mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 51, WASHINGTON, D.C. ADMISSION ACT; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1573, ACCESS TO COUNSEL ACT OF 2021; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1333, NATIONAL...
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-4-20

. Madam , first of all, I rise in strong support of this resolution. It makes in order that we will not discriminate against people based upon their religion or the State from which they come or the nation from which they come. It says not at our cost, but at their cost they have the right to consult counsel. That seems to me to be a basic premise in America. prgtoken Then, thirdly, which we hear so much lamentation about, it gives to 700,000-plus people in the District of Columbia equal status with the 500,000 people in Wyoming. How terrible. Now, perhaps if my friends from the other side of the aisle, Madam , thought that there were going to be two Senators elected, they would be for it. I say perhaps, but I believe there is no doubt about that. prgtoken I am proud to be a strong supporter of that legislation, and I will tell my friends who talk about human rights around the world so often--properly so--that Washington, D.C is the only capital in the free world whose residents do not have a representative in the parliament of their country--the only one. prgtoken There is no reason why the gentlewoman who sits in front of me, Eleanor Holmes Norton--who is an extraordinary American and an extraordinary patriot who serves her Nation so incredibly well and is elected by those 700,000 people--why she is less than we because Eleanor Holmes Norton cannot vote on final passage of a bill. prgtoken Now, I did, as the majority leader, at least give her the respect and the respect to others who are representatives of their particular areas--Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands--the right to vote in the Committee of the Whole to let them know at least in that small way we wanted to give voice to the folks they represent. prgtoken So I rise in strong support of this rule. We have passed these bills before. s opposed them before, and they will oppose them again. I am not surprised. prgtoken Madam , before I sit, however, I want to speak about another issue. We are expecting the leader to offer a privileged resolution at the conclusion of the debate on this rule. I am disappointed at that news. His resolution is being used by s to posit a moral equivalence between a comment by the gentlewoman from California about standing up for justice and peaceful protest and remarks by Representative Greene who directly threatened violence by retweeting a tweet. I understand it was not her words, but she retweeted those words which said that if you want to shut Pelosi up, a bullet to the head will accomplish that objective. She didn't say it. I want to make that clear. She retweeted a tweet that said that. prgtoken Even more egregiously, it is being used to twist reality to suggest that somehow Congresswoman Waters' remark is as condemnable a remark as rhetoric that incites a violent attempt to overthrow the government of the United States on January 6, a
COVID-19 HATE CRIMES ACT--Continued
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-4-20

I understand a couple of my colleagues are on the way. I will defer to them when they arrive. But I want to thank, first, Senator Stabenow for her statement about Vanita Gupta. prgtoken This is an extraordinary person. The Presiding Officer, as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was there for her testimony and knows her personally, and I have come to know her. When you read and learn of her personal story, it is amazing, nothing short of amazing. prgtoken She was 6 months graduated from law school when she was sent down to Texas, a town called Tulia, TX, to tackle an assignment that a veteran civil rights lawyer would have thought twice about tackling. There was a group of over 30 African Americans who had been falsely accused of drug dealing and convicted and were imprisoned when she was sent down there to try to do something after their conviction. It is an incredible story, the courage she showed 6 months out of law school, and she ultimately was successful. Those African Americans and others were pardoned by the Governor of Texas, Governor Perry. They were given a cash award for damages they had suffered as a result of it. prgtoken Her commitment to civil rights is more than just a cerebral commitment; it is a commitment where she has risked many times her personal safety to show how much she cared for the rights of others. prgtoken Thank you for saying those kind words about her. I am hoping that the Senate will give her a chance to continue to serve our Nation. Nomination of Lisa O. Monaco prgtoken , I would like to speak now, if I can, to a vote that is coming up momentarily, and that is the vote for Lisa Monaco to be the next Deputy Attorney General. prgtoken The Deputy Attorney General--commonly known as the DAG--is the second highest ranking official in the Justice Department. The DAG is effectively the DOJ's chief operating officer, overseeing the Department's day-to-day operations. prgtoken Lisa Monaco may be the most qualified individual ever nominated to be Deputy Attorney General. That is saying something, but I think we can back it up. Her credentials include a wealth of experience, her commitment to restoring independence and integrity at the Justice Department, and the broad, broad range of support she has garnered. prgtoken Let me begin with her experience. She has served at nearly every level of the Justice Department. She knows that Agency, and she knows what it can do. She was an assistant U.S. attorney, counselor and chief of staff to the Director of the FBI, Associate Deputy Attorney General, Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, and the Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division. prgtoken She is also one of the Nation's foremost national security experts. That is when I first met her, working in the White House. As President 's Deputy National Security Advisor, Ms. Monaco coordinat
COVID-19 HATE CRIMES ACT--Continued
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-4-20

