mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REMOVING DEADLINE FOR RATIFICATION OF EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
Carolyn B. Maloney (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-2-13

. Madam , I thank Chairman Nadler and Jackie Speier for their historic leadership on the equal rights amendment. prgtoken Madam , first introduced in 1923, the equal rights amendment is still as relevant and necessary as ever because we know that equality for women will always elude us when it isn't etched into our Constitution. prgtoken We have seen it when the Supreme Court gutted the Violence Against Women Act; we have seen it when judges don't enforce equal pay for equal work or when a Federal judge ruled that Congress didn't have the authority to outlaw female genital mutilation. But if your rights are in the Constitution, then they can't be rolled back by the changing whims of legislators, judges, or Presidents. prgtoken Women are long past due equal treatment under the law, and we will persist until it is firmly guaranteed. There is no deadline for equality. We demand our equality be spelled out in the Constitution, and we spell it E-R-A. prgtoken Madam , I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this important vote for equality.
HOMELAND SECURITY FOR CHILDREN ACT
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-2-13

as a senior Member of Congress, I rise in support of H.R. 2932, the ``Homeland Security for Children Act,'' which would direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to identify and integrate the needs of children into activities to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against the risk of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. prgtoken The ``Homeland Security for Children Act'' would make children's needs a priority throughout the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), by directing the DHS Undersecretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans to incorporate feedback from children's organizations into Department-wide activities. prgtoken This legislation would require DHS to submit a report to Congress on the Department's efforts to integrate the needs of children into the policies, programs, and activities at DHS. prgtoken DHS will authorize a Children's Technical Expert position, ensuring that the Agency will adequately incorporate the needs of children into its emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities. prgtoken Due to their general incapacity to protect and advocate for themselves, children are more likely to succumb to the negative outcomes associated with disasters and acts of terrorism. prgtoken FEMA has consistently missed the mark when it comes to acknowledging and prioritizing the unique needs of children in its disaster-related activities. prgtoken When disaster strikes, whether natural or manmade, the country has historically struggled to adequately prepare for children's unique needs. prgtoken For example, in Houston Hurricane Harvey made land fall in 2017 and proceeded to affect 13 million people, cause $125 billion dollars in damages, and take the lives of 94 individuals. prgtoken Nearly 3 million children in County alone were impacted by Hurricane Harvey. prgtoken Six months after the storm approximately 4,000 childcare programs, afterschool programs, and schools closed for weeks in the Greater Houston area. prgtoken Hurricane Harvey resulted in an increase to the number of economically disadvantaged children, cases of mental health issues and student homelessness. prgtoken The shortage of childcare throughout the impacted regions prevented many families from returning to their `normal' lives. prgtoken Traumatic experiences, such as a natural disaster, can negatively impact a child's mental health, cause an increase in irritability, aggression, anger, and physical ailments, such as headaches and stomach aches. prgtoken It is vital that FEMA makes it a priority to integrate the needs of children into their activities to prepare for, protect against and mitigate against the risk of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. prgtoken I ask all Members to join me in voting to pass H.R. 2932, the ``Homeland Security for Children Act.''
REMOVING DEADLINE FOR RATIFICATION OF EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2020-2-13

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 79, which takes a key step to ensure that the equal rights amendment will become part of our Constitution. prgtoken Nearly 100 years after women gained the right to vote, it is difficult to believe we still haven't given women equal rights. It is hard to believe it is a serious disagreement in this Chamber. prgtoken In the year 2020, it is unacceptable that women still make only 80 cents for every dollar earned by men and that women are still subject to violence, harassment and attacks on their freedom to control their own bodies. prgtoken In Judiciary Committee this morning, a brilliant female law clerk is describing sexual harassment by a distinguished and respected ninth circuit judge. This should never happen. And with ongoing efforts to undermine progress we have made; the equal rights amendment is more important than ever. prgtoken It took over 130 years to give women the right to vote. It is almost 100 years since they have gotten it. It is time to give women their proper place in the Constitution of the United States, which most modern constitutions have, equality regardless of sex.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CANNOT AFFORD TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN SYRIA
Maxine Waters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-2-13

