my staff, he served as the Board of Public Utilities Chair for Santa Rosa, where he directed water distribution and spearheaded projects to develop renewable resources. He has also served as Business Representative to the County Commission that established the Sonoma- Marin Area Regional Transportation system and as the founding Chair of the North Bay Leadership Council. On top of his official duties, he found time to organize a week-long business simulation to teach entrepreneurial skills to high school students. For this, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors awarded him a Gold Resolution in recognition of his leadership. prgtoken Stephen's motivation to better our community led him to developing a passion for politics. In 2008, he was chosen to serve as Chair of the Sonoma County ic Party and revitalized the organization. His innate ability to bring together people of all political leanings, from progressives to moderates, helped him build a powerful ic coalition that secured ic victories and drove civic engagement. After the conclusion of his second term as chair, he joined the state party's Rules committee, where he used his expert knowledge of parliamentary procedures to ensure efficient and productive party activities. prgtoken For seven years, Stephen has served our district well as the Senior District Representative in my Santa Rosa district office. As my countywide liaison for Sonoma County, he has worked to advance the interests of many important facets of the county, including agricultural producers and labor. Additionally, he has helped to lead the community through many trials and tribulations, including the 2017 Tubbs fire and the Coronavirus pandemic. Notably, he was instrumental in advocating, both on the local and federal level, for the creation of the Veterans Village, which provided 14 homes for homeless veterans in Santa Rosa. prgtoken Madam , Stephen Gale has made our community proud everyday through his passion and commitment to Sonoma County. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor him here today.
CONDEMNING THE BEHAVIOR OF CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2021-2-5

. Madam , I rise today to condemn the behavior, comments, and beliefs of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. prgtoken Rep. Greene has stated or shown support for a number of baseless conspiracy theories and criminal actions against American elected officials and institutions. Even before she represented the people of Georgia's 14th District, Rep. Greene said or supported beliefs that 1) House Nancy Pelosi should be shot, 2) the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 did not happen, and 3) the shooting at a Parkland, FL high school that killed 17 people was staged. prgtoken Since Rep. Greene has been elected to Congress, she has continued her horrific, incendiary and anti-American rhetoric and behavior. Rep. Greene has encouraged and incited the disgraceful attack on our nation's Capitol Building on January 6, 2021 as well as acts of violence against former presidents of the United States. She has posted on social media a split-screen picture of herself with an AR-15 automatic weapon on one side and three female Members of Congress on the other with the caption, ``The Squad's Worst Nightmare.'' No Member of Congress should have to worry about being in pictures with an AR-15 pointed at them. As a deliberative body, we debate, and we disagree. But we do not abide death threats of any sort. prgtoken Her attempted apology on the House floor was just a disingenuous attempt at covering her true beliefs. Never once did she address the violent comments towards ic Leadership that she made or agreed with. prgtoken The leadership refused to punish Rep. Greene for her statements and behavior. In fact, they thought it was a good idea to put her on the House Education and Labor Committee. For a Member of Congress to claim that the Parkland tragedy is fake and then be assigned to the Education Committee is outrageous. It is a slap in the face to all the families who lost children and loved ones during that horrible day. prgtoken Never at any point has Rep. Greene fully recanted, repudiated nor apologized for any of her statements and behavior. Every day she is a sitting Member of Congress brings shame and dishonor to the U.S. House of Representatives. Her actions are absolutely unacceptable and beneath the dignity of this body. I strongly believe that Rep. Greene poses a continuous threat to the safety of several Members of this body and the institutions that have been the pride of America for more than 200 years. prgtoken That is why I voted for the removal of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from all committee assignments and will further push for her removal from Congress.
RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE PRINCIPLES OF NON-VIOLENCE PRACTICED BY MAHATMA GANDHI
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-2-5

. Madam , I rise today to recognize and honor the principles of non-violence practiced by Mahatma Gandhi in light of recent vandalism of a Gandhi statue in Davis, California. prgtoken As we continue to debate and settle our differences, we must continue to embody the principles of Gandhi, who not only brought independence to his own people, but inspired generations of civil rights activists, including the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. Violence and vandalism are never the answer and I call on all my colleagues to join me in condemning the desecration of the Gandhi Statue of Peace.
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2021
Chris Pappas (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2021-2-5

