mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
ABORTION
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2021-1-27

if you buy a new GM car, a Nissan, Honda, Kia or Toyota, even a Hyundai, you will notice they have started installing a new feature in their cars. It is a reminder, when you turn off the engine, to check your backseat. prgtoken Quite frankly, I rented a car not long ago, and it started dinging, and I kept trying to figure out what I had done and kept looking around until I saw the little monitor on the dashboard. It just said, ``Check the backseat,'' which I thought was great because the makers of those cars all believe every child is precious and they shouldn't be harmed. prgtoken We have all heard stories like this, but I distinctly remember last summer seeing in the news a story about an infant who died because they were left in a hot car. That is why these carmakers are making this feature now. prgtoken I remember, as I saw the story on the news, just the reports and how angry people were in the community. And they were angry at the store, and they were upset on the news. They couldn't believe that a mom had left a child in the backseat of a car and they had slowly died in the heat, because no one wants to see a child harmed. Everyone believes that every child is precious. prgtoken I remember, when I saw the story on the news last summer, turning to my wife and saying: I can't figure out our culture sometimes because that same mom and that same baby could have gone into an abortion clinic just a few months before and that child's life could have been ended, and it wouldn't have made the news. In fact, no one would have flinched. prgtoken In fact, the very same people who were furious at that mom for leaving her child in the hot car to die would have argued for her right to destroy that exact same child--in fact, would have called it her reproductive right or even the new euphemism out there, ``reproductive care.'' Same child, same mom--nothing was different but a few months in time. ``Reproductive care'' seems like such a nice little euphemism, but what it really means is paying someone in a clinic to reach into the womb with a surgical instrument, to pull the arms and legs off of a child in the womb so that they will bleed to death in the womb and then suction out the little boy or girl's body parts one at a time. prgtoken That is what ``reproductive care'' means, and I don't understand why that is normal but leaving a child in the backseat of a hot car is a tragedy. prgtoken Maybe it is because, as a nation, some people are afraid to answer the most obvious question: Is that a baby? That is the most obvious question. That face, that nose, those two eyes, that mouth, that chin, those fingers--is that a baby? That is really the only question: Is that a child? prgtoken Maybe there is a second question that needs to be answered: Are all children valuable, or are only some children valuable? prgtoken We seem to have a great deal of debate today in our society--and we should--about facts. People s
ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-1-27

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m Thursday, January 28; further, that following the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
CLIMATE
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-1-27

. On climate, today President is set to announce a slew of Executive actions on climate, including critical measures to increase the conservation of Federal lands, reduce oil and gas development, and prgtoken place environmental justice, green jobs, and, yes, science at the heart of our Nation's climate policy. prgtoken I think Americans are saying: Welcome back, science. We are glad you are playing a role in the decisions we make and not being ignored and trampled on like the previous administration did. Understanding that the United States cannot defeat a global threat on its own, the administration has already wisely joined the Paris accords and will also propose convening an international climate summit this year, on Earth Day. prgtoken These Executive actions are a very strong opening push by the administration to refocus our Nation's energy toward the threat of climate change. President 's commitment to deal with climate change is unquestioned. He is off to a fast start, and it couldn't come soon enough. prgtoken The Federal Government has a great deal of power to set the direction for our Nation's energy and environmental policy, but climate change represents an existential threat to our country and our planet. Every tool in the toolbox should be brought to bear. In my view, President should consider the declaration of a national emergency on climate change. prgtoken Former President , of course, issued an emergency declaration to divert funds toward an expensive and ineffective border wall when there was no emergency at all. Declaring one for climate change--an actual emergency--would be a giant step in the right direction, and it would allow President to tap additional resources and pursue additional policies in the fight against climate change, even if s in Congress remain intransigent and unable to recognize the severity of this crisis. prgtoken Japan, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and scores of regional and local governments have declared states of emergency on climate change. The United States would send a powerful signal to the world about our commitment to defeating climate change if we did so as well.
Climate Change (Executive Session)
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2021-1-27

