mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK
James R. Langevin (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2019-11-13

. Madam , as a co-chair of the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus, I'm pleased to recognize the fifth annual National Apprenticeship Week. prgtoken For over 80 years, the Registered Apprenticeship system has helped train the next generation of skilled workers. By combining paid on-the- job training with related classroom instruction, apprenticeships allow students to earn while they learn, preparing them for high-skill, high- paying jobs in in-demand industries. prgtoken This model has been particularly successful in the building trades, which have used registered apprenticeships to train their skilled workforce for decades. Moving forward, as we make investments to rebuild our nation's infrastructure, it will be even more important to support registered apprenticeships in the building trades and other related industries. prgtoken I'm a proud cosponsor of Congressman Pocan's legislation, the Leveraging Effective Apprenticeships to Rebuild National Skills Act, which would establish a national apprenticeship advisory council and support the development of pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs that lead to postsecondary degrees. prgtoken In my home state of Rhode Island, apprenticeships culminating in postsecondary degrees are very successful. At Quonset Point, Electric Boat operates an apprenticeship program in partnership with the Community College of Rhode Island. Electric Boat apprentices training in the maritime pipe and structural trades will finish the program with both a certificate and an Associate's degree, ready for a high-paying career. prgtoken Apprenticeships are crucial workforce development tools that yield positive returns for students, workers, and businesses alike, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue supporting these programs.
PATRIOTIC EMPLOYER PROTECTION ACT OF 2019
Andy Kim (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-11-13

I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken , I rise today to stand up for small business owners across our country who want to do the patriotic thing and provide economic opportunities to those serving in the military Reserves. prgtoken I represent Burlington County and Ocean County in New Jersey, home to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Approximately 5,500 reservists are currently serving at our joint base, and 99 percent of New Jersey businesses are classified as small businesses. prgtoken For those small business owners who are members of the Reserves or want to hire reservists, there is uncertainty and risks that come with unexpected deployments and activations to Active Duty. During times of war, we not only ask these reservists to sacrifice during their service but to sacrifice their economic well-being. prgtoken In 2003, during the Iraq war, a small business owner and servicemember named Stanley Adams was called to Active Duty. Mr. Adams, who owned two thriving livestock trailer companies, had to close one down and saw revenue plummet during his deployment. In an interview, Mr. Adams said, ``Everything came to a halt, and all this money still had to be paid.'' prgtoken We owe our servicemembers more than that. Serving our country shouldn't be a barrier to those who want to start or work for a small business. We should reward these patriots, not create an environment of economic uncertainty. prgtoken That is why I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Patriotic Employer Protection Act with Congressman Burchett. The Patriotic Employer Protection Act would restructure two programs--the Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and the Repayment Deferral for Active Duty Reservists program--so that they better reflect the current deployment trends of reservists. The bill would allow these programs to be used for any reservists being ordered to Active Duty for a period of more than 30 consecutive days, broadening the program to more people in need. prgtoken In addition, the bill would create a new business training program to provide counseling and assistance to support members of the Reserves and their spouses, as well as direct the Small Business Administration to develop more targeted and effective outreach to reservists and small business owners. prgtoken The American Legion, which has endorsed this bill, has called these important programs ``underutilized because their eligibility restrictions do not fully reflect current deployment practices.'' This bill fixes that and empowers small business owners across the country to provide a path to the American Dream for those servicemembers who fight to protect it every day. prgtoken , I hope you will join myself and Congressman Burchett in supporting this bill.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2019-11-13

