mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021
Dina Titus (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2020-7-23

for more than 80 years, Hagia Sophia has served as a museum visited by people from all prgtoken around the globe. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is an architectural masterpiece, with a complex history as a place of worship for both Christians and Muslims. prgtoken Changing its status is an affront to religious pluralism, and it jeopardizes its standing. This amendment encourages the State Department to denounce Turkey for taking this despicable action and to engage for the purpose of returning its status to a museum. prgtoken , I urge support of this amendment.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2020-7-23

. Thank you very much, . prgtoken , I rise, once again, to express my support for the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2021. I want to commend the chairman for his leadership and his thoughtfulness throughout this whole process. prgtoken I am pleased, as we all are, that we will be voting soon on passage. I believe this is an excellent bill. I believe it provides the men and women of our military with resources and the authorizations needed to defend our Nation, while at the same time taking care of their families. It was crafted after a series of thoughtful hearings, discussion, and debate on both sides of the aisle. It was passed out of committee with strong bipartisan support. prgtoken Most importantly, I am very pleased that this bill has had such full consideration on the Senate floor. For the first time in a long time, we were able to come to an agreement to debate and vote on several amendments. In addition, we were able to adopt over 140 amendments from Members on both sides of the aisle. prgtoken I want to, again, thank Senator Inhofe for his leadership getting the Defense authorization bill to this point, overcoming the many challenges posed by the pandemic and by other factors that made this a very unusual year. I look forward to working with him as we go into conference. prgtoken Finally, I would like to thank the committee staff who have worked so hard. I specifically want to recognize, as the chairman has, the staff director, John Bonsell, for the s and the staff director for the , Elizabeth King. They worked together. They are diligent. They are bipartisan. They are thoughtful. They are the best examples of a staff member of the U.S. Senate. prgtoken I would also like to thank my staff on the ic side: Jody Bennett, Carolyn Chuhta, Jon Clark, Jonathan Epstein, Jorie Feldman, Creighton Greene, Ozge Guzelsu, Gary Leeling, Kirk McConnell, Maggie McNamara Cooper, Bill Monahan, Mike Noblet, John Quirk, Arun Seraphin, Fiona Tomlin, and, once again, staff director Elizabeth King. prgtoken Also, let me thank the floor staff and the leadership staff. You have been part of this process for the last several weeks, and you have done a remarkable job. We thank you for that very, very much. You facilitated our efforts. prgtoken Finally, I would urge all of my colleagues to vote for this very excellent bill. prgtoken .
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2020-7-23

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the time, and I rise in support of H.R. 7608. prgtoken As chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I am pleased to highlight the national priorities that are funded in the division that is covered in this bill. prgtoken First, , I would like to thank our distinguished ranking member, Mr. Fortenberry. I hope he is not getting too embarrassed by my endless thanks and praise, but it is really genuine. prgtoken Drafting legislation can be complicated, but we have been able to maintain an open line of communication, and I am proud of our bipartisan relationship. We have produced a good work product that makes important investments that will improve the life of every American. prgtoken Our fiscal year 2021 allocation is almost $24 billion, 2 percent above the fiscal year 2020 and more than $4.1 billion above the budget request. prgtoken The bill provides $3.2 billion for rural development initiatives to fund critical infrastructure, such as water and wastewater systems, and rural housing needs. prgtoken The bill also funds the ReConnect Program at $990 million, which is an increase of $435 million, or 78 percent. I am extremely proud of the investments that we make to close the digital divide. The coronavirus pandemic has made everyone aware of just how important it is for students and workers to be connected to the internet, and our bill reflects that. prgtoken The bill, once again, includes the 10-20-30 antipoverty formula for Rural Development programs that is designed to target much-needed Federal resources to rural communities in need. Persistent-poverty communities for too long have suffered from neglect, and this provision will assist in reversing that and help these communities to thrive. prgtoken The bill provides $1.83 billion for farm production programs. I am particularly proud of the $33 million in loan authority that will help resolve ownership and succession of farmland issues, also known as the ``heirs' property'' issue, which predominantly affects Black farmers and has led to the loss of millions and millions of acres of privately held farmland for over a century. prgtoken Since the beginning of the pandemic, hunger has become a new reality for millions of Americans, and our bill fully funds the SNAP, child nutrition, and WIC programs to meet the expected participation in fiscal year 2021. prgtoken We also provided a big boost, $45 million, 18 percent, to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which serves the elderly poor. prgtoken Our bill also blocks two unconscionable SNAP rules. The Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents final rule and the Standard Utility Allowance proposed rule are both designed to restrict program eligibility. prgtoken The bill provides $3.3 billion for agricultural research to ensure that America retains its role as the leader of global agricultural science. That nu
HONORING THE CAREER OF LIZ HARRISON
Jim Costa (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-7-23

