mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021--Continued
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2020-6-25

I am disappointed but not surprised that we are not able to confirm the Ex-Im nominees today. There is great bipartisan support for this agency. We did a long reauthorization that was close to unanimous in its support. It is a place in which we have worked together to create American jobs. prgtoken I understand Senator Toomey's discussion about corporate interests. I am a bit surprised by that when this body passes trade agreement after trade agreement that supports corporate interests and that costs workers their jobs and when this body passed a huge tax cut for the rich 3 years ago that reduced the corporate tax rate and reduced it even further for companies that shut down production in Shelby or Lima or Akron, OH, and companies moved overseas to get their tax breaks and access to low-wage workers. I am just disappointed that we couldn't actually move forward. prgtoken It is the law of the land to have an Ex-Im Bank. There are two out of five slots that are empty. The President and Chairman of the Ex-Im Bank, Kimberly Reed, a appointee, said very strongly that she needs more help, more boots on the ground, because she could create more jobs that way. prgtoken Lastly, I was a bit surprised to hear complaints about the ' slow-walking of nominees. I mean, instead of actually doing the people's business here--getting help for unemployed workers and helping people stay in their homes as courts open up and more evictions are on the horizon and as layoffs in local governments and State governments around the country loom--this Senate spends most of its time on confirming judges. prgtoken My wife and I watched almost the entire rally in Tulsa. It was the first big campaign rally--not that big--or the first purportedly big campaign rally. We watched numbers of my colleagues with no masks in an arena in which public health officials said: Please, don't do that. prgtoken I heard the President brag about all of the judges he has gotten confirmed. So when I hear any of my colleagues complain that the have been obstructionists--have tried to stop nominees--just remember what Senator McConnell did with a legitimately chosen Supreme Court nominee and, equally as important, what this body has done in confirming judge after judge, many of them young and many of them far right and out of the political mainstream. The s dutifully vote for them because Senator McConnell tells them to. We know how that works around here. We have so much more work to do than that, but this Senate doesn't seem to be interested. prgtoken .
HONG KONG AUTONOMY ACT
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-6-25

I want to thank the Senator from Missouri for bringing us to the floor last week, for bringing us to the floor this week, and for working with us to make sure that we could make important changes to an important resolution that he brought before us today. prgtoken I agree it is a good day for the Senate. Again, from Pennsylvania, Mr. Toomey, for his bipartisan work on this. Hopefully we get it to the President's desk as soon as possible and send a strong message to the Government of China and send a message to the people of Hong Kong that we stand with them.
HONORING THE LIFE OF WILLIAM LYON
Harley Rouda (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-6-25

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the life of William Lyon, who passed away on May 22, 2020 at the age of 97. For 50 years, his work as a real estate magnate revolutionized the housing industry in both Orange County and around the country. prgtoken In 1954, Lyon began working in construction with a 66-home project in Anaheim, California. Lyon foresaw the region's growth, and capitalized on the post-World War II economic boom. Less than a decade after his first construction project, he became one of the biggest names in the homebuilding industry. His company, William Lyon Homes, was based in Newport Beach. Lyon and his combined companies were responsible for creating by than 72,000 residential living spaces by the end of his career. prgtoken Lyon's aptitude for reading the housing market and maximizing development opportunities in Orange County are what truly set him apart from his peers and justified his title as a real estate titan. Known as ``the General'' by friends and family, his leadership and accomplishments sparked great change in our community. prgtoken I ask that all Members join me in honoring the accomplished life of William Lyon.
GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT OF 2020
Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-6-25

I rise today in strong support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. prgtoken In 2019, USA Today published the largest public database of disciplinary records for police officers. They found that fewer than 10 percent of officers in most police forces had been investigated. But of those who are investigated, most have 10 or more misconduct charges, and worse, some face more than 100 allegations. Almost all still have their badges today. prgtoken To address this issue, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act includes a national registry to bring transparency to disciplinary decisions, to bring transparency to police misconduct, and to bring transparency to the high cost of irresponsible individuals to taxpayers. prgtoken The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is about transparency and sunlight. We need that now more than ever.
GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT OF 2020
Jerry McNerney (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-6-25

