mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO THE MILWAUKEE URBAN LEAGUE
Gwen Moore (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2019-3-12

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the Milwaukee Urban League as it celebrates 100 years of service to the Milwaukee area Community. The Milwaukee Urban League was established in 1919 as an affiliate of the National Urban League (NUL) in response to the migration of African Americans who moved north from southern states in search of greater opportunities and a better way of life. They assisted in their transition to urban life and employment, helping African Americans in Milwaukee secure economic self-reliance, parity and power, and civil rights. prgtoken The Milwaukee Urban League become a hub and sought to meet the various needs of the African American Community. They established a medical clinic in the 1920s and sponsored a community center for holiday gatherings, youth recreation and crafts, and taught boxing skills. In 1926 the Urban League released a study that established the need to eliminate poor housing as a high priority. In subsequent years, it was instrumental in ending legalized racial discrimination in housing and creating the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council which still exists today. In the 1930s, the Milwaukee Urban League established the Industrial Relations Project to improve job opportunities and working conditions through relationships with business establishments. prgtoken Over the years the Urban League has continued to promote employment and economic self-sufficiency through such initiatives as apprentice programs, and pre-employment skills training. Other employment help includes on the job placement and training and older workers and job ride programs. The Milwaukee Urban League has promoted business ownership and development through efforts such as the Franchise Initiative designed to help African Americans acquire franchises, thereby, generating wealth and increasing the number of jobs in the community. It hosts an annual Youth Leadership Summit to promote civic engagement. prgtoken The Milwaukee Urban League has been on the front lines of the struggle for equality by both performing research that establishes the case for change and taking actions that result in change to help the next generation succeed. The Urban League continues to collaborate on many issues to enhance the well-being of the community it serves to achieve positive outcomes, including: seeking alternatives to incarceration, working with organizations to speak out against hatred and bigotry, improving academic achievement and social growth among students, and eliminating barriers to employment including enhancement. prgtoken Madam , for these reasons I rise to recognize and pay tribute to the Milwaukee Urban League as it celebrates its 100th anniversary and continues its efforts to benefit the Fourth Congressional District and the State of Wisconsin.
Nomination of Paul B. Matey (Executive Session)
Cory A. Booker (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-3-12

I rise today to speak on the nomination of Paul Matey, who has been nominated by President to a New Jersey seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. prgtoken The Constitution actually charges this body with a sacred obligation. This body is charged by our Founders and by our Constitution with providing advice and consent on the individuals the President nominates to serve on the Federal courts. prgtoken Over the last century, the United States has developed a process for carrying out that duty of evaluation, evaluating those nominees, but just a couple weeks ago, the body broke a century-old precedent. Until then, the Senate had never ever confirmed a judicial nominee over the objections of both home State Senators. I looked into this through the Congressional Research Service, and they didn't find a single example where that has ever happened. prgtoken During the last century before the administration, you could count on one hand the number of times the Senate had confirmed a judicial nominee when even one home State Senator had objected. That happened four times during the 1980s and once during the 1930s. That is it. But with the nominees now coming to the Senate floor, to this body, it is breaking a longstanding, bipartisan tradition and has jettisoned that rule and that idea. This has already happened--ignoring the objections of one home State Senator--five times. prgtoken Now that is happening in a doubling-down capacity. The Senate confirmed Eric Miller to the Ninth Circuit a couple weeks ago, and he was opposed by both of his home State Senators, my friends Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. This was the first time in a century that this body has disregarded the objections of both duly-elected Senators, who know their States, who know their communities. It was a breakdown of this longstanding, bipartisan tradition, this idea that this body is different from the majoritarian body in the House; that in this body, we believe home State Senators should have a say on the nomination of judges. Not that they are in line ideologically--clearly, when you have a President, you are going to see -appointed judges. But this breakdown has now undermined this tradition that in the Senate, we find a way to come together and work together on this sacred duty of putting people into that third branch of government. prgtoken What worries me now is this week, the Senate is on the brink of doing it again. Senate s are moving to confirm an individual to the Third Circuit over the objections of both home state Senators--in this case, both home State Senators from New Jersey, Senator Menendez and me. So this moment is personal to me, but more importantly, I want to sound the alarm yet again and not just sit as a bystander to history and let this Senate tradition be eviscerated. prgtoken When I first got to the Senate, I made it known that I really wanted to
CLOTURE MOTION
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2019-3-12

