mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Remembering Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Executive Session)
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-9-23

a 5-foot-1-inch giant, Ruth Bader Ginsburg changed this Nation--and the potential of my own life--time and again, seeing no challenge too big and finding no cause too small to fight for. A woman with the softest voice, yet the most powerful words one could ever imagine, she made it her life's work to lift up the voices of others who all too often had been silenced or ignored. prgtoken With every case she argued, with every ruling she issued, with every dissent she penned, Justice Ginsburg helped push our country toward that more perfect Union our Founders once prgtoken wrote of in the Constitution she believed in so fiercely. prgtoken Our democracy may have been founded in the 18th century, but it wasn't fully built when the ink dried on the Declaration of Independence. It was shaped and strengthened, forged and formed, not just by those whose faces loom large on Mount Rushmore but by someone who was often the smallest, quietest person in nearly every room she ever walked into. It is because of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's brilliance and resilience that so many of us have the rights we too often take for granted, and it is because of her that who I am today is possible. prgtoken Long before she was a Supreme Court Justice, she was a relatively unknown law school professor who altered the course of history when she argued that the equal protection promised under the 14th Amendment didn't just mean equal protection for men. Her legal genius was captured in her first landmark victory and reflected in her choice of a male plaintiff to demonstrate that discrimination on the basis of sex harms every American, male and female alike. prgtoken Suddenly, thanks to this idealistic, young lawyer who spent her own law school years having her place questioned because of her sex, it became illegal to discriminate against women because they happened to be women. That same tenacity, that same trailblazing intellect, that same woman also helped pave the way for me to succeed in my career as a woman in the military. prgtoken In 1973, she made sure that the equal rights for women she had helped to secure extended to the women who were seeking to defend our Nation, arguing and winning her first case in front of the Supreme Court-- getting the Justices to rule in an 8-to-1 fashion that the military could not give a female servicemember fewer benefits than her male counterparts. prgtoken Her life, her position, and her title changed over the next couple of decades, as we all well know, but her convictions did not. It was 23 years after standing in front of the bench of the highest Court in the land to argue that our Armed Forces could not discriminate against a woman in their ranks that Ruth Bader Ginsburg herself sat on that very same bench and issued a ruling that changed everything for countless women who dreamed of serving their country in uniform. She struck down the State-funded Virginia Military Institute's male-only acc
EXPANDING ACCESS TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ACT OF 2019
Jerry McNerney (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-9-23

. Madam , I thank the chairman for yielding. prgtoken Climate change is accelerating and poses a growing threat to our economy and to our world. We must address climate change with the urgency that it demands, and that means we must all take action. prgtoken That is why I am proud to have introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation included in this package: the Smart Energy and Water Efficiency Act, which I authored with Representative Kinzinger, which aims to create an innovative water and energy resource management pilot program with the Department of Energy. prgtoken The Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Act, which I co-led with Representative Flores, informed the language in this package ensuring that adequate supplies of domestically produced high-assay low-enriched uranium are available in the United States, something that is essential for some of the advanced nuclear reactor designs that are currently being developed. prgtoken The Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act represents the type of strong, concrete steps that we must take to prevent the catastrophic impacts of climate change. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Patty Murray (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2020-9-23