racism persists in America today, and its poison pervades our institutions, creating barriers that magnify inequality and injustice. prgtoken To Black Americans and communities of color, this comes as no surprise. But, unfortunately, it has taken many Americans too long to acknowledge this truth. We cannot ignore how the remnants of slavery and the Jim Crow era have maintained a stronghold on our institutions. prgtoken Our criminal justice system disproportionally penalizes Black Americans and people of color with almost blanket immunity for those who disregard human life and dignity. But, today, we have an opportunity to right these wrongs and to tell the world that the U.S. House of Representatives believes that Black lives matter. prgtoken The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act would make much-needed reforms, from holding police accountable to combating racial profiling. prgtoken When this law passes, this will make a real difference in American life. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this essential legislation.
GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT OF 2020
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-6-25

. Madam , my friends on the other side of the aisle are consistently being persistent in the language of why process for them is more important than saving lives. I answer the question with a little book called the Constitution of the United States, which on this day we hope that we will make it holier and more potent for the large numbers of African American men and women who have seen the brunt of racial profiling and police brutality. prgtoken Now, let me be very clear. In the opening of this Constitution, it tracks the language that says we are created for a more perfect union. Centuries later, Dr. Martin Luther King asked the question of why we can't wait to be allowed to be full citizens in this Nation as African Americans. He also said now is the time. prgtoken So when a Member asked me about the moment of this bill, this day, I said: There are few seismic moments on the floor of the House. There are few catastrophic earthquake moments that change lives and save lives. Today, we cannot wait. Amadou Diallo could not wait more than 20, 30 years ago. Now, we have legislation that will be a significant civil rights moment in our history. prgtoken I am very pleased to have introduced the Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act with my colleagues that does help police, that does require the accreditation of 18,000 police departments. Maybe if the officers in Minneapolis had been trained in human decency and the stopping of excessive force and the duty to intervene, not only would George Floyd's life been saved, but many others in times before. prgtoken But we have a bill that says that you have to require something. And when I walked amongst the neighbors of George Floyd that grew up in Cuney Homes near Jack Yates, they surrounded me, even in the midst of COVID-19, and said: What is this bill going to do? Is it going to do something? prgtoken This bill provides a direct requirement for accreditation, the requirement to professionalize police. And, yes, it is racial profiling, and it has teeth in it because it includes a prohibition in profiling based on ethnicity, national origin, religion, and gender. And it creates a cause of action by the Attorney General of any who are injured. We have never had that before. And, yes, it adds a modification of rollback on qualified immunity. prgtoken But I say to my friends, in rolling back qualified immunity, you have due process. You are in the courthouse. prgtoken It limits the military hardware disbursements, use of force, and it professionalizes the police. prgtoken Now, I want to answer the question of Philonise Floyd. He doesn't want his brother to be on his shirt; he wants justice. prgtoken As I conclude, Madam , I just want to answer his daughter's point. His daughter, Gianna, said: ``My daddy changed the world.'' prgtoken We are changing the world. We can't wait, and now is the time--not process, but reality, and making a bill that changes civil rights in this Nation
GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT OF 2020
Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-6-25

. Madam , such time as I may consume. You have heard a lot of errant nonsense on the floor. But it must not go unrebutted. prgtoken Ms. Bass, the chairperson of the Black Caucus and the chairperson of our subcommittee talked personally to the leader, Mr. McCarthy, and got nowhere. The Committee on the Judiciary's staff talked to the staff of the Committee on the Judiciary and got nowhere. The amendments that Mr. Jordan advanced at the markup, his wonderful amendments, included antifa, the Seattle autonomous zone, stripping out the entire underlying legislation, defunding police departments, and adding a death penalty to antilynching legislation passed by the House. prgtoken Of course, we wouldn't accept these amendments. They couldn't utter the phrase ``Black Lives Matter,'' and could barely engage the subject of police reform. Instead, their amendments--and I have given you about half of them just listed here--were errant nonsense, off-topic, dealing with imaginary things like antifa, and completely negating the entire purpose of the bill. They weren't interested in ``Black Lives Matter.'' They weren't interested in police reform. They were interested in pure demagoguery. Of course, we would not accept their amendments. prgtoken Madam , I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).
GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT OF 2020
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2020-6-25

