mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Background Checks (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-9-19

let me join the Senator from Maryland in expressing my frustration. Many of us worked long and hard to be elected to the U.S. Senate, not just to represent our States but to respond to the challenges that face us in the United States. The challenge of gun safety faces everyone. Thank you to the Senator from Maryland for making that point on the floor of the Senate. prgtoken Many people come to the Senate Galleries, sit in the chairs, and wait for the Senate to act. It is a long waiting game because, unfortunately, the Senate does little or nothing under the prgtoken leadership of Senator McConnell. I don't know why this Senator has not accepted the fact that the U.S. Senate has an important role to play. We speak for people not only in Illinois and in Maryland but for those all across the United States, and they are very concerned. prgtoken In the recent trip home over the recess, I visited some of the areas around Chicago and in the city, and there were many conversations about the gun violence that we see across America. That gun violence has been punctuated by the horrible events in El Paso and Odessa, TX, and in other communities that have been affected by these mass killings. We have become numb, I am afraid, to the reality of gun violence in America. We have decided, I am afraid, that the Second Amendment to the Constitution is somehow holding us back--binding us and restraining us--from even doing the most basic things. prgtoken Overwhelmingly, the people of America, by a factor of over 90 percent-- and s--believe that we should have background checks. We believe that the people who have been convicted of violent felonies shouldn't own guns--period. We believe, as well, that when it comes to those who have serious mental instability, they should also be precluded from gun ownership. The laws do not allow us to adequately ask the question or to test whether the buyer has been convicted of a felony or has such a background. prgtoken In the city of Chicago, hardly a weekend goes by without there being dozens shot and 9 or 10 or more losing their lives. Most of them are young people, but not exclusively. Older people, as well, are caught in the crossfire. prgtoken People say: Well, I thought Chicago had these tough gun laws. What is going on there? Why do you have so many gun deaths? prgtoken The answer is obvious for those of us who spend time in that great city. We are about 20 minutes away from northwestern Indiana and from the gun shows that are held there, where people don't ask questions when they sell firearms. All you need to do is to have the money and the open trunk of your car to fill it up with guns and drive them back to the city of Chicago. That is why no State can solve this problem. We need Federal legislation. prgtoken As I talk to people across this country, they tell me the heartbreaking stories of sitting down with their children who have gone through som
Appropriations (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2019-9-19

yesterday, the Senate failed to advance a motion to proceed to a package of appropriations bills, demonstrating something that Leader McConnell already knew: There are not enough votes in the Senate for the President's wall. prgtoken The Senate refuses to fund the border wall that the President promised Mexico would pay for, especially not at the expense of our troops and their families and important public health programs like childcare and Head Start. Just yesterday, the Pentagon warned of dire outcomes if the money to fund the military is not provided. prgtoken Read today's Washington Post. Our military people are upset with this. Now, their chain of command is not going to publicly say it, but we know it. Over 120 military projects stand to lose funding, and we aren't talking about fixing parking lots. We are talking about military readiness. We are talking about medical facilities for troops in North Carolina. We are talking about schools for military families in Kentucky. We are talking about explosives stored in unsafe conditions. We are talking about a very important engineering lab at West Point to train our future soldiers. Even hurricane recovery projects in Florida are at risk. prgtoken The Defense Department was very clear that without this funding, lives would be at risk, but that is what s on the Appropriations Committee proposed. The Senate rightly rejected that idea. prgtoken The leader is saying we are hurting the military? Give me a break. We are defending the military. How much bull does the majority leader think the American public will swallow? They are taking money out of the military to put it in the wall, and he says that we are hurting the military? Oh, no. Leader McConnell is hurting the military, and we defended them. We defended them because we want the money to go to the military, not to the wall. prgtoken By the way, in that regard, Leader McConnell did not stick with the agreement. The agreement was not only on the 302(a)s but there would be bipartisan agreement on where the money on the defense side and the nondefense side would be distributed. prgtoken Instead of consulting , they tried to jam something down our throats, taking money out of defense, out of Head Start and other programs in the health and human services budget and put it into the wall. Well, that wasn't going to stand, it isn't going to stand, and it will not stand. prgtoken I hope Leader McConnell has learned his lesson. Shutting down the government or trying to eyeball for the wall isn't going to work. Let's roll up our sleeves and work together. prgtoken My friend the leader and Chairman Shelby have now shown the President that they tried again to fund his wall. They have seen, once again, that the votes are not there. They have seen, once again, that when the Senate s do the President's bidding and refuse to engage the , the only thin
TRIBUTE TO BROOKE MILLS
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2019-9-19

