mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
U.S. ELECTION PRACTICES: AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Alcee L. Hastings (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2021-3-16

. Madam , this chamber recently passed H.R. I, the ``For the People Act,'' significant legislation making it easier for American citizens to vote in U.S. elections and improve transparency and accountability in our election process. The White House also recently announced a new executive order to assist this effort. These are positive developments that I welcome and support, but, as we all know, not everything regarding the conduct of elections can be done at the federal level. Unfortunately, many state legislatures are now undertaking efforts that would make it more difficult for eligible Americans to participate in the electoral process and vote. prgtoken As Chair and in the leadership of the Helsinki Commission, I have supported the positive steps we are trying to take on this issue, yet I remain deeply concerned about those who want to move our country backward. prgtoken Perhaps it would help our debate to look at the conduct of the 2020 U.S. elections from an international perspective, including the conduct of elections in conformity with international commitments first proposed and advocated by the United States more than 30 years ago. prgtoken The United States has been one of five countries thus far where the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has observed elections during the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, and a German parliamentarian reported on its findings on February 26. He did not point fingers at us and accuse. He mentioned the positive as well as the negative. He is clearly a friend who cares, as most of the OSCE observers undoubtedly were. prgtoken As a previous election observer in the OSCE region, I can also attest, that the code of conduct makes it is extremely unlikely that the OSCE election observation could be steered in support of any particular agenda other than better democracy. prgtoken I therefore want to commend to my colleagues the full OSCE Final report ``United States of America General Elections, 3 November 2020, ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission'', which can be found at https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/7/7/477823_2.pdf. It offers an important perspective on our elections from persons who rightly care about the process, not the result. They have observed not only our elections since 2002 but elections in dozens of other countries on a regular basis. prgtoken The issues raised in the report are the same issues we Americans debate here in Washington, in our state capitals and through the media. I take the conclusions and recommendations, including criticisms, in this election observation report seriously. It serves as a helpful guide on what next steps we should take to improve our electoral system. I believe our election officials and state legislators should read this report; indeed, I recommend it to any American who cares about his or her country. It is a broad snapshot of our entire, complex electoral system. prgtoken Several of the priority recommendations
Filibuster (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-3-16

it is flattering when the Senate leader comes to the floor and mentions your name, and Senator McConnell did just that this morning. prgtoken The issue was the filibuster. Senator McConnell found a quote several years ago where I spoke in favor of the filibuster to protect minority rights in the Senate. It is true. I did say that. It was based on life experience. Having already served in the Senate for a number of years, I came to understand how it evolved as one of the procedures in the Senate. prgtoken But I have to say to you that my impression of the filibuster changed, and the reason it changed was none other than the Senate majority leader, now minority leader, Senator McConnell. You see, the filibuster really was created in the Senate through its own rules, as I explained yesterday, and it came to define the Senate in this respect. The Founding Fathers looked to the Senate to provide two representatives--literally, Senators--from each State, regardless of population, so smaller States, back in the original Colonies, like Delaware, would have the same number of Senators as a large State, like Virginia. That was their intention. prgtoken So the protection of minority rights was kind of built into the definition of the U.S. Senate, and the filibuster became its manifestation in the daily procedure of the Senate. Under that filibuster, of course, one Senator could stop the debate, or at least slow it prgtoken down, by insisting on a filibuster, only to be stopped by an extraordinary majority of the Senate voting to return to the regular business. prgtoken That was the case in 1957 because, in August of 1957, Senator Strom Thurmond took to the floor of this U.S. Senate and initiated the longest filibuster in its history. For 24 hours and 18 minutes, the man stood by his desk and spoke without stopping. He didn't have any permission to leave the floor for any reason and certainly couldn't sit down without losing his filibuster. He did it. He did it for the wrong reason, I am afraid, because he was trying to stop the march of civil rights in this country, but he did it. Determinedly, he achieved that goal. prgtoken When he did, in 1957, that was the broken fifth filibuster in the history of the Senate in the previous five decades. In other words, if you went back to 1919 and all the way to 1957, Strom Thurmond's was the fifth time in history a filibuster was broken. Once every decade, a filibuster was broken on the Senate floor. prgtoken Well, that world has changed--dramatically changed. We can now have five filibusters in a couple of weeks. We now have, on average, 80 filibusters a year because of the urging and direction of the Senator from Kentucky, Senator McConnell. He has institutionalized the filibuster to the point where it is now the normal course of business, not an extraordinary procedure. prgtoken I recounted the fact that I introduced the DREAM Act 20 years ago
Nomination of Isabella Casillas Guzman (Executive Calendar)
Jacky Rosen (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2021-3-16