I rise today alongside my colleagues to urge the Senate to quickly confirm Vanita Gupta as Associate Attorney General. Ms. Gupta is eminently qualified, with an impressive background in public service and broad support from civil rights organizations and law enforcement organizations. It is pretty impressive when you look at everyone who is supporting her because of her competency and her work. prgtoken She will be effective on day one, and we don't have a good day to lose right now. Right now, Americans are at risk of losing their fundamental rights--our right to vote, our right to be treated fairly in a court of law, and even our right to safely walk down the street and not be targeted based on what we look like, who we are. It is the job of the Department of Justice to protect these rights and so much more. prgtoken Take voting rights. Across our Nation, this right, called ``sacred'' by our beloved late Congressman John Lewis, is under attack. It is under attack in Michigan, as well as other States, as well as the entire country. s in the Michigan Legislature are trying to push through a package of bills that would take away people's freedom to vote. Our secretary of state has said that in some ways, it is worse than what they passed in Georgia. prgtoken Let me remind everyone that last November, in the middle of a pandemic, more people in Michigan voted than ever voted in the history of our State. When audits were done, time after time after time, it was clear there was no fraud--no fraud that they found in this election. prgtoken , 5.5 million people in Michigan voted. Michigan counties verified it. Our State certified it. That should be something we should all celebrate. But because they didn't like who folks voted for, they didn't like the results, Michigan s are coming after Michigan voters to take away their freedom to vote. prgtoken Michigan voters need Vanita Gupta in their corner because it is a corner that she has been in before. During her time at the Department of Justice, she oversaw a number of high-profile voting rights cases, including challenges to voter suppression laws in North Carolina and Texas. prgtoken She has also been a leader in fighting discrimination. Across the country, we have seen increasing instances of hate crimes, particularly those targeting Asian Americans. According to the group Stop AAPI Hate, there have been about 3,800 incidents of Asian Americans being targeted in the past year. Twenty-five of those incidents happened in Michigan. I know that Asian Americans across our country are living in fear right now, wondering if it is safe to go to the grocery store or if they need to tell their elderly mom or dad not to walk alone outside. prgtoken We have an important hate crimes bill on the floor of the U.S. Senate right now. It has bipartisan support. It is terrific, and we need to get that passed. But in order to make sure we
TRAINING IN HIGH-DEMAND ROLES TO IMPROVE VETERAN EMPLOYMENT ACT
Mike Levin (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-4-20

. Madam , I thank our great chairman, Chairman Takano, and our ranking member for their great work. It is an honor to continue serving our veterans in a bipartisan manner and to chair the relevant subcommittee. prgtoken As the Representative for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and thousands of military families in the region, I am incredibly proud of the work we have accomplished in the past few years for our Nation's veterans. prgtoken Back in January of this year, the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act was signed into law. It was a historic omnibus bill for veterans that strengthened many benefits and services for those who have served our country. It was a great bipartisan accomplishment. Again, I am grateful to all of my colleagues for getting it across the finish line. prgtoken It included provisions to improve services for homeless veterans, to protect GI Bill benefits, improve the Transition Assistance Program for servicemembers returning to civilian life, and so much more. It was the product, again, of bipartisan, bicameral work, proof that we can do things on a bipartisan basis here in Washington, D.C and I was proud to help lead that bill. prgtoken Most recently, we passed the American Rescue Plan, a landmark piece of legislation to help Americans get through this pandemic, including our veterans who have struggled to get back on their feet during this difficult time. prgtoken A key piece of that bill was nearly $400 million for a rapid retraining program for veterans who are unemployed as a result of this pandemic and don't have access to other veteran education benefits. prgtoken Both of these bills were huge accomplishments; but, like all legislation, they weren't perfect, and there are still steps that we must take to make these programs work even better for the veterans they are intended to serve. prgtoken That is why I was proud to introduce legislation with Ranking Member Mike Bost of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, amending the American Rescue Plan and the Isakson-Roe legislation to improve job training and education programs for our veterans. prgtoken For example, our bill makes changes to the Rapid Retraining Assistance Program so we are focusing on high-demand occupations.
HOMELAND SECURITY ACQUISITION PROFESSIONAL CAREER PROGRAM ACT
Dina Titus (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2021-4-20