I rise to speak about three critical matters impacting families in Washington State and across this country today. prgtoken First of all, I would like to say that even though the wildfires in my State are being contained, thanks to the skilled work of brave and dedicated firefighters, wildfires and health impacts of smoke are still creating hazardous conditions throughout the Pacific Northwest. Until we begin addressing the drivers of those natural disasters, like climate change, we know these crises and the suffering they bring will only continue getting worse. Judicial Nominations prgtoken Secondly, I want to talk about three nominees under consideration for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or the EEOC. prgtoken One of these nominees is Jocelyn Samuels. She is exactly who workers need right now. As the coronavirus continues to impact workplaces across the country, workers are facing unprecedented challenges, and they need a champion at the EEOC who will work tirelessly to defend their rights. Jocelyn Samuels is that champion. prgtoken With almost 20 years of experience in the Federal Government, including at the EEOC itself, she has spent her career working to address discrimination and making sure no one is treated unfairly because of their age, their race, or their disability. prgtoken I am confident she will be an excellent Commissioner. I am proud to vote to confirm her nomination and strongly urge my Senate colleagues to join me in supporting her nomination. prgtoken Unfortunately, the other two nominees already approved by the Senate--Andrea Lucas and Keith Sonderling--will likely have disastrous consequences for workers' rights. These are two people who have spent their careers working to protect corporations, not workers. prgtoken As a lawyer, Andrea Lucas has never defended workers. Her only legal experience is defending corporations when workers tried to fight back against sexual harassment or age discrimination and disability discrimination. That is exactly the opposite type of experience and values we need at the EEOC, which is why I voted against her nomination. prgtoken Keith Sonderling's record is no better. During his time at the administration's Department of Labor, Keith Sonderling worked to churn out policies that hurt workers. prgtoken From his joint employer rule that lets massive corporations off the hook for minimum wage, overtime, and equal pay violations to his initiative that gives companies a ``get out of jail free'' card for wage theft, Keith Sonderling's legacy at the DOL has made it harder for workers to fight for their rights and easier for companies to abuse them. For those reasons, I opposed his nomination. prgtoken Finally, right now, our Nation is facing truly trying times. Two hundred thousand lives have been lost to COVID, millions are unemployed, and we just lost a treasured American hero, Justice Ruth Bader Gi
Supreme Court Nominations (Executive Session)
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-9-23

I rise today in honor of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg was a role model for many and a champion for all, and I was one of those. prgtoken I would like to speak about what is at stake for the American public with this vacancy on the Court and why whoever is elected President in November should be the one who decides to fill this seat. prgtoken Justice Ginsburg was, simply put, a phenomenal lawyer and jurist. She was small, and she was mighty. As a civil rights lawyer, she won key cases that established a woman's constitutional right to equal treatment and confirmed the principle of equal rights for all. As a jurist, she further cemented these key principles into law. She brought them up, and she made them exist forever. prgtoken As a person, she brought smiles to our faces, and now she really does bring tears. prgtoken Although small in stature, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a formidable advocate, strategist, and champion. I believe she will continue to serve as a major role model for generations of women, both young and old, for whom she paved the way, and I am one of those. We are in her debt today, and generations to come will be in her debt as well. prgtoken Justice Ginsburg is also important to me personally. Her confirmation hearing was the first I participated in as a newly elected Senator and as the first woman to sit on the Judiciary Committee in 1993. It was a long time ago. prgtoken As I said before the committee in 1993, it was not until I began preparing for Justice Ginsburg's confirmation that I learned how she built the foundation for women's rights. Simply put, it was this: Before becoming a judge on the DC Circuit, Justice Ginsburg was the director of the ACLU's Women's Rights Project, where she won five cases before the Supreme Court. Amazing--five cases before people believed women had these rights. In one of these cases, Craig v. Boren, the Supreme Court held for the first time that the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment applied to women. Can you believe it--actually applied to women. This is a very big addition because this really canceled out inequality. prgtoken In other words, it is because of Justice Ginsburg's advocacy as a lawyer that the government cannot discriminate against women on the basis of sex. For the female side of this room, this was really a major person whose works enabled us to run for this esteemed body and be part of it. prgtoken It is no surprise, then, that Justice Ginsburg remained a fierce defender of women from the bench. prgtoken She consistently reaffirmed a woman's right to choose and upheld Roe v. Wade against dozens of attacks. prgtoken She invalidated the men's-only policy at the Virginia Military Institute. Explaining that decision at a visit to VMI, Justice Ginsburg told cadets that she knew it ``would make V.M.I. a better place.'' prgtoken In 2007, she vehemently dissented in a case where the Court's majority held that a woma
COMMANDER JOHN SCOTT HANNON VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2019
Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-9-23

. Madam , I rise today in support of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act. prgtoken As this month marks National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, I am grateful the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees are working across the aisle to improve mental health services for our veterans. I am proud that this package includes my bipartisan bill, the STOP Veteran Suicide and Substance Abuse Act. prgtoken We know that too many veterans struggling with mental health challenges, like PTSD, are often also dealing with substance misuse issues and the impact of various traumas, including military sexual assault. prgtoken Given how common these co-occurring problems are, VA healthcare providers need evidence-based guidance for working with multiple issues all at once. My bill ensures that the VA will develop and disseminate this clinical practice guideline to share best practices VA-wide. prgtoken Madam , I want to thank Representative Mast for working with me on this bill, and Chairman Takano for his tireless leadership on this issue. prgtoken And I also want to thank Dr. Roe for his years of service to the country, both as a doctor, a soldier, and as a member of this committee and service in the House of Representatives. I thank him very much for his friendship, always stopping to say hello. We are going to miss him here. But I know he will continue his service back in civilian life, and so I thank him very much for his years of service.
REMEMBERING GIANA HUTTON
Robin L. Kelly (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-9-23