. Thank you, Senator Inhofe. I am grateful to the senior Senator from Oklahoma. prgtoken We are, indeed, fairly fierce adversaries on the issue of climate, but it is a fervent prayer of mine that that might change because I have had the experience of working with Senator Inhofe on issues on which we are not adversaries, and let me tell you, the man is a senatorial Caterpillar tractor at getting things done when our interests align. Whether it is cleaning up kleptocracy or fixing the enforcement of pirate fishing overseas or our ocean plastics work, Senator Inhofe has been enormously valuable in those things. And I will confess, because we have had these wars with one another on climate change, that when Senator Inhofe came to Senator Sullivan's and my hearing on ocean plastics, my heart sank. I thought, oh--I won't say the word. This was such a good hearing. It was going so well. Why did he have to show up? Because I thought he was going to ruin everything-- not a bit. He listened. And when it came time to ask questions, he asked terrific questions. prgtoken He described an experience in his childhood along the Texas gulf coast and the little sea turtles trying to work their way to the ocean from their eggs, and he asked how he could help. He was an original cosponsor of our bill. He was a strong supporter of the bigger, better 2.0 bill. prgtoken So I will close with reiterating my prayer that perhaps in the most marvelous of all worlds, the good Lord can find a way to bring us to work together to solve this climate problem. If so, we may very well have a miracle in this Chamber. prgtoken .
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-1-27

I rise today to reintroduce the ``West Coast Ocean Protection Act.'' prgtoken This important legislation would prohibit oil or gas drilling in federal waters off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. prgtoken After four years of an Administration intent on allowing drilling off the West Coast and in waters across the United States, I am hopeful we will finally pass this bill to ensure no drilling ever occurs in Pacific waters. prgtoken I'm pleased to be joined today by Senators Padilla, Wyden, Merkley, Murray, Cantwell, Menendez, Booker, Markey, and Sanders in introducing this bill, which has been introduced in every Congress since the Deepwater Horizon disaster in April 2010. prgtoken 11 people were killed and 17 others injured when the Deepwater Horizon well blew out. Oil and gas spewed into the Gulf of Mexico for 87 days. prgtoken Oil slicks covered the Gulf. Tar balls and toxic sludge covered beaches and wetlands. More than one-third of federal waters in the Gulf were closed to fishing. prgtoken While the Deepwater Horizon disaster reminded the world of the dangers of offshore drilling, Californians never had to be convinced; before Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez, there was the tragic 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara. prgtoken A well blowout on an offshore rig spilled more than 3 million gallons of crude oil according to some estimates--the worst spill in U.S. history at the time. prgtoken The spill closed local beaches--which were covered by a thick layer of oil--and thousands of marine mammals and birds were killed. prgtoken Tourists were turned away and commercial fishing operations were halted, hurting the local economy. prgtoken After the Santa Barbara spill, California had enough. The State blocked all new offshore drilling in state waters--which extend three miles from the shore--and in 1994 enacted a permanent offshore drilling ban. prgtoken Through local ordinances, congressional opposition, and presidential moratoria, all new drilling in federal waters off California has been blocked since 1984. prgtoken Today, opposition to offshore drilling is higher than ever. A 2018 poll found that nearly 70% of Californians oppose new drilling off our coast. The evidence is quite clear: Californians do not want any more drilling. prgtoken The California coast is an economic engine of growth for the state and the nation. A 2015 report produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that California's 19 coastal counties created $662 billion in wages and $1.7 trillion in GDP in 2012. prgtoken Overall, California's ocean economy supports over 1 million jobs and generates significant growth for the U.S. Because of the unique nature of the West Coast ocean shelf, potential drilling would occur near the coastline and directly threaten the environment and robust economy. prgtoken It is long past time to respect the view of California and our fellow West Coast states by passing t
Climate Change (Executive Session)
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2021-1-27

. Thank you for rising because I do believe what you are saying about Senator Whitehouse is accurate. In my opinion, like Lou Gehrig, like Cal Ripken, he will go down in history in this longevity streak in highlighting, spotlighting like a true North Star the need for us to take action on these issues, and he is, without question, a climate change hall of famer. prgtoken And I agree with you, there is a new dawn which has now arrived, with our fingers crossed. And I share your hope, the Senator from Rhode Island, that we might be able to find a way to persuade the gentleman from Oklahoma that it is sunny most of the time in Oklahoma and it is windy most of the time in Oklahoma and there are tens of thousands of jobs yet to be created. And we can work in partnership in order to accomplish that goal. prgtoken But for today, I just wanted to come over and honor the great Sheldon Whitehouse for his incredible leadership during this time we have been going through with the climate ``denier in chief'' now gone, and there is hope alive. Your leadership is absolutely hall of fame and historic. Congratulations, Senator Whitehouse.
INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-1-27