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Liz on, on the occasion of her retirement from television news after 38 years on the air. Liz has been a familiar face and name with ABC 30 in the Fresno, California community. prgtoken Liz, a native of Virginia, attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, before graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in Broadcasting. Liz is married to Keith Allen, who works alongside her in the television news industry. prgtoken Liz joined Fresno's local ABC affiliate in 1982, a time when women were underrepresented in the news industry. Throughout her career, Liz has served as co-anchor of Action News Live at 5 and at 11. She has covered nearly every type of news story and is proud to have given a voice to so many who's stories needed to be told. In 2010, Liz and photo journalist Richard Harmelink won an Emmy Award for excellence in reporting for their story on the U.S. military training for war in Iraq and Afghanistan. prgtoken Liz's passion for her work led her to take on the intern coordinator position at the station, where she trained and mentored college students as they pursued a career in television news. She has given her time to numerous organizations, including Mighty Moms Foundation, the Art of Life Cancer Foundation, and the Fresno Rescue Mission. prgtoken For 38 years, Liz dedicated her career to telling the stories of the San Joaquin Valley. She has left a lasting impression on our community. Liz is dedicated to her family. She is the proud mom to five children and looks forward to spending more time with her grandchildren. She is also a breast cancer survivor and a role model. prgtoken Madam , it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Liz on on her career and retirement. I ask that you join me in wishing Liz continued success as she begins her next chapter, as the owner of a leadership, coaching and teaching business.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021
Nita M. Lowey (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-7-23

this package of appropriations bills will help make our Nations stronger at home and respected again in the world. prgtoken Together, we can bolster food security, combat climate change, protect our environment, aid the world's most vulnerable people, and meet our commitments to our veterans. prgtoken , I urge adoption of this important legislation, and .
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 7608, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021
Jared F. Golden (Democrat, ME) \u2014 2020-7-23

. Madam , the purpose of my amendment is to call attention to the shortage of VA mental health and substance use disorder facilities. prgtoken For example, veterans in my home State of Maine must travel hundreds of miles out of State to access long-term treatment facilities. That is just unacceptable. prgtoken A proposed residential unit at the Togus VA hospital in Maine would provide treatment beds to 24 veterans. But until VA approves this new construction project, veterans in Maine have few options. prgtoken VA needs to ensure long-term inpatient mental healthcare and substance use disorder services are provided as close to each veteran's home as possible. prgtoken That is why I am proud to have worked with you, Madam Chair, to secure $20 million above the budget request in the MILCON-VA bill for medical facilities. I thank the gentlewoman for her strong leadership on this and also other critically important issues for our Nation's veterans. prgtoken In addition to the extra funding, the bill directs VA to prioritize construction that expands access to overnight bed space for veterans seeking mental healthcare. prgtoken Moving forward, I ask that the committee continue to push VA for answers on progress toward boosting inpatient capacity, prioritizing construction for these lifesaving services.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 7608, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021
Barbara Lee (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-7-23