I rise today to remember Giana Hutton, one of my constituents and a passionate advocate for education and equity. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. prgtoken Giana grew up in Flossmoor, Illinois, and attended Parker Junior High School and Homewood-Flossmoor High School. She obtained her BA in history from Williams College in 2010 at just 18 years of age. Later, she completed a master's of science in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University, one of our Nation's most prestigious programs. prgtoken Between her studies, she interned for Illinois Senator Roland Burris, supporting staff working on education and judiciary policy. prgtoken Most recently, she was working as a program analyst for the Office of the State Superintendent of Education in Washington, D.C. In this role, she directly supported the educational success of District students by helping programs work better and be more effective. prgtoken She had recently been accepted in the District's Certified Public Manager Program Cohort at GW University. prgtoken Giana is survived by her fiance, parents, and sister. Giana will be greatly missed by all, especially the young people whose lives she positively impacted through her work. prgtoken As we remember her life and legacy, we must recommit to her passion: educational equity and the opportunity for every young American to receive a quality education.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-9-23

I rise today to pay tribute to one of my personal heroes, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She spent her life in service to the American people, quite literally. Whether the Supreme Court was hearing arguments about civil rights, reproductive rights for women, protecting our environment, our precious water and air, or standing up for our workers, Justice Ginsburg could be counted on to put the needs of the American people first every time. prgtoken She may not have looked like much of a fighter, but this tiny Jewish grandmother in the lace collar punched far above her weight. The American people were so fortunate to have her on their side of the ring. I feel fortunate as a woman in America. My daughter and my granddaughters, too, have known she was there over and over again, fighting for us prgtoken That certainly was the case on healthcare. I have said over and over again on the floor of the Senate that healthcare isn't political; it is personal for each one of us. It is personal. Justice Ginsburg understood that in her bones. As a person who had experienced her own health challenges and health challenges in her family, she knew that when a beloved spouse is diagnosed with cancer or a child with a fever needs to go to the emergency room, politics is the last thing on their minds. prgtoken When people tell me their healthcare stories, they don't start by telling me whether they are a or a . That is because when it comes to healthcare and the health of our families, it simply doesn't matter. prgtoken People in Michigan just want to know that if they or their loved ones get sick or are hurt, they are going to be able to take them to the doctor and get the healthcare they need. Unfortunately, with the loss of Justice Ginsburg, Michigan families and families all across the country have an extra reason to be very concerned right now. prgtoken One week after the election--just 1 week after the election--the Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case that could overturn the Affordable Care Act, overturn everything, all of the protections-- including, of course, the preexisting conditions coverage--all of it. By the way, the President of the United States, , has weighed in and is in favor of having that happen. prgtoken Everything is at stake, including coverage for 17 million people through the expansion of Medicaid, where minimum-wage workers right now in States like Michigan that have expanded Medicaid no longer have to pick between minimum-wage jobs and not working and having healthcare. It is so important. prgtoken Also at stake is the ability for children to remain on their parents' health plans until age 26, which has transformed so many families' opportunities and young people's opportunities, and coverage for preventive services like cancer screening and maternity care. prgtoken Prior to the Affordable Care Act, you had to get extra coverage for maternity care. It w
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2020-9-23