today the world comes together to remember the horrors of the Holocaust. We honor the 6 million Jews and 5 million others--Roma, Afro-Germans, gay men and women, people with disabilities and more--whom the Nazis brutally murdered. And we stand in awe and celebration of those brave souls who managed to survive. prgtoken It is difficult to comprehend the terror that took place in Europe between 1939 and 1945, but we carry on an obligation to those who perished and those who survived to prevent further genocide and mass atrocities. It is critical that we understand what happened to them so we can prevent it from ever happening again. prgtoken One of the most important things to understand about the Holocaust is that while a limited group of particularly evil monsters orchestrated it, they could not have succeeded without the active or tacit support of millions of average people. Men and women agreed to turn over their neighbors, patrol the ghettos, drive the cattle cars, guard the death camps, and line people up to shoot them down. Men and women decided to avert their gaze and do nothing to stop the atrocities. prgtoken I don't believe that all those people were born villains. I think they were taught by their communities to adopt a level of anti-Semitism and prejudice that likely would have been recognizable to many of us today and that the Nazi propaganda masters exploited those feelings. That terrifies me because it means that the Holocaust was not an anomaly. It means that under the right conditions, a similar atrocity could happen again. prgtoken The hatred that gave rise to the Holocaust is still very much alive. The Anti-Defamation League's 2014 Global Index of Anti-Semitism found that more than 1 billion people--nearly one in eight--around the world harbor anti-Semitic attitudes. Over 30 percent of those surveyed said that it was ``probably true'' that Jews had too much control over financial markets, that Jews think they are better than other people, that Jews are disloyal to their country, and that people hate Jews because of the way that Jews behave. Such sentiments often translate into violence, leading 40 percent of European Jews to report in 2018 that they lived in daily fear of being physically attacked. prgtoken Sadly, these trends bear out closer to home too. Jews make up fewer than 3 percent of the American population, but the majority of reported religion-based hate crimes targeted Jewish people or institutions. In 2019, the ADL reported that anti-Semitism in America had hit a four- decade high. According to the 2020 survey by the American Jewish Committee, more than one-third of American Jews say they have been verbally or physically assaulted during the past 5 years simply because they are Jewish. prgtoken I believe that the world looks to the United States for moral leadership. When we allow anti-Semitism or racism or other kinds of intolerance to flourish here, other countr
TRIBUTE TO LAURA UPDEGROVE
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2021-1-27

I have two other team members who are leaving. prgtoken Laura Updegrove is leaving us to work with the administration. She came to us after serving in various foreign policy roles at the State Department, the Department of Defense, and the White House. She joined our team 4 years ago to bring her extensive expertise to bear on our foreign policy portfolio, and I am sure glad she did. prgtoken During her tenure in my office, I have been astonished, time and again, by the depth and breadth of her knowledge, her work ethic, her strong organizational and management skills, and the way she approaches each and every task with a very positive attitude. Those traits make her not only a top-notch legislative staffer but a terrific partner as we work to address a variety of issues. prgtoken On two occasions, we had the chance to travel on international issues--one trip to many different countries in Africa to better understand the root causes and impacts of the four famines on that continent and to understand how American policy could be changed to assist in these desperately difficult situations. prgtoken Then, some years ago, we had the genocide carried out against the Rohingya people in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi came and spoke to the United Nations, and she said: We have nothing to hide. Come and see for yourselves. So Laura went to work in organizing the congressional response, the congressional trip. We really thought we were going to see exactly what had gone on in those villages, and she worked incredibly hard to arrange everything from boats to helicopters to get us to the right places. Then, the day before we left, Burma denied us the ability to see those villages. prgtoken We had backup plan after backup plan to explore what had happened both in Burma and the conditions at the refugee camps in Bangladesh. She reworked everything in a short period of time to direct attention by our congressional delegation and through our delegation to the world to the traumatized, difficult circumstances of a community that was the subject of genocide by Burma. Again, the whole goal was to figure out how the United States could do more to help. Laura really understood and cared about and helped with the plight of people in some of the most difficult circumstances around the world. prgtoken The same passion and dedication and strategic thinking that Laura dedicated as a policy staffer are also what have made her an outstanding legislative director for the past 2 years. She has not only continued to lead our efforts on critical issues from rules reform to social justice but has been a daily example of the power of teamwork and mentorship to other staffers. prgtoken Her departure is a big loss for Team Merkley but a really big win for the administration, particularly the State Department, where she will be able to utilize her enormous talents on behalf of our country and on behalf of our country's building
REMEMBERING SHIRLEY ABRAHAMSON
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2021-1-28