I am proud to recognize Brooke Mills of Concord as September's Granite Stater of the Month for her work advocating for concussion awareness and prevention in New Hampshire and across the country. prgtoken In March of 2014, Brooke, then a freshman in high school, suffered a severe concussion during a mandatory handball game in gym class. The ramifications of this concussion went beyond the physical bruising in her brain and affected everything from her social life to her academics. prgtoken Brooke suffered from memory loss and had to wear sunglasses indoors because the lighting in her school was too harsh, which led to teasing and bullying from her classmates. She also had to strictly limit the time she spent on her phone, which affected her ability to hang out with friends and use social media, a difficult situation for someone who just started high school. prgtoken However, instead of letting her concussion get the best of her, Brooke turned her injury into a platform that she used to educate people about the dangers of concussions, while also providing reassurance for others who were going through similar trauma that they too could overcome the lasting impacts of a concussion. prgtoken Brooke started a blog called Finding My Way, where she writes about her concussion and how it impacts her day-to-day life in the hopes of helping others suffering from concussions feel less alone. She also launched an organization called Lessen the Impact, dedicated to sharing her story and providing resources to help identify and prevent a concussion. prgtoken Additionally, Brooke is a peer-to-peer speaker for the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire, where she gives presentations at high schools and middle schools about how to identify a concussion and stresses the importance of being kind and understanding to those who suffer from this invisible injury. prgtoken As a result of Brooke's advocacy, as Governor of New Hampshire, I declared the third Friday in September as Concussion Awareness Day in New Hampshire. This week, with a bipartisan group of my colleagues, I introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate to recognize this day nationally. prgtoken Concussion Awareness Day is also recognized by other States, as well as by the National Brain Injury Association. There is also a companion resolution recognizing this day that has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. prgtoken I want to thank Brooke for all that she has done and continues to do to turn a challenging experience into an opportunity to educate and bring awareness to Granite Staters and Americans about the dangers of concussions. She has truly demonstrated the grit, resilience, and empathy that reflects the best of our State.
HONORING ANNIE ``ANNA'' MAE STEWART
Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-9-19

. Madam , I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me as I rise to pay tribute to Annie ``Anna'' Mae Stewart after her passing on August 3, 2019. prgtoken On April 9, 1917, Anna Mae Johnson entered the world as the eldest child born to Elder Allen Waters and Elizabeth Johnson in Washington, DC. prgtoken She met and married Charles Earl Stewart on Oct 8, 1937 at St Augustine's Catholic Church. She chose to follow her husband in his faith and converted to Catholicism in 1951 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church (OLPH). prgtoken Anna began working at St Teresa's convent and later worked at the OLPH rectory, a career that would last for more than 20 years. There she fostered close relationships with many priests and seminarians, such as George Leary, Jr a man who would become a surrogate son. prgtoken She was actively involved in parent, school and church organizations, including Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Baptism and Confirmation prep, catechist and a passionate Catholic Youth Organization advisor. She was an active member of other organizations, such as St Joseph's Ladies' Auxiliary No. 213 KOSJI Sodality, Legion of Mary, Catholic Charities, Cursillistas, OLPH Hilltoppers, OLPH Women's' Ministry, and her two favorites, Eucharistic Ministry and Lector. She enjoyed being of service to her church community in every way possible. prgtoken Anna was also a dedicated community activist. She joined her local Orange Hat Coalition and helped rid her neighborhood of drug dealers at the height of the crack cocaine epidemic. She was instrumental in getting the Eastover Shopping Center integrated, which led to her recognition for her commitment to the civil rights movement. She was acknowledged by Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc as a Village Keeper for that effort and received other honors, including Mother of the Year 1960 and 1963 by the Afro American newspaper. She participated in the March on Washington in 1967 and took much pride in voting for the first Black President in 2008. prgtoken Madam , I know my fellow members of the U.S. House of Representatives agree that Anna Mae Stewart deserves to be recognized at the time of her passing for her dedication to her church, her family, and her community.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--H.R. 1044
Doug Jones (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2019-9-19