on Monday, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 1129, providing for consideration of three measures. prgtoken First, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4447, the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act, under a structured rule. The rule provides 90 minutes of debate equally divided among and controlled by the chairs and ranking minority members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The rule self-executes a manager's amendment, makes in order 98 amendments, and provides en bloc authority and one motion to recommit. prgtoken The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 6270, the Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act of 2020, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Financial Services, and it provides one motion to recommit. prgtoken Finally, the rule provides for the consideration of H.R. 8319, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act, under a closed rule. The rule provides for 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations and provides one motion to recommit. prgtoken , the bills contained in this rule are about meeting our responsibility here at home and living up to our values abroad. prgtoken First is H.R. 8319, a continuing resolution to keep our government funded through December 11. Fortunately, we won't need to call this bill up because a compromise passed this House last night by a vote of 359-57. That is quite an accomplishment because sometimes we can't even agree on what to have for lunch here, yet we were able to come together to keep this government open. That is good news for the American people. prgtoken Second is H.R. 4447, a sweeping energy package that will help our Nation lead the world once more in clean energy. Investing in renewable energy like wind and solar won't just help us combat the threat of climate change; they will help us create jobs here at home that can never be outsourced. prgtoken It is especially important that we are considering this package right now. There are wildfires raging in places like California, Oregon, and Washington that are leaving a heartbreaking path of destruction. Scientists are unequivocal: These fires are just the latest indication that climate change is real and is happening right now. This is not some long-off threat that we can leave for our kids or grandkids. This is happening today. prgtoken By addressing it, we won't just protect our environment. We will create jobs at a time when our country badly needs them. Because of the coronavirus, our country is facing the worst economy since the Great Depression. The Labor Department said last week that 12.6 million Americans are collecting unemployment benefits. One year ago, that number stood at just 1.7 million.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ACT OF 2019
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-9-23

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , the threat of climate change is one of the most urgent threats we face. prgtoken Today, as we speak, vast portions of the West Coast of our Nation are consumed with wildfires. To the south, our country has already been repeatedly pounded by tropical storms and hurricanes this year. Severe weather and dangerous heat waves are becoming increasingly commonplace. Coral reefs around the world are dying off, threatening whole ecosystems, and the ocean is becoming more acidic, which puts in peril an entire food chain vital to feeding humanity. prgtoken The threat of climate change is here, and it is long past time for Congress to take action to combat it. prgtoken Responding to climate change is also an opportunity to reinvent our economy and propel it into the 21st century. We have the opportunity to make America the leader in a host of clean energy technologies that will boost our economy and bring good, high-paying jobs. prgtoken H.R. 4447, the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act, will do just that by investing unprecedented amounts in clean energy research and development. This bill also makes long overdue investments in grid modernization and large-scale energy storage, which are key to allowing us to unlock the full potential of intermittent renewables and other clean energy investments. prgtoken Finally, this bill makes a critical investment in carbon capture and storage technology. We have to recognize that today, as we speak, most of the energy used for electricity, transportation, and industrial processes in our Nation and across the world are still produced from fossil fuels. To realistically hope to combat the worst effects of climate change, we have to invest in technologies that can clean up the bulk of our current pollution sources, both here and abroad. prgtoken All of the 16 bills that the Committee on Science, Space and Technology contributed to this package are bipartisan pieces of legislation. This reflects the broad support of these bills in both the environmental and business community--having received support from groups as diverse as the NRDC, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the League of Conservation Voters, and the National Association of Manufacturers. prgtoken Madam , I want to take a moment to thank our current Subcommittee on Energy chair, Lizzie Fletcher, and our former chair, Conor Lamb, for their hard work in getting us to this point today. prgtoken I also thank my fellow committee chairs, Frank Pallone and Raul Grijalva, for their tireless work on H.R. 4447 and their commitment to fighting for climate change. prgtoken H.R. 4447 will not, on its own, prevent climate change, but it is a vital first step in addressing this threat. If we don't take the first step, we will never get anywhere in our efforts to address this growing crisis. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of
RECOGNIZING COACH TOM FLORES
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-9-23

I rise today to honor the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, RBG. prgtoken For all Americans, I believe Friday night was a sad evening as we learned the news. Justice Ginsburg truly made a difference, both during her tenure on the Court and through her long career. prgtoken Justice Ginsburg inspired people. Justice Ginsburg inspired women. Justice Ginsburg inspired young women. prgtoken Justice Ginsburg broke the glass ceiling in so many different ways through prgtoken her fierce advocacy for women's rights and civil justice. prgtoken Justice Ginsburg's keen ability to build bridges between conservatives and liberal Justices garnered the respect of all jurists, regardless of their political philosophy, something we should take note of here in the people's House of Representatives, that we bridge the gap between our political differences and remember that we are Americans first. prgtoken Ruth Bader Ginsburg always reminded us that we are Americans first and that equal justice under the law is always the credo of the American way. prgtoken Justice Ginsburg served in so many ways for so many examples on how to balance the scales of justice. Our Nation will mourn Justice Ginsburg's loss and honor her legacy for generations to come, I truly believe, because she is a role model for all.