mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ABORTION RIGHTS
Rosa L. DeLauro (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2020-3-5

. Madam , we are at a critical juncture for abortion rights in America. prgtoken Abortion is health care and a fundamental right. But, across the street from the Capitol, the Supreme Court appears ready to overturn precedent to go after reproductive justice. June Medical Services v. Russo is the first abortion case to be heard by anti-abortion Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. They could pave the way for states to ban abortion for 25 million people in the United States. prgtoken So, we are standing up. Because we will not be standing by. prgtoken Regardless of where they live or how much money they make, individuals deserve the right to control their own bodies and future, and to get the healthcare that they want and need. When women can make decisions about their own reproductive healthcare, including whether and when to have children, they have autonomy over their lives, and their economic security. prgtoken So, reproductive justice is about economic justice. That is what is under threat. prgtoken And, not just the courts. Opponents of abortion have launched a nationwide, full court press against abortion and women's health. prgtoken Last year, 300 bills were introduced across the U.S. to curb or ban abortion. Alabama passed an extreme and callous law that would force teenage survivors of rape and incest, as well as people of any age, to carry a pregnancy without their consent. Texas introduced a bill to make abortion a capital offense. prgtoken Then, there is the - administration. Its domestic gag rule insert and in between a woman and her doctor. More than four million women and men, including 45,000 in my state, go to Title X clinics for their health care services. Sixty percent of those women consider it their primary care. But, the domestic gag rule bans providers from even talking about abortion or abortion-related services with their patient, even if an abortion is medically necessary. prgtoken Americans want more health care, not less. And, abortion is safe and legal, and the law of the land. prgtoken So, as the chair of the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriations Subcommittee, I am proud to fight for women and families and for reproductive justice. In our House Labor-HHS bill, we fought to block the domestic gag rule. But the administration and the Senate s stopped us. We are not giving up. prgtoken Instead, the ic Majority of the U.S. House of Representatives is fighting for reproductive justice. We have legislation such as Congresswoman Barbara Lee's EACH Woman Act. The Hyde Amendment is a discriminatory policy that makes access to abortion dependent on your income. That is wrong, and I oppose it. We will continue the fight and we will win that fight in the near term to ensure that women of color, low income women and all women are on equal footing, with regards to reproductive rights. prgtoken Making the decision to continue
CORONAVIRUS PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-3-5

at the end of fiscal year 2021, the 5-year authorization for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, our Nation's foundational prekindergarten through 12th grade law, is due to expire. prgtoken While I understand that previous reauthorizations took 13 years and allowed an entire generation of students to matriculate through school systems around our Nation, I am here today to stress that our kids can't wait for the needed transformational changes to our Nation's Federal, State, and local education policies and additional funding investments. prgtoken To provide a stronger Federal partnership to States and local communities that have worked together to support transformational change that will ensure educational equity and quality for all public school students, I introduced the TRUE EQUITY Act. It stands for the Transformational Reforms and Updates to Ensure Educational Quality and Urgent Investments in Today's Youth Act. prgtoken My home State of Maryland has been long recognized as having one of the best public school systems in the country, according to the independent newspaper Education Week. This ranges from having entire county-based local school systems ranked as near the top in the Nation to individual schools producing national leaders in academic achievement. In addition, Maryland was one of the first States to offer half-day preschool for 4-year-olds, has broad access to Advanced Placement courses for high schoolers, and pays for dual-enrollment courses for high school students at our local community colleges. prgtoken I am proud of these accomplishments. However, not all of our students have found success. prgtoken In 2016, the Maryland General Assembly and the Governor of Maryland established the Maryland Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, chaired by the former chancellor of the University System of Maryland, William ``Brit'' Kirwan, to identify the policies and practices so that Maryland's schools perform at the level of the world's highest performing school system. The commission was charged with a number of tasks, including a review of the current funding formulas and accountability measures utilized to ensure educational equity and equality, how Maryland schools prepare students for postsecondary education in the workforce, and to make recommendations for the State on needed funding improvements across the State and local school districts. prgtoken These reviews are necessary to support growing populations of children with disabilities, how to improve and expand programs supporting postsecondary credential attainment, and prgtoken other policy changes to address the academic achievement gap that has persisted along racial, ethnic, and income levels of students of color and low-income students compared to their higher income and White peers. prgtoken To meet this expansive charge, the commission included stakeholders from across our State, including represe
ADVANCED GEOTHERMAL INNOVATION LEADERSHIP ACT OF 2019--Resumed
Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2020-3-5