I stand here today in support of Isabel Guzman's nomination to serve as SBA Administrator. prgtoken This pandemic has been challenging for our communities, and it has been especially devastating for our small businesses. We urgently need a leader who is experienced and prepared for the work ahead, someone who will hit the ground running to revive and restore our small businesses and bring back jobs, and Isabel Guzman is exactly the right person for this task. prgtoken Having previously served in the U.S. Small Business Administration, Mrs. Guzman knows the Agency well. She understands the struggles that small businesses and workers face, not just during this pandemic but also their day-to-day needs. She will use the Agency's tools to support small businesses, and she will fight fiercely on their behalf. prgtoken Ninety-nine percent of Nevada businesses are small businesses. This is a diverse community that embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of our State, and over the last year they have faced obstacle after obstacle. Thousands of Nevada business owners have called my office for help. prgtoken These small business owners are--well, they are people. They are people who have poured their hard-earned money into starting businesses. They prgtoken are people who have dedicated their lives to building a business from the ground up. They are people whose shops and stores and services-- well, they are cornerstones for our communities. And now, through no fault of their own, these small business owners are left wondering if their businesses are going to make it. prgtoken Last week, President signed the American Rescue Plan into law. This is a major win for small businesses across the country. It includes targeted support for Black, Latino, AAPI, and minority-owned businesses, as well as support for businesses in our rural communities. Over $1 billion in grants are in there to save our stages and independent live venues. There is over $7 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program. There is $15 billion for EIDL Advance grants and $25 billion to keep restaurants afloat. prgtoken This will provide real relief to small business owners, employees, and the families that they provide for, that count on them. For so many, this additional aid will mean the difference between a business keeping its doors open or closing them forever. prgtoken And now we need an SBA Administrator who will see that this relief is delivered swiftly and fully. I am confident that Isabel Guzman will be an asset in bringing our small businesses back. prgtoken We must also do more for our small businesses, which is why, if confirmed, I look forward to working with Mrs. Guzman and the SBA to remove the cap on EIDL loans and to provide full EIDL Advance grants to all eligible small businesses, giving greater access to the relief that all our small business owners need. The EIDL and EIDL Advance Programs have helped countless small busine
SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ETHICS RULES OF PROCEDURE
Christopher A. Coons (Democrat, DE) \u2014 2021-3-16

in accordance with rule XXVI, paragraph 2 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I ask unanimous consent, for myself as chairman of the Select Committee on Ethics and for Senator James Lankford, vice chairman of the committee, that the rules of procedure of the Select Committee on Ethics, which were adopted February 23, 1978, and revised November 1999, be printed in the Congressional Record for the 117th Congress.
CONFIRMATION OF DEBRA ANNE HAALAND
Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-3-16

we urgently need a qualified and effective leader ready to protect our natural resources, conserve public lands, and collaborate with our Tribal nations. President 's nominee to lead the Department of the Interior is just the person for the job, Congresswoman Debra Haaland. She will quickly restore confidence in the Department and reaffirm its mission to manage and conserve our public land and do its part to confront climate change. prgtoken Congresswoman Haaland would be the first Native American Cabinet Secretary, and she is no stranger to breaking barriers. Haaland was one of the first two Native women elected to Congress in 2018. Prior to her congressional tenure, Haaland was the first Chairwoman elected to the Laguna Development Corporation Board of Directors and the first Native woman elected to lead a State party, as chairwoman of the New Mexico ic Party. She brought her progressive values of sustainability and environmental protection to each of her positions, and I believe she will do the same for the Department of the Interior. prgtoken During her tenure as vice chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Haaland led legislative efforts, like the ANTIQUITIES Act and the 30x30 Resolution, to protect and conserve our national monuments, public lands, and oceans. Additionally, the Congresswoman has prioritized environmental justice and Tribal inclusion throughout her career. She introduced prgtoken the Environmental Justice in Recreational Permitting Act to increase access to public lands for all communities and fight environmental injustice. Given the Department's history of failing to engage with indigenous communities while enacting harmful public lands policies, Haaland will bring a new era of equity and inclusion to the Department of the Interior. prgtoken Last Congress, I worked to enact the Chesapeake WILD Act, which authorizes up to $15 million annually for a new grant program managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to do fish and wildlife habitat restoration in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. I look forward to working with Haaland to see that this program is fully funded and well implemented. prgtoken The Department of the Interior manages over 500 million acres of public land, and Haaland's record shows she is prepared to take on this role. For these reasons, I support Debra Haaland's nomination for Secretary of the Interior.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1620, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2021; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 6, AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE ACT OF 2021; PROVIDING FOR...
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-3-16