today I rise to recognize the distinguished life of Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson, who died prgtoken on December 19, 2020, at the age of 87. Justice Abrahamson was a consummate public servant who was passionately driven by the principle of fairness when applying the law and serving the people of Wisconsin. Her unparalleled commitment to judicial independence and justice had an immeasurable impact on Wisconsin's judicial system and the countless women and men who have been inspired to work in public service by her leadership. She was the first woman to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the first woman to serve as chief justice, but her legacy is even richer than those exceptional accomplishments. prgtoken Justice Abrahamson's life had modest beginnings in New York City in 1933, as the child of Polish immigrants. Her passion for the law started at the tender age of 6, when she decided she wanted to become a lawyer. Those who knew her at all stages of life--from childhood to retirement--consistently commented on her thirst for learning. She was a voracious reader even at a very young age and a dedicated student, earning honors in high school and college. prgtoken Justice Abrahamson graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree from New York University in 1953. She earned a law degree with high distinction from Indiana University in 1956 and a doctor of law in American Legal History from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1962. Justice Abrahamson began her career as a practicing attorney and distinguished professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School. prgtoken Justice Abrahamson's career is an inspiration to all women who are fighting forces that tell them they don't belong because of their gender. She faced significant discrimination when she entered the legal profession in the 1950s. From being denied employment at a law firm after graduating first in her class at Indiana University, to the denial of jobs, clients, and even social club memberships because of her gender, Justice Abrahamson remained undaunted by prejudice. She refused to back down from those who stood in the way of a woman's path to success in the legal profession. She carried that steadfast commitment to fairness and equality in her work on the court. prgtoken In 1976, Justice Abrahamson broke the glass ceiling in Wisconsin's judicial system by becoming the first female justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. She again changed the judicial landscape in 1996 when she became the first woman to serve as chief justice. For the chief, serving on the supreme court meant serving the people of Wisconsin as an independent, fair, and impartial justice because, after all, the court and our court system belong to the people, not powerful special interests. That is why she spent a lot of her time traveling the State, meeting with people. Whether it was meeting with local judges, riding along
REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF ANTHONY GALLOPO
Josh Gottheimer (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2021-1-28

. Madam , I rise today in memory of one of the finest North Jersey residents I have come to know. Anthony Gallopo was a dear friend, a leader and a role model in Sussex County, and a tireless fighter for his brothers and sisters in arms--his fellow veterans. prgtoken As we mourn Tony's loss, our hearts go out to his wife, Betsy, and his daughters, Sarah, Alexandra, and Ashley Gallopo. He always spoke to me about them, how much he loved them, and how proud he was of their accomplishments. We are all thinking of them as we extend our deepest condolences for their terrible loss. At this time, we are also praying for the recovery of Tony's beloved wife, Betsy, who remains in the hospital. prgtoken Madam , getting to know Tony was one of the great joys and true honors of my career in Congress. I remember when we first met, when I visited Sussex County Community College for a roundtable with local student veterans. There was no one who knew more about what veterans in Sussex and Warren needed, or who cared more about how they were going to get the attention and care and services that they deserved. prgtoken For more than five years, Tony and I worked shoulder-to-shoulder to deliver on that promise. Tony was instrumental in securing the long- awaited goal of the first VA community outpatient clinic to serve veterans in Sussex and Warren Counties, so that those who fought for our country could access care close to home. I was so proud to stand with him and others who helped make it happen on the day the clinic finally opened in 2017. Tony continued the fight for lifesaving in- person psychiatric care for veterans at the clinic in Newton, hosted roundtables for better jobs and opportunities for students and returning veterans, and was always there to commemorate and remember the sacrifice of generations of his fellow servicemembers throughout the Fifth District. prgtoken As a leader on our District's Service Academy Nomination Selection Committee, he helped evaluate young student applicants so that I could nominate the very best of the next generation to represent North Jersey at our nation's great Service Academies. prgtoken Tony served as a Seaman in the United States Navy, and as a former New Jersey Department of the American Legion Vice Commander, member of the Legion's Department Executive Committee, and as Commander of Post 86 in Newton. He was also a retired senior officer with the New Jersey Department of Corrections. prgtoken Madam , we owe our nation's veterans a deep debt of gratitude; they do not owe us anything. And yet, every day, I am inspired by veterans like Tony, who always wanted to help more people, to give back to his community, and to look after other veterans young and old who could use a hand. And in doing so, he provided a profound example of how to lead a life of service. prgtoken Like so many in North Jersey, I was crushed when I heard that tragic news that Tony was in the hospital. In New Je