thank you. I appreciate your comment, ``The Senator for Alabama.'' That is exactly how I like to be recognized, so thank you very much. Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 2486 prgtoken , I rise today to appeal to my colleagues to support the renewal of vital funding for historically Black colleges and universities and all minority-serving institutions. prgtoken I have risen in this body on more than one occasion to talk about the importance of HBCUs and minority-serving institutions. prgtoken Alabama is home to 14 HBCUs--more than any other State in the country. They are part of the fabric of our economy in Alabama and a part of the fabric of our society. They are the pride of their communities. They are the pride of those folks who went there and had relatives who went there and even those individuals who are not alums or relatives of alums. prgtoken Our HBCUs are a source of enduring pride in our State and across this country. They serve an incredibly important function. They educate those from underserved communities more than any other college or university. It is important that we continue funding them because their challenges with funding are great. prgtoken They do not have the endowments that other colleges and universities have. They don't have the source of funding. It is only through our efforts in Congress and across the country that we can continue the great work of these HBCUs. prgtoken Recently, the House passed what is known as the FUTURE Act, which is H.R. 2486. My colleague Senator Scott and I have a similar bill that has been introduced in the Senate because, at prgtoken the end of September, all funding for HBCUs is set to end. prgtoken Our act would extend that. We need to make sure that we fund all of our HBCUs, that they are not left in the lurch and not left with any uncertainty about their future funding. I truly believe this is such a bipartisan effort that we can get this across the finish line. I have urged Senator McConnell to put this on the floor because it is quite urgent. prgtoken As in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 2486, which is at the desk; that the bill be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-9-19

. . As our Nation ages, we face a growing need for direct care professionals to care for older adults and people with disabilities. The U.S. Census Bureau projects the number of people aged 65 and older to more than double between 2015 and 2060, from nearly 48 million to 98 million. Approximately 61 million Americans are currently living with a disability. By 2024, 5 .2 million direct care workers will be needed across all care settings. prgtoken Direct care workers, such as home health aides and nursing assistants, are the backbone of the long-term care workforce, providing daily assistance to millions of older Americans, people with disabilities, and others with chronic care needs. Direct care workers help ensure that older Americans and people with disabilities receive the critical care they need while remaining active members of their communities. However, direct care workers are often paid low wages and may face poor working conditions and economic insecurity. The majority of direct care workers are women and people of color. Some direct care workers do not have education beyond high school and lack access to a career pathway or advanced training. Twenty-four percent of home care workers live below the Federal poverty level and 52 percent of direct care workers rely on some form of public assistance to support themselves and their families. prgtoken Today, I am pleased to introduce the Direct Creation, Advancement, and Retention of Employment Opportunity Act, or Direct CARE Opportunity Act, with Senator Hassan. I am proud to have partnered with my friend and colleague in the Virginia delegation Chairman Bobby Scott on this bill, who has also introduced the bill today in the House of Representatives. The Direct CARE Opportunity Act provides support for strategies to recruit, retain, and advance the direct care workforce pipeline. Our legislation would support the implementation of models and strategies to train more people in the direct care field, while allowing for local and regional innovation to address workforce shortages. We encourage retention and career advancement in a high- demand field where workers carry a large emotional burden and face barriers to economic mobility. Our legislation responds to the needs of our growing aging population, allowing older Americans, people with disabilities, and those with chronic illnesses to remain in their communities while receiving critical care and support, helping prevent costlier institutional care. prgtoken I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to see the Direct CARE Opportunity Act as a chance to invest in the professionals who care for millions of vulnerable Americans every day, ensuring they live with dignity and independence.
FORCED ARBITRATION IS UNJUST
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-9-19

. Madam , I rise today to support and endorse the FAIR Act, of which there will be a vigorous debate on the floor of the House tomorrow. prgtoken As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I was very pleased to be a cosponsor of that legislation and to explain to Americans what forced dispute arbitration is. It is arbitration almost without your knowledge. prgtoken This bill will provide the opportunity for individuals who are forced into arbitration to be able to waive that particular provision. prgtoken In fact, one of the saddest cases is that of someone who utilized Massage Envy, a company where this person was trying to relieve their pain and, unfortunately, was assaulted on the massage table. All they wanted to do was to get out of their contract, but when they checked the little box to get out of their contract, they checked the box to say that you must go into forced arbitration. You must wait weeks and months and days and years. prgtoken I want to take note of the fact that this is not about trial lawyers. It is about justice. I am glad that the Nation has lawyers who can stand before the bar and in the courts to defend those who cannot defend themselves. prgtoken Forced arbitration is an injustice. This repeals that injustice. prgtoken I am a strong supporter of the FAIR Act, and the fact is that it gives justice to those who have no other remedy. Let's pass the FAIR Act.
APPRAISAL FEE TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2019
Wm. Lacy Clay (Democrat, MO) \u2014 2019-9-19