. Madam , let me just be very quick in terms of just laying out why I support this rule again. prgtoken We provide $55 million for UNFPA and $68 billion for SNAP, which is extremely important now, with so many people needing food security falling through the cracks. prgtoken We provide $90 billion for veterans' health and more than a half billion to get lead out of drinking water, which really, in this country, should be no more. It is a shame and a disgrace. prgtoken And as we consider this rule, I urge my colleagues to examine the appropriations bill through the lens of racial justice. These bills contain important provisions that respond to this moment in American history when people are marching in the streets to demand that our country dismantle systemic racism. prgtoken So I ask that we look at these bills and understand that equity has got to be so much a part of our funding priorities. prgtoken Madam , I support this rule, and I hope we adopt the important funding in this package.
CORONAVIRUS
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-7-23

faced with the greatest economic challenge in 75 years and the greatest public health threat in a century, we Senate have been waiting for months for our colleagues in the Senate to get serious about another round of emergency relief for the American people. prgtoken Now that Senate s have finally woken up to the calamity in our country, they have given up wishing it would go away, following the President's wishing everything would go away, to the detriment of this country. Our colleagues have been so divided, so disorganized, and so unprepared that they have to struggle to draft even a partisan proposal within their own conference. This is before they talk to a single . This is before they even consider what the House has done. prgtoken It does seem that sometime soon, s may finally unveil a legislative proposal, but because they are so disorganized and divided, they can't agree on a series of smaller bills that don't even amount to one coherent proposal. Even after all this time, it appears the legislative response to COVID is ununified, unserious, unsatisfactory. Let me repeat that. Despite hitting the ``pause'' button on the Senate for 3 months, despite waiting more than 60 days after the House passed their plan to start work on their own, the Senate response to COVID is ununified, unsatisfactory, and, fundamentally, unserious. prgtoken From what we know, their proposal or series of proposals will not include food assistance for hungry kids. Families where the parent has lost a job through no fault of her or his own can't feed their kids in this proposal, as we hear about it. prgtoken From what we know, it will not include rental assistance or extend the moratorium on evictions that is keeping tens of millions of Americans with a roof over their heads. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. They can't pay the rent or the mortgage, and our friends say: Evict them. prgtoken It will not provide hazard pay to our essential workers, who have been risking their lives and their families' lives ever since this crisis began. It will not make the necessary investments in communities of color that have been ravaged by this virus disproportionately so. It will not provide the new funding that State and local governments need to keep the busdrivers and sanitation workers, teachers, and so many others on the job. From what we know, it will not even include funding to ensure that our elections are safe this fall during this COVID crisis. prgtoken Remarkably, the likely centerpiece of the legislative response to COVID is not an aid package for the 20 to 30 million unemployed Americans or a massive influx of resources to test and trace and finally stop the spread of this evil disease. The centerpiece of the proposal is a liability shield to protect b
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021
Debbie Dingell (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-7-23

I thank the wonderful chair of the Appropriations Committee for yielding. prgtoken I rise in support of en bloc 2, which includes an important amendment to block the administration's latest attack on the National Environmental Policy Act. prgtoken For 50 years, NEPA has both protected and fought for the environment and empowered local communities protecting them. In many cases, NEPA provides ordinary Americans the only opportunity to have a voice on major projects, including pipelines or extractive activity like oil and gas drilling that directly impacts their communities. prgtoken The administration's new NEPA rule both limits the scope of environmental review and exempts entire categories of projects from review all together. prgtoken , the administration's attack on NEPA prioritizes special interests and polluters ahead of the American people and our environmental heritage. I urge my colleagues to support this en bloc amendment and to block this assault on one of our Nation's bedrock environmental laws.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021
Betty McCollum (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2020-7-23