. Madam , I stand today with the chair of our Foreign Affairs Committee who just spoke here, Mr. Engel, as he makes a plea to this House for us to take a look at and get involved with what is going on in Syria. prgtoken Millions of folks are dying. They are being killed with the help of Assad and Russia. They are killing civilians, millions of civilians. They are killing the children. And for those who are injured that find their way to the hospital, it does no good because they turn around and bomb the hospitals. This is an outrage. prgtoken The United States of America cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this humanitarian crisis. We must get involved. We must pay attention. The families, the children, the people of Syria deserve better than this. prgtoken I want to thank Mr. Engel for the attention that he is paying to this issue and the way that he is trying to educate us and get us involved in saving those poor people who are being overrun, who are being killed by Assad and, of course, with the help of Russia.
THE CLEAN ECONOMY ACT
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-2-13

today I rise to discuss solutions to the climate crisis, which threatens the health and well-being of my constituents in Maryland and Americans across the Nation. prgtoken The urgency of climate change asks us to be our most cooperative and collaborative selves and to seek policy solutions that far outlast our legacies in office. As the threat of climate change becomes more and more visible to the American public, people are demanding action from their Federal Government. This year, we have seen an unprecedented level of interest from Americans of all ages and walks of life on real solutions to this complex problem. A variety of comprehensive solutions have been proposed, some that represent a departure from how the Federal Government has addressed climate change in the past, while others utilize existing Federal frameworks to drive climate action. prgtoken History tells us that our Federal agencies have an incredible capacity to evolve to meet the threats of their time. In previous administrations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been a dynamic steward of domestic environmental law throughout the last half- century and is well-practiced in addressing environmental concerns as they emerge. Unfortunately, Congress and the President have failed to provide the EPA with the direction and funding it needs to address the issue of climate change in earnest. I support Senator Carper's Clean Economy Act for this very reason. The Clean Economy Act understands that the EPA lies at the center of America's climate future and empowers it to address climate change proactively. prgtoken The Clean Economy Act provides the agency with the clear goal of net- zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to match the urgency to reduce warming global temperatures. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's--IPCC--October 2018 Special Report on climate warns that warming above 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels will have a catastrophic impact on our global systems. The United States reaching net-zero is an essential component to keep global temperature warming below the 1.5 degrees Celsius cap. prgtoken Many of this administration's nominees are fond of pointing out that they are not scientists, implying that they are not qualified to make decisions related to climate change. I will point out that most of us are not economists prgtoken either, but that doesn't stop us from making decisions that affect the economy. We have a responsibility to make informed decisions affecting our climate, environment, and natural resources, which are at the heart of our ability to maintain a healthy sustainable economy. There are some tough decisions to make in the face of climate change that reasonable people will disagree about, but the basic science should not be ignored. Whether to accept the facts of the matter should not be a partisan debate. prgtoken Fortunately, the IPCC, to which the U.S. Government and s
TRIBUTE TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MICHAEL ``MIKE'' MOORE
James E. Clyburn (Democrat, SC) \u2014 2020-2-13

. Madam , I rise today to pay tribute to a great friend of America and a great leader of New Zealand. Former Prime Minister Michael ``Mike'' Moore has been called ``a force of nature'' and was a dedicated defender of working people. The Right Honorable Moore transitioned on February 2, 2020, but his legacy will live on. prgtoken Prime Minister Moore was born in Whakatane, New Zealand. He was educated at Bay of Islands College and Dilworth School, but left school at the age of 14. While working as a laborer and a printer, he became very active in the trade union movement and was elected to the Auckland Trades Council at the age of 17. Through his union work, he became active in politics and became the first youth representative on the Labour Party executive. He also served as vice president of the International Union of Socialist Youth for two terms. prgtoken In 1972, at the age of 23, he became the youngest person elected to the New Zealand Parliament. During his years of public service, he held various ministries in the Labour government, including Overseas Trade Minister, Minister of External Relations, and Deputy Minister of Finance. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1984 to 1990, when he won the post of Prime Minister after the resignation of Geoffrey Palmer. Yet his service as New Zealand's political leader lasted only eight weeks, ending when the Labour Party lost control of Parliament in the general election of 1990. He was defeated as the Labour Party leader three years later. prgtoken From 1999 to 2002, Moore served as director-general of the World Trade Organization, where his service was marked by his efforts to help poor countries effectively participate in multilateral trade. He then served as New Zealand's Ambassador to the United States from 2010 to 2015, where I was fortunate to get to know him. He was an avid supporter of my annual golf tournament and Scholarship Banquet in Santee, South Carolina, always sending a New Zealand team to participate. prgtoken Although he didn't have much formal education, Moore claimed, ``the Labour Party has been my training college, Parliament my university.'' His keen intellect was well known and he was awarded honorary doctorates from Lincoln University, the Auckland University of Technology and the University of Canterbury, the People's University of China, and La Trobe University in Australia. He was also a prolific reader and wrote books on economics, politics and New Zealand history. prgtoken Moore was married to Yvonne Dereany, a teacher and host of the children's television program Romper Room, for 45 years. prgtoken Madam , I ask you and our colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of New Zealand's Prime Minister Mike Moore. He was a distinguished public servant, who had a heart for the people and a love of history. He said in his final speech as a Member of Parliament that ``a nation is the sum total of its history, its memories, and
IN RECOGNITION OF MOLLY DOBSON AS SHE IS NAMED WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-2-13