I come forward today to recognize the executive director of the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County, Lee Gibson, who after over 10 years of dedicated service, announced his retirement this year. prgtoken Since his appointment to chief director of the RTC in 2009, Mr. Gibson has worked tirelessly to improve customer service and promote collaboration with the local community. During his tenure at the RTC, he has reduced agency operating costs by over 30 percent while delivering the largest multimodal construction program in the agency's history. His dedication and pragmatism has helped guide the RTC of Washoe County through tumultuous economic times as well as the exponential growth of the Reno-Sparks area. prgtoken The RTC, under the management of Mr. Gibson, adopted a sustainability policy that has led to a multitude of successful projects, including earning national recognition for the SouthEast Connector. The RTC has also been recognized for achieving LEED certification for two recently opened transit centers and obtained recognition for the development of Complete Streets and sustainable highway design throughout the Truckee Meadows. The region was even designated as a bicycle-friendly community by the American League of Bicyclists. prgtoken Mr. Gibson did not just focus on restructuring the transit system during his time as the Director of the RTC; his emphasis on customer service and time performance led to improved customer satisfaction with the transportation services. This is due to the RTC's implementation of innovative services, such as the RTC RAPID bus rapid transit project. Mr. Gibson also succeeded in delivering a broader community outreach program and successfully collaborated with other agencies to plan and deliver efficient and effective transportation services. prgtoken Mr. Gibson made sure to give back to his community beyond his impressive service in the RTC. He is a founding member of Northern Nevada Transportation Collaborative, NNTC, a coalition of business and government leaders, academic researchers, transportation professionals, and citizens committed to promoting transportation as a key tool for economic revitalization, quality of life, and sustainability. In 2012 he became the chairman of the Nevada Executive Committee for Transportation Safety. There, he works with State and local agencies to promote safety policies for all modes of transportation. He is also a member of the TRB Planning Applications Committee and the APTA Planning and Policy Committee. prgtoken Today, I celebrate the many contributions of Lee Gibson to the Reno- Sparks metropolitan area and Washoe County as well as to the Northern Nevada community. We owe Mr. Gibson a debt of gratitude for his service and his leadership will be missed.
IN RECOGNITION OF DALE DANIELS
Frank Pallone, Jr. (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2019-11-13

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Dale Daniels as she is honored by the Center for Holocaust, Human Rights & Genocide Education (Chhange) at its 2019 Testimonial Dinner. Ms. Daniels' exemplary leadership and contributions to Chhange are truly deserving of this body's recognition. prgtoken Since 1979, the Center for Holocaust, Human Rights & Genocide Education has striven to educate the public, eradicate prejudice and serve as a resource to the community on Holocaust, genocide and other human rights issues. Its efforts to bring attention to human and civil rights violations and to honor the victims and survivors of genocide are truly commendable. Ms. Daniels' nearly 25 years of service to Chhange are indicative of her dedication to the organization and its mission to create change. prgtoken Joining Chhange (then the Center for Holocaust Studies) as a volunteer in 1995 after hearing a Holocaust survivor's story, Dale Daniels quickly found her passion. Soon after, she served as a member of the Board of Directors and an interviewer for the Survivors of the Shoah Foundation. In 2000, Ms. Daniels became the first Executive Director of the organization, and under her leadership, Chhange has grown immensely and expanded its programs and outreach. prgtoken With her direction, Chhange has produced exhibits, books, films and installations that educate and engage the public while paying tribute to the victims. It has also created and maintains the first and only Holocaust and genocide archives in New Jersey and offers training for law enforcement, clergy and juvenile hate crime offenders. Its work with schools, organizations and communities enable individuals to better understand historical and present-day atrocities and human rights abuses and foster a more tolerant and inclusive society. Ms. Daniels' vision and connection to the issues she promotes have made Chhange an invaluable resource that has an extraordinary impact on the community. prgtoken Madam , please join me in leading this body in recognition of Dale Daniels for her tireless dedication and advocacy.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-11-13

let me start by saying I support this bill, the bill offered by Senators Cornyn and Blumenthal. It is bipartisan in nature and passed the Judiciary Committee. I not only voted for it, I cosponsored it, and I think it should become the law of the land. It will be helpful in reducing the cost of pharmaceuticals. prgtoken I am offering a modification to the bill. I believe this modification is one that should be passed by the Senate as well. In fact, it did pass the Senate last year by a voice vote. Not a single Senator objected when it passed the Senate last year. We know--I have been told by my colleagues--that they support the concept, but they are not alone. The bill I am offering is also supported by the American Medical Association; the American Hospital Association; 88 percent of the American people, s and ; President ; his health Secretary, Dr. Azar; the AARP--a long list. prgtoken What could I possibly propose that would have all of these people supporting it? Simple. When the drug companies decide to run an ad on television--and you see a lot of them, don't you? The average American sees nine every day. All we ask is that included in the ad, they disclose the cost of the drug. prgtoken How did I pick this as the cost for the drug? I didn't pick it; it was chosen by the pharmaceutical company. That is the list price of the drug. They can go on to say ``You will not have to pay that amount,'' but I believe the American people should know what the drugs cost. prgtoken The most heavily advertised drug in America today is HUMIRA. HUMIRA is used for forms of arthritis and psoriasis. But few Americans know, as they watch people sitting by the swimming pool with clear skin, that HUMIRA costs $5,500 per month. The reason I want to disclose this is because I think consumers have the right to know. prgtoken Someone is going to pay that amount--your insurance company. Somebody is going to pay that amount. When Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois says that the No. 1 driver in health insurance premiums is high prescription drug prices, I think people ought to know. It is not just a matter of being in a bathing suit without a red patch on your elbow; it is $5,500 per month. prgtoken President believes that disclosure should be made, the Secretary of Health and Human Services believes it, the American Medical Association, the Hospital Association, all the people I mentioned, as well as almost 90 percent of and s. Who opposes this? Who would oppose disclosing the price of the drug? I will bet you are guessing the pharmaceutical industry, and you are right. They are looking for one Senator who will object to what I am offering. That is what they need. They need just one Senator to say no, and frankly I am afraid we are going to face that this afternoon. prgtoken The bottom line is this: If you believe consumers in America have a right to know the cost of a
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
Tom Udall (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2019-11-13