I thank my good friend from California for her brilliant leadership on this very important matter. prgtoken , I rise in support of the bill, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020. I am proud to cosponsor this long-overdue proposal to end brutality in law enforcement and to address the systemic racism that has marred American law enforcement for too long. prgtoken With this legislation, we finally say enough is enough. We have had enough of racial and religious profiling. We have had enough of no- knock warrants and chokeholds. We have had enough of qualified immunity and enough of police using military-grade equipment on our streets. prgtoken This bill will help us move from, frankly, a culture of impunity all too often in our law enforcement entities to a culture of accountability. prgtoken We serve the public, whether we are in law enforcement or whether in the Halls of Congress. This bill reaffirms that principle in a democracy. I am proud to support it in the memory of the murdered George Floyd.
GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT OF 2020
James E. Clyburn (Democrat, SC) \u2014 2020-6-25

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. prgtoken The motto of my home State of South Carolina is ``Dum spiro spero.'' That is a Latin phrase for: ``While I breathe, I hope.'' prgtoken Today, as the House prepares to vote on the historic George Floyd Justice and Policing Act, those words take on a new meaning and a very special meaning for me. In this moment, the haunting words of this legislation's namesake, ``I can't breathe,'' echo in the streets daily. prgtoken In Mr. Floyd's case, his breath was literally being snuffed out as he cried out for his dead mother. But for so many Blacks in our country today, ``I can't breathe'' is just another way of saying, ``I have no hope.'' prgtoken Today, this august body is going to pass a piece of legislation that will begin the process of restoring hope, hope to many whose ancestors fought for centuries to be included in the Nation's vision of liberty and justice for all. prgtoken This legislation gives us an opportunity to live up to what Alexis de Tocqueville observed about America's greatness. He wrote: America is not great because it is more enlightened than any other nation, but rather because it has always been able to repair its faults. prgtoken Today, we are seeking to repair some faults in our policing system, a policing system whose foundation was built upon two pillars of experiences, one by a group of Americans who came to America of their own free will in search of freedom, the other by a group of Americans who came to America against their will and were enslaved for 244 years. prgtoken Vestiges of that system are still evident in today's law enforcement culture. Chokeholds on Black arrestees, no-knock entries into Black residences, militarized police forces in Black communities, and qualified immunity are all intended to preserve rather than serve, intended to protect perpetrators of excessive use of force rather than improve conditions and communities. prgtoken Today, House and, I hope, some of our colleagues will say by their votes that enough is enough, that it is time to apply the greatness of America equitably and to all our citizens. prgtoken But we cannot stop here. Recent occurrences have exposed and shone a spotlight on inequities in our healthcare system, inadequacies in our educational system, and inappropriateness in our electoral system. Liberty and justice for all remains a deferred dream for far too many. prgtoken Job losses, challenges in healthcare, eviction threats--people are trying to catch their breath. If they can't breathe, they can't hope. prgtoken As a proud South Carolinian, I believe in and try to live by that principle: ``While I breathe, I hope.'' With the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, we will all breathe a little freer and gain a little more hope.
PROTECTION OF CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS
John P. Sarbanes (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-6-25

for too long, we have not had the courage as a Nation to say, ``Black lives matter.'' Well, now it is a new day. Anguished and outraged by the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and so many others whose families have been left grieving, we are finally beginning to speak truth and take action. prgtoken These killings have left us despondent and deeply angry that America cannot rid itself of the disease of racism and violence, and the police, and prosecutors, too, often inflict pain on the very communities they are charged with serving. But we are also determined-- determined not to let this moment pass without an uncompromising demand for justice on behalf of the victims' families and on behalf of a Nation in search of its soul. prgtoken For the sake of our future, we must overcome this legacy of violence and ensure that the civil and human rights of every person in our country are protected. prgtoken , I am proud to support the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020.
GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT OF 2020
Kathy Castor (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2020-6-25