Senator Portman and I have been working on this legislation for about 10 years now. It has gone through committee multiple times. It has gone through the floor of the Senate multiple times, and we hope that we have it in a position now where we can actually get this done as part of the overall energy package, which is significant and a tribute to the work of Senators Murkowski and Manchin and so many people in this Chamber. prgtoken As Senator Portman said, energy use in buildings is about 40 percent of our energy use. It is the biggest single sector in our economy. Energy efficiency is the cheapest, fastest way to deal with our energy needs. So what these provisions would do--they are voluntary. What they would do is provide significant savings to consumers. They would be the equivalent of taking every car and light truck off the road for a year, so significant emission savings and significant energy savings. This is a win-win. I hope that the amendment can be called up and passed.
REMEMBERING LAWRENCE HAMMOND
Kyrsten Sinema (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2020-3-5

today I wish to honor the life and legacy of Lawrence ``Larry'' Hammond, a tireless advocate for justice who passed away in Phoenix, AZ, on March 2, 2020. Larry was a respected attorney and the senior partner of the investigation and criminal defense group at Osborn Maledon in Phoenix. Throughout his career, he worked to defend the wrongly accused and marginalized. prgtoken Larry founded the Arizona Justice Project in 1998 while he was a member of Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice. The organization focuses on representing indigent Arizona inmates whose claims of innocence or manifest injustice have gone unheeded. Under Larry's leadership, AJP has received over 6,000 requests for assistance and currently handles 40 to 50 cases in post-conviction proceedings. prgtoken Larry's legal career was legendary. After earning his juris doctor at the University of Texas, he served as clerk to Judge Carl E. McGowan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, as well as Supreme Court Justices Hugo Black and Lewis Powell, Jr. In the 1970s, he represented the NAACP in their effort to desegregate Tucson schools. He was also a special prosecutor during Watergate and helped negotiate the release of American hostages in Iran while he served as a first deputy attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel. prgtoken Not surprisingly, Larry received many prestigious awards throughout his career, including the Department of Justice's Exceptional Service Award in 1980 and the American Inns of Court in 2013. He was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2013. prgtoken I had the honor of meeting Larry when I was a law student at Arizona Student University and worked with the Arizona Justice Project. Larry was a generous mentor, a studious researcher, and a fierce defender of the Constitution. I will miss him dearly. prgtoken Larry is survived by his wife Frances, their children, Brooke, Blake, and Amanda, and nine grandchildren. He will be missed by other family members, friends, and the entire Arizona legal community. Please join me in honoring his memory.
ADVANCED GEOTHERMAL INNOVATION LEADERSHIP ACT OF 2019--Resumed
Rick Scott (Republican, FL) \u2014 2020-3-5

first, I want to thank the Senator from Alaska for his ``Alaskans of the Week'' each week. I have had the opportunity to preside a few times when he recognizes the Alaskan of the Week, and the stories are unbelievable. The story last week of what the young man from the great State of Florida did up in Alaska was just remarkable. prgtoken So I say to the Senator, thank you for what you do.
ADVANCED GEOTHERMAL INNOVATION LEADERSHIP ACT OF 2019--Resumed
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2020-3-5