. Madam , the Department of Homeland Security's staff, like all our government agencies, should reflect the diversity of this country. That is why I rise to offer H.R. 367, the ``Homeland Security Acquisition Professional Career Program Act.'' prgtoken Due in large part to the American Rescue Plan, the United States is well on its way to crushing the virus that has plagued us for over a year. As a result, domestic travel is increasing. prgtoken Accordingly, we must ensure that airports, like McCarran International in Las Vegas, have the equipment and trained personnel they need to safely and efficiently welcome travelers. prgtoken We can and should fill these frontline jobs, ranging from TSA agents to cyber security analysts, with veterans and graduates of HBCUs and Hispanic-serving institutions. That is exactly what my bill seeks to do. prgtoken Each year, the Department spends billions of dollars acquiring the goods and services needed to carry out its many missions. In addition to COVID-19 supplies, this includes everything from Coast Guard ships to the screening technologies that the Transportation Security Administration uses to secure our nation's travel infrastructure. prgtoken Unfortunately, a Government Accountability Office review found that 51 of these DHS major acquisition programs experienced workforce shortfalls. prgtoken In an effort to address said shortages, DHS established the Acquisition Professional Career Program. prgtoken This 3-year development program affords individuals rigorous training and on-the-job experience within DHS. prgtoken It also provides rotations to other components or offices within the Department, mentorship, and additional career development opportunities. prgtoken As a result, program participants graduate as certified acquisition professionals in their respective fields, such as contract specialists, cost estimators, and systems engineers. prgtoken H.R. 367 will ensure this program remains in place for years to come so that DHS maintains a pipeline for qualified acquisition leaders. prgtoken My bill will also require DHS to provide Congress with key information on the program for the next 5 years. prgtoken H.R. 367, if enacted, would help DHS strengthen and diversify its acquisition workforce by directing recruitment efforts to historically underrepresented individuals. prgtoken This will ensure that the Department, specifically including our TSA officials, is more representative and is more sensitive to the needs, cultural differences, and societal expectations of our heterogenous population, including the traveling public. prgtoken With that, I urge my colleagues to vote `yes' on its passage.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 51, WASHINGTON, D.C. ADMISSION ACT; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1573, ACCESS TO COUNSEL ACT OF 2021; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1333, NATIONAL...
Jamie Raskin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-4-20

. Madam , such time as I may consume. prgtoken I thank the gentlewoman very much for her comments, and I want to reemphasize the point that she made at the end, which is that Congress has the exclusive authority to admit new States. prgtoken Congress has admitted 37 new States. None of them have ever been struck down by a court, despite serious constitutional objections being raised against almost every State. prgtoken Everyone knew that Hawaii and Alaska could not be admitted because they were not contiguous. Everyone knew that Texas couldn't be admitted because it was a separate republic, and there was no authority to admit a republic to the Union. It was said Utah couldn't be admitted because they were practicing polygamy there. And so on. prgtoken There have always been constitutional objections made, but the courts have always deemed this to be a political question, which means that, in the juridical context, it is up to Congress to decide. And Congress has always been guided, in the final analysis, by the overriding dynamic of American political history, which is democracy has to govern for people who live here. prgtoken Madam , .
JOHN FACZAK
Ed Perlmutter (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2021-4-20