. Madam , I rise today to honor Molly Dobson as she is named Woman of the Year by the United Way of Washtenaw County's Women United group. Dobson's lifetime of community service and philanthropy is worthy of commendation, and we are proud to recognize her achievements today. prgtoken Molly Dobson is a pillar of Washtenaw County. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1944, Dobson enlisted in the U.S. Navy where she worked in communications throughout World War II. After returning home to Ann Arbor, Michigan, Dobson embarked on a new era defined by giving, philanthropy, and community service. In the 1960s, Dobson began working with United Way and has been completely dedicated to furthering its community-building mission ever since. Throughout the years, Dobson has assisted the organization in several capacities, serving as a fundraiser, a member of the Budget Priorities Committee, and later sitting on the Board. Alongside numerous other achievements, Dobson will particularly be remembered for her efforts to develop the D-SIP internship program with the University of Michigan. Thanks to her work and generosity, 313 undergraduate students have completed the program since its inception. prgtoken Today, we celebrate Molly Dobson for her lifetime of service to her community, her state, and her country. Her years of philanthropy have impacted the lives of many, and her continued dedication provides a lasting example for what we should all endeavor to accomplish--to effect change, be compassionate community members, and do all we can to make a difference in the world. prgtoken Madam , I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Molly Dobson. Her decades of selfless service make her a deserving recipient of the Woman of the Year award. I am grateful for her lasting impact and wish her continued success in the years ahead.
SOUTH SUDAN
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-2-13

I rise to express strong concern about the situation in South Sudan and to call on the administration to step up its diplomatic efforts to avert a return to conflict and help achieve a lasting peace. For 6 years, the people of South Sudan have suffered the effects of a brutal civil war. International efforts to find a diplomatic solution have failed, and the humanitarian situation in South Sudan remains one of the worst in the world. prgtoken In September 2018, President Salva Kiir and his main political opponent, prgtoken former Vice President Riek Machar, agreed to form a unity government in the capital, Juba, by March of 2019. Though this so called ``revitalized agreement'' is not perfect, it is what we have to work with. The ceasefire between Kiir and Machar that was part of it has largely held, sparing the South Sudanese from the violence and brutality so many experienced at the height of the civil war. I am also encouraged that the government and political opposition groups that had refused to sign the 2018 revitalized peace deal reached an accord last month. prgtoken However, two successive delays in the establishment of the unity government have made me skeptical about the chances that the latest deadline, February 22, will be met. While both parties have stated their commitment to it, they have yet to effectively address two fundamental sticking points: the boundaries of South Sudan's states, and the formation of an inclusive national army. Absent an agreement on these two issues, lasting peace may prove elusive. prgtoken At the end of the day, Kiir, Machar, and others who claim to represent the South Sudanese people are responsible for peace in their country. However, given our historical role in South Sudan, the United States has a significant role to play. I would like to remind my colleagues that the United States was heavily involved in brokering the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement which helped create the conditions for South Sudan's independence. Since independence, the United States has provided nearly $3.8 billion in emergency humanitarian assistance since the outbreak of civil war. We have supported the UN peacekeeping force in South Sudan, UNMISS, which is protecting 200,000 civilians sheltering in or near its bases, investing more than $342 million last fiscal year. These dollars are and have contributed to keeping thousands of people alive. But the South Sudanese deserve more than mere life support. They deserve to live in peace. We have influence with all of the key actors in the region, yet the administration has failed to use it. The administration must effectively use its influence to help the millions of South Sudanese who aspired to liberty but found misery instead. prgtoken Previous administrations made South Sudan a priority in their foreign policy. The administration helped negotiate the aforementioned Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The administrati
REMOVING DEADLINE FOR RATIFICATION OF EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-2-13