this resolution is a cynical attempt to divide where no division exists. The ic Party is united behind the principle that healthcare should be affordable and accessible to all. As far as I am concerned, healthcare is a right, not a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. prgtoken Medicare for All is one way to get to universal healthcare that is affordable for everyone, but it is not the only way. While are working to build on the success of the Affordable Care Act to cover even more Americans, Senate s have tried time and again to eliminate coverage for tens of millions of Americans. This is particularly evident in the President's budget--a budget that would make over $2 trillion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, programs that provide healthcare coverage to one out of every three people in our country. prgtoken I call on my colleagues to join us to improve the ACA and expand coverage to more Americans rather than trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act time after time. prgtoken It is unfortunate that my colleagues would rather offer this distraction than acknowledge that millions of Americans rely on Medicare, Medicaid, and the ACA for healthcare. In offering this resolution, s continue to do nothing except propose cuts to all three critical programs. prgtoken I object.
CLOTURE MOTION
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-3-12

this month we celebrate the storied history of incredible women in our country. We recognize the sacrifices made and the battles fought to ensure a future where our daughters and granddaughters are born into a world of equality and limitless opportunity. prgtoken Throughout Women's History Month, we mark the historic strides women have taken to advance our culture, our sciences, our States, and our Nation. As we recognize these achievements, we must also assess and advocate for the work still to be done, including the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, the ERA. Ratifying the ERA would be a major milestone on the road to equality. Not only would ratification enshrine equal rights for women in the Constitution, it would also honor all of those who have fought for justice along the way. prgtoken One such inspiring woman is civil rights activist Juanita Jackson Mitchell. A Baltimore native, Mrs. Mitchell fought to end legally sanctioned segregation in her community while she simultaneously reached out to young people and mobilized them into civic engagement. After she received her law degree from the University of Maryland, she was the first African-American woman to practice law in our State, and she worked tirelessly on a number of cases to provide more job opportunities for African Americans. As the President of the NAACP in Baltimore, she advocated for integration and later convinced the city to hire Black social workers, librarians, and police officers, which bolstered the community by helping to bring an end to long-held systemic prejudices. prgtoken As a community activist and champion of women's rights, Mrs. Mitchell exhibited true bravery in her engagement with her community. She fearlessly paved the way for other women to join the movement. She worked with the Kennedy and Johnson administrations to find solutions for systemic social and educational discrepancies in communities of color. Mrs. Mitchell prgtoken understood the importance of representative democracy and of empowering those who could make differences in their communities. Juanita Mitchell is a shining example of why a constitutional amendment to guarantee women's rights is long overdue. prgtoken The ERA, which Congress approved in 1972, guarantees equal protection under the law regardless of one's sex. At that time, Congress imposed a 7-year deadline--later extended to 10 years--for the States to act. By the time this artificial deadline expired in 1982, 35 States had approved the Equal Rights Amendment--three short of the 38 States necessary to add it to the Constitution. Since then, two more States have approved the amendment, which leaves us just one State shy of reaching the goal. Congress must act to authorize additional time for the remaining States to consider the amendment. prgtoken Earlier this year, I and the senior Senator from Alaska, Ms. Murkowski, introduced a bipartisan Senate resolution, S.J. Res. 6,
NOMINATION OF NEOMI J. RAO
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2019-3-12