. Madam , I rise today to recognize and applaud John Faczak for receiving the Adams County Mayors and Commissioners Youth Award. prgtoken John Faczak is an 11th grader at Bennett High School and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. prgtoken The dedication demonstrated by John Faczak is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. prgtoken I extend my deepest congratulations to John Faczak for winning the Adams County Mayors and Commissioners Youth Award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of his future accomplishments.
COVID-19 HATE CRIMES ACT--Continued
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-4-20

from police reform to anti-Asian hate crimes, Americans across the Nation are pushing, pulling, and tugging with all their might to make sure that the United States lives up to our founding ideals of equality and justice for all. At the same time, the administration is charged with the immense responsibility of restoring confidence and integrity to the U.S. Department of Justice. prgtoken 's political appointees undermined the Department's mission and demoralized its dedicated career civil servants through years of gross mismanagement and improper politicization. We desperately need leaders with integrity, honor, and just basic competence to restore morale at the Department of Justice and empower the Agency to meet the moment. prgtoken Fortunately, I am confident that both Vanita Gupta and Kristen Clarke are among the most qualified and prepared public servants to take on the daunting challenges that lie ahead. prgtoken For far too many people in this country, equal protection under the law is not a reality. All across this country, there are communities that believe--and for good reason--that the law is not on their side. Individuals fear coming forward to report that they have been a victim of a hate crime, or, even worse, law enforcement fails to identify and report racist violence and discrimination. prgtoken And the senseless killing of unarmed Black and Brown Americans at the hands of law enforcement has become an all-too-common occurrence. Just a few days ago, the country was shocked by video footage documenting local law enforcement officers brazenly threatening and assaulting an Army second lieutenant who was in his military uniform and simply asking to know why he had been pulled over. prgtoken If this is how the Windsor Police Department, while knowing it is being videotaped, treats an Army officer in uniform--a man who swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States with his own life, if necessary--one wonders if such misconduct represents a systemic pattern or practice of abuse. This incident simply reinforces why our Nation must have a strong and proactive DOJ Civil Rights Division. prgtoken Additionally, the promise of the ADA is still not a reality for far too many Americans with disabilities. After years of disability rights being neglected or, at worst, undermined by partisan efforts, it is time for the DOJ to step up and ensure that the rights of Americans with disabilities are fully recognized, enforced, and protected. prgtoken I look forward to working with Kristen Clarke and Vanita Gupta to fulfill the promise that America made to people with disabilities, including myself, over 30 years ago. prgtoken We need Ms. Gupta and Ms. Clarke's leadership at DOJ to energize and inspire the Department as it refocuses on its mission of ensuring the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. prgtoken As a former head of the
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-4-20

last night, the country lost a giant of ic politics, a kind and revered public servant, a Vice President who reimagined the position and expanded Americans' views of who could hold America's highest offices. Walter Mondale, known to friends and foes alike as ``Fritz,'' died at the age of 93. prgtoken As President Carter's right-hand man, Fritz revolutionized the role of the Vice Presidency. There is an old yarn about two brothers: One went off to sea, and the other became Vice President. Neither was heard from again. That is not true of Walter Mondale. prgtoken Walter Mondale was an uncooperative subject for those Vice Presidential comedians. Not only was he often the last person in the room with the President when the tough decisions were made, but he became an unofficial ambassador for the administration. His relationship with Prime Minister Begin of Israel helped paved the way for a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt at Camp David in 1978. prgtoken In his ultimately unsuccessful run for the Presidency, Walter Mondale's pick of my fellow New Yorker, the late Geraldine Ferraro, as Vice President was an early crack in the glass ceiling that our current Vice President, , would eventually shatter. prgtoken Vice President Mondale will be remembered as a lion of progressive politics; an ardent defender of civil rights, aid to schoolchildren, childcare, healthcare, and consumer protections. Mondale once said: My whole life I worked on the idea that government can be an instrument for social progress. We need that progress. Fairness requires it. prgtoken Indeed, as Mondale said, we need government to make social progress. prgtoken As we say goodbye to one of our country's most decent public servants, let us follow in his example. Marijuana prgtoken , now on a much different subject, today is what you might call a very unofficial American holiday, 4/20. It is as appropriate a time as any to take a hard look at our laws that have overcriminalized the use of marijuana and put it on a par with heroin, LSD, and other narcotics that bear little or no resemblance in their effects prgtoken either on individuals or on society, more broadly. prgtoken The war on drugs has too often been a war on people, particularly people of color. For decades, young men and women--disproportionately, young men and women of color--have been arrested and jailed for even carrying a small amount of marijuana, a charge that often came with exorbitant penalties and a serious criminal record from which they might never recover, being rejected from job after job because this minor, minor deviation from the law was listed as a serious criminal record. prgtoken It makes no sense. It is time for change. I believe the time has come to end the Federal prohibition on marijuana in this country, and I am working with Senators Booker and Wyden on legislation to d