one thing that is on everybody's mind right now is this: How do we prepare to address the coronavirus? I speak not just as a Senator but, perhaps even more particularly, as a physician who has done public health in my previous practice, working with immunizations, looking at all those issues as to who is vulnerable and who needs to be protected. prgtoken There are a couple of things that are quite apparent from what we have already learned from this epidemic. Let me compliment the Chinese. They have come in for some criticism that was well deserved, but in other things they have helped determine a lot of things that will benefit the rest of the world in terms of the natural history of coronavirus. prgtoken By the way, the theme of this talk is that we have to make sure that coronavirus medications are going to be available and affordable for senior citizens. Why do I emphasize senior citizens? One thing we have learned from the Chinese is that those who are 50 and above--and 65 and above, in particular--are the ones who are most likely to die from being exposed to and infected with coronavirus. That is our Medicare Part D population. If you prgtoken have a chronic illness--and chronic illness can be hypertension, high blood pressure--again, you are particularly susceptible. If we know that our Medicare population is most vulnerable, let us focus particularly upon them. prgtoken First, science is working. There are at least six vaccines that are being developed to attempt to address the coronavirus. Hopefully, one of them will work. There are other therapies being developed. Some of them are medications. Four different medicines are now being tested to see if they are the ones that absolutely prevent coronavirus. We know whatever drug that is could end up being quite expensive. For the Medicare Part D beneficiary, that leads into this discussion: How do we make sure those drugs are effective? prgtoken Let me show you the current situation. This is the Medicare Part D standard benefit parameter under current law. In the orange is that which the beneficiary pays, the Medicare Part D beneficiary. The blue is what the insurance plan pays. The green is what the manufacturer pays. The dark blue is what the taxpayer pays, the Medicare system. prgtoken What you see is, initially, beneath the deductible, the Part D beneficiary--the senior citizen on Medicare Part D--pays 100 percent. Then, you go into what is called the initial coverage phase, 25 percent; the coverage gap phase, 25 percent; and then above the catastrophic coverage, the senior citizen pays 5 percent, no matter how much that drug costs. That drug could cost $1 million, and they are going to pay 5 percent under current law. prgtoken By the way, that is the list price. Even if the manufacturer and the pharmacy benefit manager have a deal where the drug might be priced at $100,000 but the rebate is $50,000 that goes back to the manufacturer-- s
ADVANCED GEOTHERMAL INNOVATION LEADERSHIP ACT OF 2019--Resumed
John Cornyn (Republican, TX) \u2014 2020-3-5

yesterday our colleague, the senior Senator from New York, headed across the street to join a pro-abortion rally outside the Supreme Court Building, where he made deeply disturbing comments about two of the Justices sitting on the Supreme Court. He said these words: I want to tell you, Gorsuch. I want to tell you, Kavanaugh. You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions. prgtoken He certainly didn't mince words. The minority leader of the U.S. Senate threatened two sitting Supreme Court Justices based on the potential outcome of a case they are considering. That is the only way to interpret what he said. prgtoken It is no surprise to any of us that the Senator from New York is no fan of the two most recent additions on the Court, but a fiery floor speech and a downright threat of violence are two very different things. prgtoken We have heard some of our ic colleagues voice their misgivings about the Court, but no one, to my knowledge, has sunk so low as to threaten sitting Justices. As you would expect, the shock and outrage were immediate. Liberal legal scholar Laurence Tribe denounced Senator Schumer. Even Chief Justice Roberts issued a rare public rebuke, calling the comments not only inappropriate but dangerous. prgtoken The simple end to this story would be that our colleague would apologize to Justice Gorsuch, Justice Kavanaugh, and to the American people, but instead of doing that, he has doubled down. His office has accused the Chief Justice somehow of bias and said Senator Schumer was referring to lawmakers, not the Associate Justices, as if inciting violence against lawmakers is somehow acceptable, too, in the wake of what happened to Steve Scalise and other prgtoken Members of Congress just a short time previously. But the minority leader did not fumble over words. He clearly named Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh in his threat, and when it caught the inevitable firestorm, his office deliberately tried to mislead the American people about what he said. ``[P]ay the price. You won't know what hit you''--those are not the types of statements we need from any elected official, let alone one of the highest ranking in the country, nor are they a good example because others--maybe vulnerable persons--who hear words like that may become incited to take things into their own hands in innumerable ways that we can't anticipate. prgtoken Unfortunately, some of our colleagues on the other side, including the junior Senator from Rhode Island, fell in line and chose to echo the minority leader in criticizing the Chief Justice. prgtoken It doesn't matter what case is before the Supreme Court or what ruling is ultimately handed down; congressional leaders must set an example for the American people and respect the independence of the judiciary and the
HONORING THE BALLSTON SPA VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 358 ON THEIR CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican, NY) \u2014 2020-3-5