tonight, the Senate is debating another judicial nominee who is attempting to run away from appalling statements they wrote in the not-so-distant past. This time, it is Neomi Rao, who is up for a lifetime appointment to the powerful DC Circuit Court of Appeals. prgtoken While studying at Yale, Ms. Rao wrote that sexual assault victims were partly to blame for having been assaulted. prgtoken She ridiculed feminism and women's rights activists. She attacked groups that promoted multiculturalism and minority rights. She belittled those who fought for LGBTQ rights. She wrote that warnings about what we now identify as climate change are, in effect, fake news. And that's not all. prgtoken After these writings came to light, she stuck to the same script as the other nominees have done who found themselves in the same position. prgtoken They say: It is all way in the past. I have grown up. I no longer hold those views. prgtoken Except in Ms. Rao's case, she cannot plausibly claim the views she put into writing back then would have no bearing on how she would decide cases as a judge today. That is because you can see those extreme views reflected in the work she is doing right now as the head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. prgtoken This is an office that doesn't get a lot of time in the spotlight, but the individual in charge of that office has more power to shape Federal rules than almost anyone outside the Oval Office. prgtoken During Ms. Rao's time as the head of this program, she has taken a buzz saw to protections for women's health, for sexual assault victims on college campuses, for LGBTQ Americans, and for Black and Latino Americans. prgtoken Under her watch, the administration has allowed polluting corporations to poison Americans' air and water, propped up dirty powerplants that belch carbon into the skies, and added to the extreme dangers of climate change. prgtoken During her nomination hearing, she called--and this was her description--some of what she wrote ``cringeworthy.'' She wrote a letter to the Judiciary Committee saying she was sorry, and that's all well and good, but it doesn't change the fact that she has helped turn those same extreme views--those same extreme views--into Federal policy under President . prgtoken To help spell this out, as they say on so many television shows: Go to the tape. prgtoken In the long essay titled ``The Feminist Dilemma'' published in the mid-1990s, Ms. Rao laid out her views on a range of issues dealing with women's rights and sexual violence. At the time, our country was waking up to the fact that most sexual assaults are not random acts of violence committed in dark alleyways; they are committed by someone the victim knows. prgtoken The term ``date rape'' was relatively new to a lot of people. In this essay she wrote: ``Although I am certainly not arguing that date rape victims ask for it,'' she did exactly
CRIMEA ANNEXATION NON-RECOGNITION ACT
Gerald E. Connolly (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2019-3-12

. Madam , I thank my dear friend from New York (Mr. Engel), the distinguished chairman of our committee, for his support. I thank my dear friend from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger), the manager today, for his support. And I salute my friend from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) who has steadfastly cosponsored this resolution in previous Congresses to make a powerful bipartisan statement. prgtoken I rise today, Madam , in support of H.R. 596, the Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Act, which we introduced together, as I said, with Mr. Chabot of Ohio. prgtoken This bill states unequivocally that it is the policy of the United States not to recognize the Russian Federation's claim of sovereignty over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters. Furthermore, the bill prohibits the United States Government from taking any action that could possibly apply recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea. prgtoken Putin's forcible and illegal annexation of Crimea, the first forcible seizure of territory in Europe since World War II, undermines Ukrainian sovereignty and threatens the stability of Europe. Acquiescence on the part of the United States would threaten the security of all sovereign nations. Who is next? Moldova, Georgia, the Baltic States? prgtoken It is the longstanding policy of our country not to recognize territorial changes elected by force, as dictated by the Stimson Doctrine established in 1932 by then-Secretary of State Henry Stimson, a under a President, Herbert Hoover. prgtoken We upheld that doctrine with the issuance of the Welles Declaration in 1940, which stated emphatically that the United States would not recognize the illegal annexation at that time of the Baltic States by the Soviet Union. prgtoken That policy remained in effect for 50 long years. Some thought it quixotic. For more than those 50 years, we stood by those Baltic republics of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, sometimes in the face of ridicule. Today, they are independent nations and members of the NATO alliance. prgtoken The collective wisdom of the previous and current administrations, Congress, our European allies, and the American public is that similar principles must be adopted with respect to Crimea. prgtoken Crimea was Putin's original violation in Ukraine, and we have limited credibility objecting to Russia's subsequent invasion of the Luhansk and Donetsk areas of that country. If we do not take a stand with respect to Crimea, then we are just quibbling over the price. prgtoken What has happened in Ukraine--Russia's forcible and illegal annexation of Crimea, invasion of the eastern part of the country, and continued occupation--has precipitated an international crisis, and the resulting conflict has claimed more than 10,000 lives. prgtoken Russia has subjected Crimeans who refuse Russian citizenship to discrimination in accessing education, healthcare, and employment, and Russian authorities have attacked travel
REMEMBERING GEORGE DAUGHERTY
Joe Manchin, III (Democrat, WV) \u2014 2019-3-12