. Madam , I thank the manager of the bill for her leadership and the rule. prgtoken Let me, first of all, rise in support of H.R. 6 because there are millions of young people waiting for this relief in the DACA promise. prgtoken The American Dream and Promise Act is long overdue. These are nurses and doctors, these are hardworking young people, these are college students who are ready to serve America. prgtoken Let me also rise in support of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act for the many, many farmers across America who are supporting that and needing that. prgtoken And I don't know who would be against making sure that there are no Medicare cuts as we proceed to give a lifeline to the American people through the American Rescue Act. I stand solidly behind that bill. prgtoken But let me spend most of my time, Madam , on the question of the Violence Against Women Act, H.R. 1620, and H.J. Res. 17. prgtoken First of all, there is no divisiveness, and I really stand openly against that interpretation. Is there divisiveness on helping rape victims across America who, as President has said, live prgtoken in States that are not blue States or red States, but they live with the scourge of domestic violence, one of the most dangerous calls that police officers make? prgtoken In 2018, we could not get the Violence Against Women Act, which I wrote, to the floor because our friends would not proceed. At that time there was a President, a House, and a Senate. Nothing happened, and women suffered. prgtoken My women's center right now is teeming with women who are impacted by domestic violence during this pandemic. They are crying out for this legislation, and they don't see divisiveness. prgtoken What they do see is enhanced legal assistance. prgtoken What they do see is $110 million for rape prevention. prgtoken What they do see is intervention, with training for men and boys. prgtoken They see a space that provides training and refuge for culturally distinct women who are victimized who can go to a quiet, calm place and deal with culturally sensitive counselors and others. prgtoken What they see is cooperation between the victim and law enforcement by providing and making sure that they have the kinds of resources and legal representation that is necessary. No one goes without legal representation, whether they are immigrant or Native American. prgtoken They see an enhanced response to the victimization of Native American women who, in fact, there are those who victimize them on their particular reservation or pueblo and then run off outside of that, and they are not prosecuted. We changed that. prgtoken They see the closing of the boyfriend loophole. prgtoken They see the taking away of guns from stalkers. prgtoken Yes, this is a lifeline. The Violence Against Women Act, constitutionally grounded, due-process protected for those who may be accused, but it is legislation that women have been
Nomination of Isabella Casillas Guzman (Executive Session)
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-3-16

I rise to voice my strong support for Isabella Guzman's nomination to serve as Administrator of the Small Business Administration. prgtoken Our Nation passed the 1-year mark of COVID-19's being declared a national emergency last Saturday, March 13, and, thankfully, the American people can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. Already, more than 20 percent of all Americans have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, with an average of more than 2.39 million additional doses being administered each day. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we are not there yet. prgtoken The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated American small businesses, and the worst effects have been felt by the most vulnerable small businesses, especially those in Black, Latino, Native, and rural communities, so the SBA must continue to be a lifeline in the coming months. That is why it is important that we confirm Ms. Guzman's nomination, so she can provide the permanent, steady leadership the SBA needs right now. prgtoken When we passed the CARES Act, Congress tasked the SBA with one of the most important aspects of our COVID-19 relief effort. We knew we had to support our small businesses because the public health restrictions on public gatherings, which have saved thousands of lives and kept our communities safe, have been especially challenging for small businesses. We had to help small businesses so that, when we get out of this pandemic, when our economy returns, our small businesses will emerge in a position to help our economy recover and continue to grow. prgtoken The CARES Act included $377 billion in funds for small businesses and created the Paycheck Protection Program, the EIDL advance program, and the small business debt relief program to help small businesses that had traditional SBA loans, like the 7(a) and 504. In April, we passed legislation to replenish the PPP, EIDL, and the EIDL advance grant program with $370 billion in additional funds. Then, in December, we passed the bipartisan Economic Aid Act to provide another $325 billion to support small businesses, allow for second round PPP loans, and create the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program. In total last year, Congress appropriated more than $1 trillion to the SBA for COVID-19 relief programs. prgtoken Since the passage of the CARES Act, the SBA has approved more than 7.5 million PPP loans worth more than $687 billion and more than 3.7 million EIDL loans worth more than $200 billion. These loans and grants have saved millions of jobs and prevented millions of small businesses from closing their doors. prgtoken I want to thank the SBA personnel who have worked long hours, including nights and weekends, to implement these critical programs. prgtoken SBA still has a lot of work left to do. As I mentioned, the December bill created the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program, which we expect the SBA to open in the coming weeks. prgtoken
IN HONOR OF DARWIN BEEMAN
Chris Pappas (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2021-3-16