. Madam , from Michigan for yielding and for his work on this critical bipartisan piece of legislation. prgtoken Madam , I rise in support of the National Apprenticeship Act and I urge swift passage of this legislation, which will help open the doors of economic opportunity to more Americans. prgtoken We must work to strengthen and expand apprenticeships to align the skills of our workers with the needs of our employers and economy. Too often, however, employers and workers are simply unaware of what is out there. prgtoken I am pleased this legislation includes a provision I introduced that would create a centralized, one-stop shop where interested parties would be able prgtoken to access information on apprenticeship opportunities so we can best meet the needs of individuals, employers, educators, and trainers. prgtoken I am offering another amendment today that promotes real demonstration projects to explore new models of programs and that can result in innovation, including how to adjust programs through the COVID-19 pandemic for safety reasons. prgtoken As we come back from this crisis, new ideas and approaches are so crucial to our success. Apprenticeships offer an important ladder into good-paying jobs and lifelong careers, and this legislation will make them more available and accessible. prgtoken Americans are ready, willing, and able to get to work to rebuild our country, revitalize major trades and industries, and light a path for the future. It is time we made it a little easier for the American worker to build their American Dream, and we can do that by passing the National Apprenticeship Act. prgtoken Madam , I hope my colleagues will support the amendments in the underlying bill.
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2021
Alma S. Adams (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2021-2-5

I rise today in strong support of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021. prgtoken By creating nearly 1 million new apprenticeship opportunities and yielding over $10 billion in net benefits, this legislation is a lifeline for our economy and for countless Americans, including those in my home State of North Carolina. prgtoken With a proven track record of success, we know this is a safe and smart investment, something our country desperately needs right now. prgtoken I am also pleased that this legislation includes a bill which I led with Representative Mondaire Jones, the Apprenticeship Access for All Act, language that will advance programs that promote the recruitment, employment, and retention of people of color, individuals with disabilities, and individuals facing barriers to employment, especially in high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand sectors and occupations. After all, we must be sure that everyone has access to opportunity. prgtoken This vote is about ensuring our workforce gets the investment it needs and the support it deserves. This vote is about showing the American people that they are seen, that they are heard, and that we deeply care about providing them pathways to a stable future. This vote is also about upholding Congress' commitment and obligation to serve every American. prgtoken I urge support.
IN RECOGNITION OF MR. SAMUEL MOON
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-2-5

. Madam , I rise today, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, to recognize and congratulate Mr. Samuel Moon on his impressive tenure as President of the Sam Moon Group. Mr. Samuel Moon's keen business acumen has played a critical role in the development of the Texas retail sector over the last few decades. prgtoken Mr. Samuel Moon followed in the footsteps of his father and joined their family franchise, the Sam Moon Group, in 1984. Under his leadership and creative direction, the Sam Moon Group flourished in the state of Texas, expanding its horizons beyond the retail line. Now, as President of the company, Mr. Samuel Moon's duties are diverse. They include the management of the real estate and retail development, overseeing the design and development of new hotels and shopping centers, and the operations of the Sam Moon Trading Co. stores, among others. prgtoken Mr. Samuel Moon is a graduate of North Texas University and currently resides in Dallas, Texas with his wife Sandra. prgtoken Madam , I am pleased to honor Mr. Samuel Moon today, and I wish him good fortune and happiness in the New Year.
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2021
Jason Crow (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2021-2-5

I rise today in support of my amendment. prgtoken The registered apprenticeship system is one of America's most successful Federal workforce programs and has created a pathway for millions of Americans to achieve the American Dream. prgtoken With more than 600,000 apprenticeships nationwide, including more than 6,000 in Colorado, apprenticeships provide workers with paid, on- the-job training, and more than 94 percent of apprentices have a job after completing their program. prgtoken The National Apprenticeship Act would bring this successful program into the 21st century by investing more than $3.5 billion annually and creating 1 million new apprenticeships over the next 5 years. prgtoken , my amendment will ensure that we include educators in this program. Across the country, there is a growing demand for qualified teachers. Schools, particularly low-income schools, are struggling to hire and retain qualified teachers. prgtoken In Colorado, we have a critical shortage of thousands of teachers. Simply put, today, we can't even fully staff our classrooms. By including teachers in the expansion of this program, we will help solve this problem. prgtoken I grew up going to neighborhood public schools. I know the lasting impact teachers can have on students. Without them, I wouldn't be standing here today. prgtoken Investing in teachers and in our children should always be a top priority, and I urge my colleagues to support my amendment in the underlying bill. prgtoken , I include in the Record this letter of support from the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada. United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada, Annapolis, Maryland, February 4, 2021. Dear Representative: On behalf of the more than 359,000 members of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA), I write in support of H.R. 447, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021. As you know, the Registered Apprenticeship programs of the UA and North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) are the gold standard in the industry. This bill would protect that status while also ensuring Registered Apprenticeships are more accessible for all industries seeking a highly skilled workforce. The United Association is extremely proud of our Registered Apprenticeship and training programs. We invest more than $275 million of private money each year to ensure our members are the best trained and most highly skilled workers in the industry. Simply put, these programs produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world at no cost to the American taxpayer while also providing a fair wage, quality healthcare, and retirement. We can all be proud o
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2021
Kathy E. Manning (Democrat, NC) \u2014 2021-2-5