I rise to support the fiscal year 2021 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Thank you to my partner in this, Ranking Member Joyce, for his collaboration and partnership throughout this process. I am grateful for the leadership of Chairwoman Lowey and Ranking Member Granger. prgtoken Last year, House secured significant new investments in environmental protection and land conservation. This bill builds on those successes to advance priorities of American families, ensuring that we have clean air and clean water to protect our children's health. We protect our most special places and endangered species and take meaningful actions to address climate change. prgtoken The subcommittee recommends a total of $36.8 billion in discretionary funding, an increase of $771 million over last year's enacted level. prgtoken The bill also includes $2.4 billion in fire cap adjusted funds for suppression operations. prgtoken The bill includes an additional $15 billion in emergency-designated infrastructure investments. These investments will increase access to quality healthcare and education and help clean up contaminated lands, polluted water, and unhealthy air. prgtoken With yesterday's passage of the Great American Outdoors Act in fiscal year 2021, the Land and Water Conservation Fund will be fully funded at $900 million, the first time this has happened in over 40 years. prgtoken I thank all of our constituents for making this passage a reality. prgtoken Back to this bill. We reject the dangerous policies and funding cuts proposed by the administration. Instead, we move forward by investing our resources in ways that keep our communities safe and healthy. We invest in protection and preservation of our landscapes and our biodiversity. prgtoken I am particularly proud that this bill includes protections for our Nation's most visited wilderness, the Boundary Waters. It will put a halt to the use of funds in the next fiscal year to review or approve mine plans in the watershed of this treasured wilderness. prgtoken But let me be clear: The operations of the current taconite mines of Minnesota's iron ore range are not impacted. There are no iron mines with plans under review. But there is a foreign-owned mining conglomerate with a plan under review for a toxic copper-sulfide ore mine on the doorstep of the Boundary Waters. The administration cannot be trusted to conduct this environmental review. prgtoken Multiple Cabinet members pledged in congressional hearings to complete a mineral withdrawal study within this very watershed. Instead, they abandoned the congressionally directed environmental review after 20 months, 4 months from completion, and they refuse to release results. prgtoken This bill seeks to protect the Boundary Waters from an administration that has shown a lack of transparency, respect for science, or the ability to follow our Nation's environmental laws. prgtoken O
Remembering John Lewis (Executive Session)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2020-7-23

as we finally begin negotiations on the next COVID bill, I note that were ready to come to the table with a sense of urgency at least 2 months ago, when the House passed the Heroes Act. prgtoken Before I begin my remarks on education today, I want to pay tribute to the life and work of an extraordinary public servant, my friend Congressman John Lewis. prgtoken John was a remarkable man, whose deep convictions and concerted actions made an indelible mark on American history, and we could certainly spend hours chronicling his contributions to public life, from his speech at the March on Washington and the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday to his leadership on gun safety, civil rights, and voting rights during his time in Congress. prgtoken John meant so much to our country, but he also meant a lot to each of us prgtoken who had the privilege to call him a friend and colleague. Almost everyone who served with John in his three-plus decades in the House has a story or two to tell. I certainly do. prgtoken I fondly remember traveling with John to Ireland as part of a peace and reconciliation summit organized by the Faith and Politics Institute in 2014. During our trip, I remember how young Irish activists connected with John's powerful work as a civil rights leader committed to nonviolent resistance to oppression and peaceful reconciliation. prgtoken The following year, I proudly marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge with John to mark the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. One of the most cherished pictures in my office is one of John, me, and the late Hawaii Congressman Mark Takai from that day, and we were all wearing lei flown in from Hawaii. prgtoken Mark, whom we also lost too soon to pancreatic cancer 4 years ago, and I organized the delivery of hundreds of lei that day to commemorate the gift from Hawaii's Rev. Abraham Akaka to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr 50 years ago for the third march in Selma. News footage from that time showed Dr. King and other leaders wearing the white carnation lei sent by Reverend Akaka, the brother of the late Senator Dan Akaka. prgtoken Over the years, that photo of the three of us in our fresh lei has always brought a smile to my face. prgtoken I know many of my colleagues have similar stories to share, and it has been meaningful to hear so many people on both sides of the aisle recognize John's life and work in statements and speeches. prgtoken It is certainly appropriate to honor John with our words, but it would be better if we honored John through our actions, because while John was certainly a gifted orator, he was also a man of action--of ``good trouble.'' prgtoken The best way for us to honor John's extraordinary life's work would be for the Senate to vote on and pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act, now renamed in John's honor. Action, not just words.