. Madam , I rise today to honor the Ballston Spa Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 358 on their 100th anniversary. prgtoken The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) is a nonprofit veterans service organization that traces its roots back to the Spanish-American War of 1898. Veterans returning home following the war in 1902 found themselves with little or no support from the government, even those with severe wounds and permanent disabilities. From this vacuum emerged the VFW, whose membership now stands at more than 1.6 million. The VFW made significant contributions to the establishment of the Veterans Administration and continues to advocate strongly for veterans to this day. At the local level, each post makes a positive impact on the broader community. Post 358 sponsors and contributes to many local charitable events and organizations including elementary school literacy programs, Memorial Day Parades, junior baseball leagues and the Brookside Museum. They maintain strong friendships with annual barbeques and outings for members, while supporting each other in times of need. prgtoken The VFW's vision is to ensure ``veterans are respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made on behalf of this great country.'' I echo this sentiment and will continue to work with all veterans' groups to realize that vision. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I want to congratulate President Karen Shea and all the members of VFW Post 358 on this milestone and thank them for their century-long tradition of service to North Country veterans.
TRIBUTE TO CONSTANCE SEYMOUR ULRICH
Ken Calvert (Republican, CA) \u2014 2020-3-5

. Madam , I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an outstanding individual, Constance Seymour Ulrich, who passed away at the age of 87 on February 29, 2020. Connie, as she was known, was a loving wife and mother and she will be deeply missed. prgtoken Connie was born in Eugene, Oregon on March 22, 1932, the first daughter of Darle and Vada Belle Seymour. Her parents owned the iconic Seymour's Cafe in downtown Eugene by the University of Oregon Campus. She grew up in Eugene, attending grade school near the MacKenzie River in Vida, Oregon where her father owned Heavens Gate Cabins. After the war, she and her family moved back to Eugene and she attended Roosevelt Junior High and then Eugene High School, graduating with the Class of 1950. Connie attended the University of Oregon, majoring in Music and was a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. prgtoken After college, she moved down to San Francisco where she ultimately joined American Airlines as a Stewardess. It was while working for the airlines that she met her future husband, Edward ``Duke'' Ulrich. They soon married and immediately transferred to Kansas City, Missouri and subsequently to Chicago, Illinois. She was then excited to return to California where they settled in Sunnyvale, the heart of Silicon Valley. They raised their two children, Gregory and Linda and resided there for 47 years. prgtoken Connie, blessed with a beautiful soprano voice, loved music and would frequently burst into an operatic solo. She enjoyed horseback riding as a young girl, and loved all animals, especially cats and dogs. I had the good fortune of getting to know Connie through Linda who was an integral part of my DC staff for many years. I can tell you that Connie had an infectious zest for life and a sparkle that drew people to her. I will long remember her sense of fun and humor which so clearly live on through her daughter. prgtoken Connie's husband, Duke, predeceased her in death, as did her son Gregory, and more recently her sister, Kathryn Seymour of Eugene. Connie is survived by Linda and son-in-law John ``JY'' Yeagley of Vienna, Virginia. A celebration of her life will be held in McLean, Virginia. She will make Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto her final resting place and will join her husband and son. I extend my heartfelt condolences to my dear friend Linda and to all those who knew Connie. Although she may no longer be with us, she will continue to have a lasting impact on the lives of her family and community.
RECOGNIZING A WINNING WEEKEND IN SOUTH CAROLINA BASKETBALL
Joe Wilson (Republican, SC) \u2014 2020-3-5

this was a winning weekend for basketball in South Carolina. prgtoken On Saturday, both the boys and girls Cardinal Newman High School basketball teams won their State titles, and this past Sunday, the University of South Carolina women's basketball team won the Southeastern Conference Championship. Both Cardinal Newman teams fought until the end to accomplish these impressive wins. prgtoken Congratulations to girls' coach Molly Moore and boys coach Philip Deter on their successful leadership. The Cardinal Newman girls won over Northwood, and the boys won against Trinity-Byrnes. prgtoken Congratulations to the University of South Carolina Women's Basketball Head Coach of the Year, Dawn Staley, on leading number one South Carolina to its program-record 23rd straight win. USC women have a perfect record of 16-0 in the Southeastern Conference this season. prgtoken In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism. prgtoken Mark Levin is correct. Senator Schumer should be reprimanded for threatening bodily harm to Supreme Court Justices.