I rise today to speak in favor of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021. prgtoken We are living in a time of record job loss with 10 million people out of work and many businesses devastated by this pandemic. That is why this legislation is critical. prgtoken We must invest in helping people gain the skills they need to prepare for high-quality jobs that earn good wages. This apprenticeship act will do exactly that, including those with barriers to employment. prgtoken This investment is projected to yield $10.6 billion in net benefits to U.S. taxpayers by increasing their productivity and decreasing spending on public assistance programs and unemployment insurance. Equally important, it will help countless Americans achieve the dignity of providing for their families and the satisfaction of having good jobs. prgtoken This is exactly the kind of investment that will help us build back better.
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2021
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-2-5

. We need to be able to provide opportunities for young people, giving them the direction of where they can be a success. prgtoken I show these pictures of diversity in my district of individuals who are having the opportunity to be apprentices. Increasing participation in programs under the national apprenticeship program through technical assistance brings together industry sector leaders and experts, including employers. This is a new day. prgtoken As my colleague said, Congressman Lynch: I started as an iron worker and now I am in the United States Congress. prgtoken This opens the door of opportunity. Let's support this legislation. prgtoken , as a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary, on Homeland Security, on the Budget, and as a cosponsor, I rise in strong support of H.R. 447, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, which invests more than $3.5 billion over 5 years in expanding opportunities and access to Registered Apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeships. prgtoken I thank Congressman Scott, the Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, for reintroducing this legislation which passed by a substantial margin in the 116th Congress as H.R. 8294. prgtoken This important legislation has the potential to yield $10.6 billion in net benefits to U.S. taxpayers in the form of increased workers productivity and decreased spending on public-assistance programs and unemployment insurance and which bring America's investments in apprenticeship more in line with countries around the world. prgtoken , the Registered Apprenticeship (RAs) system is America's most successful federally authorized workforce development program. prgtoken According to the Department of Labor, 94 percent of people who complete RAs are employed upon completion, earning an average starting wage of above $70,000 annually. prgtoken Yet, according to the most recent data, only 0.3 percent of the overall workforce in America have completed an apprenticeship. prgtoken , this legislation could not be more timely because during a time of record unemployment, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 invests more than $3.5 billion over 5 years in expanding opportunities and access to Registered Apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeships. prgtoken The legislation also creates an additional 1 million new apprenticeship opportunities on top of the current expected growth of the apprenticeship system, an investment that not only will pay off for workers and employers, but also benefit the taxpayers. prgtoken , this legislation is critical to expanding the nation's workforce development system during our country's deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression. prgtoken Specifically, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 authorizes $400 million for fiscal year (FY) 2022, increasing by $100 million annually to $800 million for FY 2026, to support the creation or expansion of registered apprenticeships
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2021
Mondaire Jones (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-2-5

the economy has been left in ruins by the prior administration's historic failure of leadership. Now, millions of Americans are out of work and we must remember that it is people with disabilities, people of color, and especially women of color, who have been the hardest hit. prgtoken As Members of Congress, we must do all we can to ensure everyone--and I do mean everyone--can live in dignity. That is why I support the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 which will create 1 million new apprenticeships. prgtoken This bill includes the Apprenticeship Access for All Act, which I am proud to have coauthored with my colleague, Congresswoman Alma Adams. This legislation will help remove racist and ableist barriers to employment of our national apprenticeship system, because everyone deserves a good-paying job no matter your race or your ability.