. Madam , I rise in support of H.R. 3619, the Appraisal Fee Transparency Act of 2019. I thank Chairwoman Waters for yielding the time, as well as the support that she has given. prgtoken Let me also thank Ranking Member McHenry for his support of this legislation, as well as the ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Duffy, who I hope will be replaced with someone just as competent as Mr. Duffy has been. prgtoken This bill would provide the Appraisal Subcommittee with greater flexibility to determine the structure and amount of the fee charged to appraisal management companies, provide the Appraisal Subcommittee with greater flexibility to utilize fee proceeds to partner with different entities to ensure compliance with Federal appraisal standards, add a representative of the Department of Veterans Affairs to the Appraisal Subcommittee, create a national registry of appraisers in training, and provide consumers with greater transparency in the disclosure of fees paid by appraisals. prgtoken Madam , as you are well aware, a significant part of the housing market is comprised of veterans, as was mentioned, but currently the Appraisal Subcommittee does not have representation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. This bill would add a designee from the VA, which further acknowledges the unique critical role of our veterans. prgtoken Though this bill does not address this directly, one of the takeaways from the hearing that we held back in June was the lack of diversity in the appraisal industry, which currently does not have many women or minorities. That is one of the reasons this bill adds a national registry of appraiser trainees, which would help bring new people into this unique and very important industry. prgtoken Lastly, the bill makes it Federal law to disclose to consumers the fee that they pay for their appraisals. This consumer-friendly addition to the bill promotes transparency and ensures that the opaque world of appraisals is becoming more understandable to the average home buyer. prgtoken I will add that one of the most compelling parts of the appraisal hearing was the testimony of scholar Andre Perry of the Brookings Institution where he discussed in-depth the research of his colleagues which demonstrated that the appraisal industry has contributed to the growing racial wealth gap. prgtoken Madam , I look forward to the support of the House of this important legislation.
COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE WITH AGGRESSIVE ACTION AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP
Mike Levin (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-9-19

. Madam , I thank Congressman Huffman for his friendship, for his mentorship, and for all the work that he does. He is a true environmental champion. I am really, really grateful to call him a friend. We have got a lot of work to do. prgtoken I think it is really important that, as we think about this issue, we begin to address some of the myths and the misconceptions that are out there. One of the biggest that I hear from my friends across the aisle is that we cannot combat climate change without destroying our economy, when exactly the opposite is true. prgtoken If we invest in the clean energy jobs of the future, we will see incredible economic growth and we will protect the environment at the same time. Nowhere has that been more true in the United States than in our State of California, where I am proud to tell you that we have the most clean-energy jobs in the United States. prgtoken If you look at this chart, there are over 500,000 jobs in the clean tech sector. I am proud to have come from the clean tech sector. I am proud to have started a trade association in Orange County, California, which historically has been seen as one of the most conservative places in the United States. We created a booming clean tech industry that is growing stronger than ever before. The same is true in San Diego County, where we have some of the leading clean energy companies in the United States. We can protect the environment and we can grow the clean tech economy at the same time. prgtoken In California, it has never been a partisan issue. When we passed AB 32 in 2006, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the Governor, Governor. Then when we passed cap and trade, we had nine legislators who helped get that passed in the California legislature. prgtoken Governor Schwarzenegger and those legislators at the time understood that if we made climate change a primary focus, if we reduced greenhouse gas emissions, that not only was it the right thing to do for our State and for the planet, but it was the right thing to do for our economy. That is exactly what has happened. prgtoken My friend, Marshall Burke, is a researcher at Stanford University, my alma mater. He has studied the costs of action on climate change, but, more importantly, the costs of inaction. There is an inherent cost to doing nothing. My friends across the aisle always like to tell you about the cost of doing something. They will say bold and aggressive measures will cost too much. Well, , the costs of inaction are even greater. prgtoken My friend, Marshall Burke, has said that if we don't take substantial action to mitigate the climate crisis, it will cost the U.S. economy $25 trillion to $35 trillion over the coming decades. That is with a T: $25 trillion to $35 trillion. prgtoken The good news is that we can take the steps we need to in order to act. We can combat the climate crisis, and we can create those clean energy jobs. prgtoken I h