mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
The Green New Deal (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-2-27

if you are a student of history, the speech you just heard is not a new speech. It is a speech that has been given repeatedly in the Senate Chamber. It was back in the 1930s, when a President named Franklin Delano Roosevelt had an idea, and the idea was radical at the time. Here was the radical idea: Shouldn't we allow people, during the course of their work-life, to put a little money away and to invest for their retirement so that when they reach the age of 65, they will have a program called Social Security? prgtoken That was considered a radical socialist idea, taking money from everyone to create a positive program to help retirees across America when they reach retirement age. It takes away our freedom, they said. We ought to be able to make our own choices in life. They resisted it, but, fortunately, they failed and in their failure allowed the creation of the Social Security Program, which is the single most popular government program in America today. Over 95 percent of Americans count on Social Security to make sure that when they reach retirement, there is something there to take care of them, but that wasn't the end of the speech you just heard. It was repeated again in the 1960s because another ic President by the name of Lyndon Baines Johnson came up with a notion that, perhaps, if people are going to live a little longer and have Social Security, they should also be able to have affordable healthcare. So Lyndon Baines Johnson suggested the creation of Medicare. prgtoken What did the critics say about Medicare? Socialism; that you would collect money from people all across America just to provide for the benefits to those who are retired; that you would take away our freedom to make our own savings plans for our future by saying we have to pay into Medicare. It is an attack on our freedom, they said. It is a socialist idea, they said. Thank goodness they lost in that debate as well. prgtoken What happened, of course, was a creation of a Medicare Program, and we can see what came about as a result of it, a dramatic increase in the number of hospitals in America and doctors in America. We started taking healthcare seriously when it came to senior citizens. What is the proof in the pudding? Senior citizens started living longer and longer lives. They were healthier, they were independent, they were strong because of this so-called socialist program of Medicare. prgtoken So if you listened this morning as leaders came to the floor and decried socialism again, what is their point now? Their point now is, they believe that if we make a national effort toward dealing with climate change and global warming, it is socialism. It takes away our freedom. prgtoken I would agree with them in this respect. If we do something as a nation, a sensible approach that is moderate, constructive, and positive, it is going to change the future. It is going to take away the opportunit
CLIMATE CHANGE
Jeff Merkley (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-2-27

Henry David Thoreau once said: ``What use is a home if you don't have a tolerable planet to put it on?'' prgtoken We might just expand that question to say what use is anything if we destroy our planet because it is the only one we have. There is no planet B, no rescuing by going to some horrific other planet nearby. We have the gem, we have the treasure, and we have the responsibility to make sure we don't destroy it. prgtoken Here we are. Within a single human lifetime, we have increased the percent of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by a dramatic amount--about 30 percent in my lifetime and more if you are older--and that chemistry change is really unseen in geological history on this planet, such a rapid change with rapid, deep growth. prgtoken That is why we are coming to the floor to keep talking about this issue, reach across the aisle, reach across the country, and find partners to say this isn't a blue or red issue. This isn't a city or rural issue. It affects us all, and we need to all work together to respond. As we do so, we need America to lead the world in responding. prgtoken Senator Carper's resolution says a couple simple things. It says we recognize that we have a very warming climate on Earth. It says we recognize that human activity burning fossil fuel has consequences, and it calls on us to act. There we are. It is time to confront this enormous threat to our beautiful blue-green home in the middle of the cosmos. prgtoken There are some who say: That is so scary, so intimidating, so threatening. I just can't open my eyes or ears to hear that information. I have to pretend it is not real. prgtoken We are here in the Senate. We are here where we don't have the privilege of covering our eyes, our ears, pretending it is not happening. We have the responsibility to face this when others shy away and act. prgtoken There are others who say: You know, we just can't be sure exactly what is happening so let's wait another 10 or 20 years because we can't measure it as precisely as we want. It is like saying: Oh, cancer is ravaging my body, but I am not going to take any medicine because I am not sure if it has affected 15 percent or 16 percent of my cells. Well, you know you have cancer, and you know you need to act. prgtoken So there we are. Let us not let our heads be buried in the tar sands. Climate chaos is real. It is ravaging our planet. It is because of human activity, and we do have the responsibility to respond. prgtoken The year 2018 was one of the four hottest years on record. Nine out of the ten of the hottest years on record occurred since the year 2000. If we are looking at this chart, we don't see the Earth becoming any cooler. We see the Earth becoming a lot warmer. Four of the hottest years on record, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015--that was the last 4 years having been the 4 hottest years on record. The odds of that happening by accident is essentially none. prgtoken We have so
BIPARTISAN BACKGROUND CHECKS ACT OF 2019
Karen Bass (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-2-27

. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, which will extend the current Federal background check requirement to unlicensed sellers of guns. prgtoken It is about time that Congress takes this issue seriously, and I am pleased that this bipartisan bill has been brought to the House floor with the urgency this issue deserves. prgtoken In recent years, our Nation has experienced an increase in mass shootings, and our Nation is appropriately horrified. However, mass shootings are just one symptom of our gun violence epidemic. The daily toll of shootings occurs in communities across our country, on our streets, in our schools, and even in our houses of worship. prgtoken As Aalayah Eastmond testified before the Judiciary Committee earlier this month, 1 year after the terrible shooting that took the lives of 17 students and staff and injured 17 others at her high school in Parkland, Florida: ``Minority communities bear the heaviest burden of gun violence in this country.'' prgtoken The impact on our young people is simply unacceptable. Every day, 47 children and teens are shot in this country. Eight of these young people die, and 39 are shot and survive. prgtoken Citizens across this country such as Diane Latiker, who also testified before the committee, are taking it upon themselves to organize and engage in community-based efforts to reduce gun violence and to assist the young people it affects. We in Congress must match their courage and commitment with action of our own. prgtoken I support H.R. 8 because it will reduce gun violence by narrowing the avenues for criminals and other prohibited persons from obtaining guns. prgtoken Certainly, there is no single change to our gun laws that will prevent every shooting, but enacting measures that will help prevent some of them is clearly the right thing to do. prgtoken Mr. Chair, that is why I support this bill, and I ask my colleagues to do the same.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-2-27

I am here today to talk about climate change and about our climate crisis. prgtoken Climate change is an existential threat to our country and the planet. We know this because the world's leading scientists--the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change--just made that very warning last year. The U.N. report told us that we have very limited time until we are past the point of no return and the most catastrophic impacts of climate change are irreversible. Our own Federal scientists across 13 Agencies also just warned in the ``National Climate Assessment'' that the impacts of climate change are not in the future but are happening in our communities right now. Here is what all 13 Federal Agencies said: ``Our efforts do not yet approach the scale necessary to avoid substantial damages to the economy, environment, and human health.'' prgtoken These are Earth-shattering reports about the state of our Earth. These are the doomsday reports about what will happen if we do not take bold action. prgtoken The consequences of climate change will be dire: a tenfold increase in ice-free summers in the Arctic, a 99-percent loss of coral reefs, and a doubling of species lost around the world. In worst-case scenarios in the Northeast, by the end of the century, both the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Logan Airport will be underwater. Climate emissions are not slowing down. In 2018, greenhouse gas emissions in the United States increased by 2.8 percent. We have a denier-in-chief in the White House. prgtoken This week, s in the Senate are poised to confirm a coal lobbyist to be the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. It is unbelievable that we will confirm a coal lobbyist to be the head of our environment in our country. Andrew Wheeler's denial of the climate crisis should in and of itself be disqualifying. His record as a coal lobbyist should be disqualifying. prgtoken We should come together and reject Andrew Wheeler as the next head of the Environmental Protection Agency. The impact of climate change on ordinary families, on their health, on our Nation, on our security, and on our future is too urgent. prgtoken The United Nations tells us that climate change is an existential threat to the planet. It is the national security, health, economic, and moral issue of our time--of all time. We have a responsibility to act. We must be bold. We must be ambitious. That is why I have introduced the Green New Deal resolution, because it lays out a serious, bold, and aspirational set of goals prgtoken that meet the scale of the threat. It is a set of principles and not prescriptions. It challenges this country to find solutions to this problem. prgtoken The Green New Deal is a climate plan about net-zero emissions. The climate plan is in zero existence. They don't have a climate plan. s don't like the Green New Deal because they don't like a functional govern
TRIBUTE TO HENRY LEE JONES
Gwen Moore (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2019-2-27