. Justice. Justice. I have heard my Tampa neighbors and their calls for justice. Black lives matter, and I dedicate my vote on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act today to the generations of Tampa neighbors who have suffered the unfair burdens of discrimination, disrespect, and violence due to the color of their skin. prgtoken Too many lives over too many years in America cut short at the hands of officers who were supposed to protect them, so House will act decisively today to ensure that police officers are held accountable for misconduct and that lives are saved. We will end harmful policing practices, including racial profiling, no-knock warrants, and chokeholds. prgtoken The time for change is now. In fact, a new paradigm for policing in America is overdue. prgtoken I thank my good friend, Congresswoman Karen Bass of California, for bringing us closer to justice today.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021--Continued
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2020-6-25

I appreciate my Senate colleague's desire to increase accountability and transparency of student outcomes. As Governor, I was doing the same thing with Virginia institutions. I view his request as a little bit of a non sequitur. It is not really connected to mine. prgtoken He mentioned that we shouldn't be throwing more money at colleges. Let me make plain again that my request does not cost a penny. It is not about an additional penny for colleges. It is about implementing the CARES Act, which was passed on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote by this body on March 26. prgtoken Senator Scott's bill does not deal with something we have already done. It does not deal with the COVID emergency. It does deal very directly with something that we are in the process of doing. The HELP Committee right now is considering the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Senator Scott's proposal, dealing with transparency and accountability, fits squarely within the discussion that the HELP Committee is currently having about reauthorization of HEA, and it is an appropriate and important topic for the committee to grapple with as we work on the HEA reauthorization. But in that sense, I am a little puzzled because there is a venue for his proposal right now in the HEA reauthorization discussion as we go forward and look at what more accountability we would ask of our colleges. prgtoken I don't think we should jump Senator Scott's bill ahead of that reauthorization and impose new restrictions on universities in the middle of this pandemic, as we are trying to help them get through COVID. For that and other reasons, while I would certainly pledge to work with the Senator on this matter in the committee on which we both sit, during HEA reauthorization, I do not agree to modify the request that I made regarding S. 3947.
CORONAVIRUS
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-6-25

we are now several months into a global pandemic that has caused terrible human and economic suffering. prgtoken Here in the United States alone, more than 2.3 million Americans have been infected, and more than 120,000 have died. prgtoken That is more Americans killed in the Korean, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq wars combined and more than those killed in one of our most deadly wars, World War I. prgtoken I recently spoke with Melinda Gates about the foundation she and her husband Bill established and its efforts regarding the coronavirus pandemic. prgtoken Bill warned years ago to prepare for just this kind of pandemic, including directly with just before taking office. prgtoken Not surprisingly, their foundation has provided millions to global efforts to find a vaccine and treatment for the coronavirus. prgtoken One such event was an EU-hosted virtual conference in May with many of our key allies that raised more than $8 billion to be spent over 2 years to further promising vaccine and treatment efforts. prgtoken The EU and Norway each gave $1 billion; the French, Germans, and Brits combined also gave nearly $1 billion; the Canadians pledged $850 million; the Swiss $400 million, and the Dutch, $200 million. Japan and others also made sizeable pledges. prgtoken The Gates Foundation gave $125 million, with Melinda wisely telling the gathering, ``This virus doesn't care what nationality you are . . . As long as the virus is somewhere, it's everywhere.'' prgtoken And what was the contribution of the United States? Nothing. prgtoken The U.S. Government under President didn't participate in this shared effort that could help save American lives. prgtoken But that is not all. On this 40th anniversary of the World Health Organization's historic achievement to eradicate smallpox, President also prgtoken withdrew the United States and suspended U.S. funding from this key global health organization. prgtoken That is right, amid a deadly, worldwide pandemic with devastating impacts on the American people, President decided this was the time to walk away from the body heading a global response. prgtoken I cannot think of more counterproductive, ill-informed, and petty decision when it comes to addressing this pandemic. prgtoken Twice in the last 2 months, I came to the floor to ask consent on a simple and timely resolution sponsored by nearly half of this Chamber's Members. prgtoken It urged increased American participation in these global coronavirus vaccine and treatment efforts. prgtoken After all, we don't know where a vaccine or effective treatment may ultimately be discovered. With so much medical and scientific knowledge, it may be here in the United States. I hope so. prgtoken But why not team up with our allies on joint programs that maximize and speed up the chances of success? Do we really want the American people left out of such efforts? prgtoken For example, today there are more th