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Darwin Beeman, who is being honored for his work as the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) New Hampshire State Commander over the past year. VFW works to ensure that all veterans are recognized for their service and sacrifice on behalf of our nation. Despite facing unprecedented circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Commander Beeman worked tirelessly to ensure that our state's veterans remained supported and connected to the community during these challenging times. prgtoken Raised in Barrington, Commander Beeman graduated from Spaulding High School in 1976, before attending New Hampshire Vocational Technical College, where he gained an associate degree in Industrial Electricity in 1978. prgtoken In 1991, Commander Beeman joined the U.S. Navy Reserve Seabee's, serving honorably for nearly 22 years. During his service, he deployed to Iraq in 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and again from 2008 to 2009 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. prgtoken Commander Beeman earned many accolades during his decades of service, including the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal (x3), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal (x5), National Defense Service Medal (x2), Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Star & Eagle, Globe & Anchor, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Bronze Hour Glass and ``M'' Device, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (x2), Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (x2), Expert Rifleman Medal, and Expert Pistol Shoot Medal. prgtoken While deployed to Iraq in 2005, Commander Beeman joined the VFW and, upon his return, joined Post 8497 in Charlestown, NH in 2006. He later served as District 2 Commander for a decade before serving in leadership roles at the state level, culminating in his current role over the past year. prgtoken Commander Beeman and his wife, Terry, currently live in Claremont, and are the proud parents of three and grandparents of six. prgtoken On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to thank Commander Beeman for his service to our country and his dedication to his fellow veterans. I congratulate him on his successful term as State Commander, and I thank him for all he does to make sure that veterans in our state are remembered and valued.
Nomination of Isabella Casillas Guzman (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-3-16

the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed just how important the Federal Government can be in helping workers, families, and businesses during a time of crisis. Congress has passed trillions of dollars in urgent relief, and we have relied on Federal Agencies to implement that aid quickly, reliably, competently. prgtoken So, while it might not normally be as high profile as other Cabinet- level Agencies, the Small Business Administration has recently been in the spotlight. Over the last 12 months, the Small Business Administration has overseen two pandemic-related programs that will dole out more than $1 trillion to our Nation's small businesses, nonprofits, and religious institutions. Moving forward, it will play a prominent role in implementing the American Rescue Plan. prgtoken Today, the Senate will vote on President 's nominee to take on that important job: Ms. Isabella Guzman. prgtoken Ms. Guzman could not be more ready. She comes from a family of small business owners herself. Her dad ran his own veterinary clinic. Not only is Ms. Guzman a veteran of the Small Business Administration, in serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff in the administration, she has just finished a stint as a top official at California's Office of Business and Economic Development, helping support the fifth largest economy in the world. prgtoken For many Americans, opening and operating a business of their own is part of the American dream. I have every confidence that, under Ms. Guzman's leadership, the SBA will help small business owners hold onto their dreams until our economy comes roaring back American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 prgtoken , this morning, I also want to continue the theme of highlighting aspects of the American Rescue Plan that have not received enough attention. prgtoken We have heard a lot about the progress we have made on vaccines. I read, this morning, that 109 million Americans have received at least one vaccination, so we are well on the path to getting Americans vaccinated, and checks have gone out the door. I was on a call with people from central Brooklyn--Bed-Stuy and Brownsville--last night, and many had already received their checks. It was very much needed. It was very much welcomed. prgtoken As President announced yesterday, on the vaccines, we have had 100 million shots in people's arms and 100 million checks in people's pockets. Let's say that again. That sounds good to me--100 million shots in people's arms and 100 million checks in people's pockets. The are delivering what we promised. prgtoken Now, we have heard a lot about how the American Rescue Plan will help Americans who need it the most. The 20 percent of Americans at the lowest levels of income will receive the highest levels of support. It is about time. We had the mirror image of that when our colleagues ran the Senate, where the top 1 percent did the best and t