. Madam , I rise today to recognize a man of faith, Henry Lee Jones. He was a husband, father, grandfather and entrepreneur from the Fourth Congressional District of Wisconsin. Henry Lee Jones was born on July 19, 1943 in Aberdeen, Mississippi to the union of Elloyd and Rohdana Jones and passed away on February 18, 2019. prgtoken Mr. Jones moved to Milwaukee in his late teens and was employed by A. O. Smith as a welder for 12 years. In 1975, Henry and Bobbie's Bungalow was established on the corners of 14th Street and Keefe Avenue in Milwaukee. The restaurant featured specialties such as a variety of soul food, BBQ seafood and scrumptious desserts. The Bungalow's signature dessert is peach cobbler. prgtoken The Bungalow Restaurant provided catering services to many individuals in the community, as well as businesses and organizations. One of the most famous organizations he catered to was the Green Bay Packer franchise. In fact, as quoted in the Shepherd Express Newspaper, ``The authenticity of Bungalow's Southern-styled menu heavy on pork, chicken, beef and fish has even captured the attention of the Green Bay Packers. Members of the Green & Gold have had Bungalow employees truck their soulful grub to Green Bay for many years now. Whether ordered from Lambeau Field or the Bungalow's cozy brick building, options abound. You'll find relatively rare dishes such as oxtails and smoked ham hocks in addition to more common fare like fried chicken, steak and catfish. And though the Bungalow staff takes pride in making healthy meat and sides, including yams, turnip greens and okra, one can still order ``gravy, gravy and more gravy.'' Even if you don't spot a Packer on a day you visit this establishment, you can still enjoy the many autographed photos on the walls. prgtoken As a successful entrepreneur, he was inspired to expand his business to other locations across the city of Milwaukee and Kenosha. He was never a complainer but rather a doer. Mr. Jones' children share his passion and continue to carry on his legacy and business. prgtoken He married Bobbie Jones on July 29, 1967 and their union was blessed with 5 sons: Henry, Jr Milton, Rodney, Demetrius and Lavial. Henry was preceded in death by his parents. He leaves many family and friends to cherish his memory including his wife Bobbie Jones and Children: Mitch Malone, Richard Jones, Henry Jones Jr Milton Jones. Demetrius (Nichole) Jones and Lavial Jones; Siblings: Dorothy (John) Williams, Delores Tools, Elloyd (Parline) Jones, Yvonne Jones; Grandchildren: Latoya (Emmanuel) Amoah, Deaquann Forrest, Vegas Jones, Naytosha Jones, Xavier Jones, Corey Malone, Britany Malone, Marcus Malone and Cortez Malone; 6 great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives. prgtoken Henry had a significant impact on the community who not only enjoyed his cooking but his loving and joking spirit as well. He was a pillar of the community, the patriarch of his
RECOGNIZING DANNY RUSSELL
Rodney Davis (Republican, IL) \u2014 2019-2-27

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Danny Russell, the morning show host on WMKR in Taylorville, Illinois, who is leaving the broadcasting industry after 40 years. prgtoken Local media is so important to our communities and Danny's service is a prime example of this. prgtoken Danny graduated from the radio-tv program at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey and spent 17 years as the weekend weathercaster for WICS-TV Channel 20 in Springfield. prgtoken His career has included stints at several Springfield radio stations and in 2011, he joined the Miller Media Group to become the Morning Show host on WMKR Genuine Country 94.3. prgtoken Additionally, Danny has been the Miller Media Group production director, host of the Saturday Retro Request Show and the ``Brown Bag Rewind'' show. He has also broadcast live from countless events thru- out central Illinois over his nearly 8 years with Miller Media Group. prgtoken I congratulate Danny on 40 years of success in the broadcasting industry, and I wish him well on his next chapter.
BIPARTISAN BACKGROUND CHECKS ACT OF 2019
Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-2-27

. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this bill. Let's be very clear on this: H.R. 8 will not prevent criminals from getting their hands on firearms. What H.R. 8 will do is violate the constitutional rights of millions of Americans. prgtoken Under this bill, almost every time a lawful gun owner wants to transfer or sell a gun, he or she will have to go through a government- sanctioned intermediary. Under this bill, no longer could I let my cousin or my neighbor borrow my gun. If this bill becomes law, overnight, millions of law-abiding gun owners could suddenly be subject to Federal prosecution. Of course, we all know that criminals are going to do what they already do: make illegal transfers of firearms. prgtoken We have heard a lot about how this is going to be the most open Congress in history. Well, Mr. Chair, I filed an amendment that would strip out the text of H.R. 8 and replace it with a nationwide concealed carry reciprocity. Mr. Chair, the ic leadership blocked a vote on my amendment. What are they so afraid of? I guess they think they can shield their Members from votes to protect the Second Amendment and benefit our Nation's law-abiding gun owners. prgtoken Mr. Chair, I have news for the majority. Gun owners of America are watching this debate. They know what H.R. 8 is all about, and they know that this is just a sham to chip away at the Second Amendment and our Constitution. prgtoken I will oppose this bill and any bill that goes against the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``no'' and fighting against this assault on the Second Amendment.
BIPARTISAN BACKGROUND CHECKS ACT OF 2019
Ted Budd (Republican, NC) \u2014 2019-2-27

. Mr. Chair, I thank my friend from Georgia (Mr. Collins) for allowing me the time. prgtoken I rise today in opposition to H.R. 8 and want to lay out a couple of reasons for my opposition. prgtoken Before I do, I think it is important to acknowledge how polarizing this debate has become over the last several years. More specifically, I want this body to know that, as a human being, as an American, as a father, when I see the heartbreaking news of a mass shooting like the one we saw just 54 weeks ago in Parkland, it just breaks my heart. prgtoken With that being said, this bill that we are voting on today would not have done anything to stop that tragedy from happening, nor would it have prevented any of those recent mass shootings. prgtoken The 19-year-old murderer in Parkland passed a background check. prgtoken The man who murdered 26 innocent people at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs also passed a background check, although he wouldn't have if the Air Force had passed along his criminal information like they were supposed to have done. prgtoken And the evil that took place in Sandy Hook wouldn't have been stopped by this bill either. The killer used his mother's guns to kill her and 26 others. They were bought legally. prgtoken , the simple fact is that criminals don't abide by the law, and this would only create traps for law-abiding gun owners. prgtoken However, there are actions that we can take, actions that we can do, that would make meaningful strides in combating the violence that we see today. prgtoken One example of something we could do, improve information sharing between law enforcement officials across this country. prgtoken Mr. Chair, to close, I disagree with the policy of this bill.
RECOGNIZING MARFAN AWARENESS MONTH
Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican, PA) \u2014 2019-2-27

. Madam , I rise today on behalf of Americans affected by Marfan syndrome and related connective tissue conditions to recognize February as Marfan Awareness Month. prgtoken Marfan syndrome is a rare genetic condition. About 1 in 5,000 Americans carries a mutation in gene called fibrillin which results in an overproduction of a protein called transforming growth factor beta or TGFB. The increased TGFB impacts connective tissue and since connective tissue is found throughout the body, Marfan syndrome features can manifest throughout the body. Patients often have disproportionately long limbs, a protruding or indented chest bone, curved spine, and loose joints. However, it is not the outward signs that concern Marfan syndrome patients, but the effects the condition has on internal systems. Most notably, in Marfan patients the large artery, known as the aorta, which carries blood away from the heart is weakened and prone to enlargement and rupture, which can be fatal. It is for this reason that increased awareness of Marfan syndrome can save lives. prgtoken While there is currently no cure for Marfan syndrome, efforts are underway to enhance our understanding of the condition and improve patient care. I applaud the National Institutes of Health, particularly the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases for their research efforts in this regard. I encourage NIH to expand research efforts in this area. prgtoken Early diagnosis and proper treatment are the keys to managing Marfan syndrome and living a full life. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting a Marfan education and awareness program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We can facilitate proper treatment by raising awareness leading to early diagnosis. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing February as Marfan Awareness Month.
IN RECOGNITION OF CHRISTIAN KNOP
Mike Rogers (Republican, AL) \u2014 2019-2-27

. Madam , I ask for the House's attention to recognize Christian Knop. prgtoken A senior at Alexandria High School in Alexandria, Alabama, won his 235th consecutive wrestling match this month to win the 195-pound weight class in Class 1A-5A. prgtoken Christian is the first wrestler to go undefeated and win four straight championships in the history of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA). prgtoken Christian is ranked third in the nation for wrestling and has not lost a match since he was in the 8th grade. Knop plans to attend and wrestle at N.C. State. prgtoken Madam , please join me in congratulating Christian Knop on such an awesome achievement and wish him the best of luck in North Carolina.