every November, the Senate observes Native American Heritage Month to recognize the contributions of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians to the United States. prgtoken Today, the promise of Native achievement burns brighter than ever. Just a few months ago, Joy Harjo, a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, became the Nation's 23rd Poet Laureate. The first Native American appointed to the laureateship in the history of the Library of Congress, Ms. Harjo is an inspiration to the next generation of Native American writers, poets, and artists to share their diverse and powerful voices with the world. prgtoken In this spirit, I am proud to have worked with Ms. Harjo, the Library of Congress, the Institute of American Indian Arts, and the Boys and Girls Club of America to host an exhibition of Native student poetry in the rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building this month. The display showcases Ms. Harjo's poetry alongside original works written by Autumn Abeyta, Ambrosia Morning Gun, Jewel Palmer, Paige Hannan, Lindsey Toya-Tosa, Delaney Keshena, and Rebekkah Autaubo--Native students attending schools in my home state of New Mexico and representing Tribes in New Mexico, Montana, New York, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma. prgtoken This year's inaugural exhibit represents the countless ways Native peoples have harnessed their strength, resilience, and unique perspectives to shape nearly every facet of our national identity. prgtoken As the vice chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs, I work every day to achieve Indian Country's priorities and uphold the Federal Government's trust and treaty responsibilities to Indian Country. I hope this month will serve as an opportunity for this entire body to reexamine how we can strengthen our commitment to Native peoples and recommit to our shared responsibilities.
SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR RESERVISTS AND VETERANS ACT
Bradley Scott Schneider (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-11-13

the balance of my time. prgtoken Assisting entrepreneurs requires integrated, comprehensive solutions that leverage a combination of government and private efforts. Despite progress we have made, hundreds of thousands of veterans and their families continue to struggle, demonstrating how much more must be done. prgtoken The interagency veterans task force is a critical part of this effort, and we must hold agencies accountable for ensuring they are meeting the duties placed upon them to maximize outreach to our servicemembers. H.R. 3734 does just this by requiring regular reporting by the task force to gather snapshots of programmatic outreach and education to veterans. prgtoken It also asks the Government Accountability Office to study the many issues raised by veteran entrepreneurs facing difficulty accessing credit so that this body can better understand the financing needs of veterans. Doing so enables us to take additional steps to ease the burdens of not just transitioning back to civilian life, but also risking more to start a business. prgtoken It is incumbent upon all of us to ensure that resources reach the veterans prgtoken and servicemembers held in such high regard. prgtoken I sincerely thank Ms. Davids for spearheading this bill and working with Ranking Member Chabot to make certain we hold agencies, through the task force, accountable. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and .
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (Executive Calendar)
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2019-11-13