my home State has truly lost a shining star. We have lost a devoted West Virginian, a noble Army Veteran, a gifted performer, and a dear friend to all. George Daugherty's enthusiasm for life was infectious to anybody who had the privilege of knowing him, and it is an honor to recognize his life and legacy. prgtoken You could often find George on Morgantown's High Street next to the bronze statue of Don Knotts singing a rousing chorus of ``Hail West Virginia.'' He would usually tack on a phrase at the end about beating Pitt that was met with rousing applause from those who stopped on the street to cheer him on. He was quite a character and best known as a musician, but he made a life for himself by practicing law. prgtoken Despite his musical comedy role in the Charleston jamboree, George's professionalism working on medical malpractice cases never faltered. He said he never had a bad relationship with a doctor he sued, and he generally ended up becoming friends with them. That was just who he was. prgtoken Another key component that made George the person he was, affecting his music and life, was his unwavering patriotism. His father was a World War I veteran and instilled in him the pride and, of course, the patriotic songs that George would perform on stage, dressed in American flag-themed attire. He instilled these values in his children and grandchildren, encouraging them to be grateful for our freedom and to always remember where they have come from, and our statewide community is better for it. prgtoken It was an honor to call George my friend, a man who proudly showcased our State through performances across the Nation as ``the Earl of Elkview'' or ``the Duke of Dunbar.'' He and my Uncle A. James were dear friends for many years, and I know he would have been so very proud to see all that George did to promote the State we love. Whether performing on the Capitol City Jamboree and the Mountain Stage, contributing over 50 years of excellence and professionalism practicing law, or giving back to his community, George represented the best of West Virginia, which is saying quite a lot. He was a proud representative of our beautiful State no matter where life took him. prgtoken What is most important is that he lived a full life, surrounded by dear friends and family. It is my hope that his loved ones are able to find peace, strength, and support in one another. I extend my condolences to Mary Jarvis Currence and their children, Dick, Nancy, Sallie, and Thomas, their grandchildren, Kiera, Devlin, Aidan, Jamie, and Beth, as well as to George's many dear friends and extended family. I know he is looking down on all of you with a smile. I am honored to join each of you in honoring George's memory, as well as the unwavering love he had for his family, our great Nation, and our home State.
Introductory Statement on S. 747
Thomas R. Carper (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2019-3-12

I rise to talk about the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2019, or DERA, which I am introducing today with Senators Inhofe, Barrasso, Whitehouse, Sullivan, Booker, Capito, Gillibrand, Cramer and Van Hollen. prgtoken In today's hearing, we will be focusing on legislation that reauthorizes a program that is near and dear to my heart--the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, or DERA. I would like to say thank you to my DERA co-pilot, Senator Inhofe. Senator Inhofe has been a staunch supporter of DERA since day one. I greatly appreciate his continued support and the hard work of his staff on this legislation. I also thank our cosponsors from last Congress who have joined us again this year, Chairman Barrasso and Senator Whitehouse. Chairman Barrasso and his staff teamed up with us last Congress to make DERA work even better, and I appreciate his strong support. I also would like to say thank you to our new cosponsors this year, Senators Sullivan, Booker, Capito, Gillibrand, Cramer and Van Hollen. prgtoken In all my years of public service, it's not every day that I've seen programs that generate this much bipartisan support--but, then again, not many programs are as effective and commonsense as DERA. prgtoken Our Nation still relies heavily on diesel power to transport commuters and kids, harvest our crops and build our infrastructure. Today diesel engines are found everywhere, from our schools to our ports, and from our highways to our agricultural fields. prgtoken Many of my colleagues have heard me say that the great thing about diesel engines is that they last a long time. And the bad thing about diesel engines is that they last a long time. Diesel engines are reliable and efficient, but older diesel engines are big polluters. Dirty diesel engine emissions are some of the biggest contributors to our Nation's smog, soot and black carbon air pollution. These dirty diesel emissions harm our health and our climate. prgtoken Because of smart emission standards, new and retrofitted diesel engines using American technology are now much cleaner than older diesel engines--over 90% cleaner. Unfortunately, diesel engines run forever and there is little incentive for a diesel engine owner to replace an engine before it breaks down. That's why today, more than a decade after diesel emission standards were implemented by the EPA, millions of older diesel engines that lack the latest pollution control technology are still in use and will remain in use for decades to come. prgtoken Back in 2005, my very good friend, the late-Senator from Ohio, George Voinovich, came to me with an idea to help solve this problem--he came to me with the idea for DERA. Senator Voinovich said to me, let's provide financial incentives for people to replace or retrofit their older diesel engines with American-made clean vehicle technology. He told me that we can dramatically reduce diesel emissions, protect our health and create jobs h