. Madam , I thank the chairman for yielding. prgtoken Madam , I rise in strong support today of Congresswoman Speier's bill, H.J. Res. 79. I thank Congresswoman Speier and Congresswoman Maloney for their consistent leadership as warrior women. prgtoken The ERA would guarantee rights to all and would finally affirm women's equality in our Constitution by removing this arbitrary deadline. prgtoken We know that, too often, women have been relegated to the sidelines and left prgtoken out of the Constitution, especially Black women and women of color. For example, there is still rampant gender wage discrimination. prgtoken Discrimination against women must end. That is why the ERA is so important. It would make sure that our government would ensure that women are treated equally, a right that needs to be clearly outlined in every aspect of our country. prgtoken I want my granddaughters, Jordan, Simone, and Giselle, to know that they are equal to men, that their rights are enshrined in the Constitution. They, like every girl and woman, deserve equality in their country. They should know that their country, the United States of America, has finally joined the rest of the world to stand up for their rights as American women.
SUPPORT MEDICAID EXPANSION, NOT BLOCK GRANTS
Kendra S. Horn (Democrat, OK) \u2014 2020-2-13

. Madam , I rise to speak on the issue of healthcare in Oklahoma. I hear from far too many Oklahomans who can't afford the healthcare they need. prgtoken Today, Oklahoma has the second highest rate of uninsured people in the Nation. Our State ranks 48th for uninsured children. We cannot continue to let Oklahomans fall through the cracks of our healthcare system. prgtoken The answer to solving our State's healthcare crisis is straightforward. We must expand Medicaid. By not expanding Medicaid, Oklahoma has lost up to $1 billion per year. Seven hospitals across our State have closed, in part because we did not accept the healthcare support our State is entitled to. prgtoken Expanding Medicaid in Oklahoma would extend health insurance to up to 200,000 Oklahomans who don't currently have insurance. It is the right choice for our State. Instead, the administration and our Governor are proposing an alternative plan to turn SoonerCare into a block grant program. prgtoken The plan to block grant Medicaid would encourage cuts to healthcare services, restrict access to healthcare providers and lifesaving medications, and contribute to hospital closures. Too often, block grants have often been misused for political pet projects and to fill holes in the budget. prgtoken While we are still learning the specifics of the block grant plan, here is what we do know: more than 500,000 children rely on SoonerCare, and their insurance would be threatened by the plan to cap and slash Medicaid. Enough is enough.
REMOVING DEADLINE FOR RATIFICATION OF EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-2-13

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken I thank Representative Speier, Representative Maloney, and all of those who have been such warriors on this issue for such a long period of time. They are keeping the faith. prgtoken This constitutional amendment was passed in 1972, to be specific, in the early part of 1972. I was a member of the Maryland State Senate in 1972, and I had the honor in the late spring of 1972, just months after the ERA had been passed, of voting to ratify that. prgtoken Now, the previous speaker said in only 35 States. That is 70 percent of the States ratified that in a timely fashion. Timely in the sense that we set in a resolution, as the chairman pointed out, a date. Seventy percent of the States of this Nation. prgtoken Now, it needed three more States. It has now received three more States. I have been an advocate for the equal rights amendment for essentially 4 decades, actually longer. I will be proud to vote for it today. prgtoken Just a few months, as I said, after Congress adopted the ERA, Maryland voted for ratification. I thought that it was long overdue even then in 1972. Here we are some 48 years later, and it still is. prgtoken Our Founders declared ``all men are created equal'' in their Declaration of Independence. Surely, no Founder, if they were writing that document today, would have said ``men'' meant white, property- owning men. Surely, they would not have written that. Surely, none of us would have supported that. prgtoken Since the very beginning Americans have been taking steps, therefore, to define that in a more expansive, inclusive term representing our universal values. We amended the Constitution to ensure African Americans and women could not be denied the right to vote. It took a long time. Particularly, I hope the women in this body will think of the suffragettes who were extraordinarily active and involved in our community and making decisions in our families and in our communities and country but who could not vote prior to 1919. prgtoken From 1789 to 1919 women could not vote. I am the father of three daughters, the grandfather of two granddaughters, and the great- grandfather of three great-granddaughters. For me to go home to them tonight and say I voted against your being equal in America. Now, my wife passed away, but if I went home to her tonight and said I voted against your being equal in America or those grandchildren and great- grandchildren who happen to have been born as women and say to them I voted against your being equal in America today. prgtoken We passed the Civil Rights Act to make clear that all must be treated equal regardless of race. We passed the ADA, which I cosponsored 30 years ago to ban discrimination against those with disabilities. But still nowhere in our Constitution does it state clearly that women must be treated equally and that one must not be subject to discrimination because of their gender. prgtoken The ERA wou