I appreciate Senator Thune's comments about the USMCA. Some might call it NAFTA 1.6. It just doesn't do very much. I was not in this body when NAFTA passed. I was down the hall in the House of Representatives. I voted against it. prgtoken I saw what NAFTA did to my State and what it did to our country in the number of lost manufacturing jobs. States in the industrial Midwest still have not recovered from that legislation, from that trade agreement--the North American Free Trade Agreement. During the Clinton administration, I opposed the President of my own party on this. In the administration, the other party pushed the one for Central America. There was one after another after another of these trade agreements, and we see the lost jobs. President made a huge campaign promise that he was going to do something about it, and this agreement simply doesn't do it. prgtoken We have talked to the U.S. Trade Representative repeatedly about enforcing labor standards. The whole point of fixing this agreement is so that companies will not shut down in Mansfield, in Zanesville, and in Lima, OH, and move to Mexico to build plants there and sell the products back to the United States. Yet do you know what is happening? Even the USMCA has no language in it that is going to stop the outsourcing of jobs. So, if this Congress moves on the USMCA, you can bet that month after month after month, we are going to lose manufacturing jobs, that the business plan of shutting down production in Ohio, in Rhode Island, in North or South Dakota, or in Montana will continue, and that the USMCA will not do anything about it. prgtoken This is the same President who went to Youngstown, OH, as Lordstown was about to shut down, and said: Don't sell your homes. We are going to bring those jobs back. prgtoken No, we aren't. GM moved more and more jobs to Mexico at the same time it shut down the GM plant in Lordstown, OH. There were 4,500 jobs lost. This USMCA is simply a wallpapering over of an agreement. It doesn't do what you have to do to stop the outsourcing of jobs. prgtoken I look at trade agreements in one way. Does it mean more jobs in our country or does it mean fewer jobs? The USMCA will do nothing to stem the tide of jobs that are moving to Mexico. That is why we should go back to the table and include the Brown-Wyden amendment on labor enforcement--language that will, in fact, mean there will be more prosperity in both countries. prgtoken I thank Senator Whitehouse for yielding the floor.
VOTE EXPLANATION
Kamala D. Harris (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-11-13

I was absent, but had I been present, I would have voted no on rollcall vote No. 352, the confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 464, William Joseph Nardini, of Connecticut, to be U.S. circuit judge for the Second Circuit. prgtoken , I was absent, but had I been present, I would have voted no on rollcall vote No. 351, the confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 365, Jennifer Philpott Wilson, of Pennsylvania, to be U.S. district judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. prgtoken , I was absent, but had I been present, I would have voted no on rollcall vote No. 355, the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 486, Steven J. Menashi, of New York, to be U.S. circuit judge for the Second Circuit. (At the request of Mr. Inhofe, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)
WE ARE THE HOPE OF THE SLAVE
Al Green (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-11-13

. Madam , and still I rise. And I rise tonight with love of country and heart inspired by ``Harriet.'' ``Harriet,'' the movie. prgtoken I saw the movie, ``Harriet,'' and I was inspired to speak tonight because of some of the horrors associated with the movie. There were some high points in the movie, but the movie is about a person born into slavery, a person who had been given the promise of freedom, freedom that was denied. prgtoken Inspired by this movie, I rise. I also would rise because I am inspired by the poem Maya Angelou left us, the poem that allows us to express some of the reasons why I am here in this Congress, if you will. prgtoken In this poem in the last stanza, she leaves us these words: Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. prgtoken The dreams and hopes of the Harriets, the dreams and hopes of those who were able to survive the journey across the ocean; those who were able to survive and not be lynched; those who were able to survive Jim Crow laws, and Bull Connor's dogs. I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise. I rise. I rise. prgtoken I am proud that Maya Angelou gave us this poem, because it gives us something to believe in. We are the hope of the slave. There are many of us. prgtoken I am not the only one, but I rise tonight. I rise because I am the beneficiary of people who lived and died so that I might have this moment. prgtoken I am not supposed to be in Congress. People lived and died, people who survived German Shepherds, and high-pressure water hoses. prgtoken I am the beneficiary of people who fought in a war, a war for freedom. And in that war for freedom, some 600,000 Americans lost their lives. prgtoken Most people believe that World War II claimed the most American lives--not so. Nor did World War I, nor the Vietnam war--not so. It was the Civil War that claimed the most lives of Americans, a war fought so that I might have the privilege of standing here today. prgtoken I don't say to you that that is what was in the minds of the people, but the liberation of a people has metamorphosed into this opportunity. prgtoken So I rise understanding that, in that war, there were some African Americans. Then, they were known as colored troops. Some 30,000 colored troops died, and still I rise knowing that others made a sacrifice. prgtoken And I am here tonight to talk about the bigotry that still exists in this country. Bigotry is on the rise in this country, and we, the Members of this House, have acknowledged it, and we are responding to it. We have responded to it with hearings: prgtoken Tuesday, April 9, 2019, hearing styled, ``Hate Crimes and the Rise of White Nationalism''; prgtoken Wednesday, May 8, 2019, hearing styled, ``Confronting the Rise of Domestic Terrorism in the Homeland''; prgtoken Wednesday, May 15, 2019, hearing styled, ``Confronting White Supremacy (Part I): The Consequences of Inaction''; <|