mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF SENATOR JOHNNY ISAKSON
Lucy McBath (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2019-11-19

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding. I am so glad that we are gathered here today to honor our colleague. prgtoken It is an honor to represent Georgia's Sixth District here in Congress, and it is truly an honor to hold the seat that Senator Isakson once held. prgtoken Senator Isakson has spent decades in service to the State of Georgia and to our great Nation. His legacy has left an unforgettable mark on Georgia and the United States Senate. prgtoken He is known in our community for being a friendly neighbor and for being a truly good man, and I am honored to call him my friend. We share a passion, a passion to make Georgia the best place to live and to start a family. We share a dedication to making America a more perfect union. prgtoken I know that I have not been in the Georgia delegation very long, but I thank the gentleman for putting people over party and for his commitment to the best policy, which is not always easy politics. prgtoken We live in an age where loyalty to partisanship has too often come at the expense of the American people, and we live in an age where ``compromise'' has become a dirty word. We live in an age where the American people have become disillusioned with the American Government. prgtoken Senator Isakson has defied that age. Senator Isakson has always been open to that tough conversation, and he has always been open to finding commonsense solutions to forge uncommon ground. prgtoken That is why I am so proud to follow in his footsteps as the Representative from Georgia's Sixth Congressional District. It is why I work so hard to make sure that we are passing bipartisan bills, bills that will help protect the communities that we truly love. prgtoken Madam , I thank Senator Isakson. I thank him so much for his service to the people of Georgia and his service to the freedom of our country. prgtoken Godspeed to my friend. God bless.
Remembering Kay Hagan (Executive Calendar)
Michael F. Bennet (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2019-11-19

I want to spend a few minutes recognizing our late colleague and my friend Senator Kay Hagan. prgtoken Kay and I both came to the Senate in 2009. I had the privilege of working with her on two committees--HELP and Banking. As a former vice president of the North Carolina National Bank, she had a lot more to offer to that committee than I had, and I tried to learn from her whenever I could. Kay and I both came to the Senate in the middle of the worst recession since the Great Depression. We were losing 700,000 jobs a month, and millions were losing their homes. It was an incredibly difficult moment for the country, but it brought out all of Kay's best qualities. prgtoken Everyone knew that Kay faced some of the toughest politics of any Member of our caucus, but in those early days, I saw her take vote after vote on some of the hardest issues. She never wavered. She voted for the Recovery Act to save the economy when we were in free fall. She voted for Dodd-Frank to restore confidence and accountability to the financial sector, which was something she knew quite a lot about. She spoke out against amendment No. 1 in North Carolina and for marriage equality. She also cast a decisive vote for the Affordable Care Act. prgtoken As a ic Senator from North Carolina and as a freshman Senator, none of those positions were easy to take, but she knew they were the right places to be for her State and for the country. Because Kay did what she did, millions of Americans kept jobs they would have lost, and millions of Americans gained quality, affordable health insurance for the first time in their lives. In her home State, the LGBT community had a Senator in Washington who, for the first time in history, was willing to fight for their full and equal rights. prgtoken One of our colleagues, the senior Senator from Tennessee, likes to say: If you have come to Washington just to hear yourself talk, just stay home and get a job on the radio. It is not worth the trouble of your coming all the way here. prgtoken Kay didn't come to Washington to talk. She came to work and to lead. prgtoken Over her term, Kay was a fierce and principled advocate for North Carolina. As a member of the Committee on Armed Services, she helped to prevent cuts to tuition programs for veterans. She sponsored the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help close the gender pay gap across the country. She worked across the aisle to promote conservation and outdoor recreation, which is something we appreciate in my home State of Colorado. prgtoken She was a lot less interested in the empty politics of this town and a lot more interested in making progress for the people of North Carolina and for our country. She was a voice of reason, pragmatism, and humility in this body, which sorely lacks all three. In other words, Kay took her job seriously but never herself, and no matter how difficult it might have been, she never failed to put the peopl
IN RECOGNITION OF IMAM HAAZIM FAQUEEH RASHED
Doris O. Matsui (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-11-19

. Madam , I rise today in honor of Imam Haazim Faqueeh Rashed, as his family and the Sacramento community gather to remember him. Imam Rashed dedicated his life to the advancement of all communities, regardless of faith, in Sacramento. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and legacy of Imam Haazim Rashed. prgtoken Imam Haazim Faqueeh Rashed graduated from Stanford University and attended Yale University Law School. His professional career began with progressing economic development as a Director for the National Development Council. He dedicated himself to the education of various economic development professionals and initiated the revitalization of communities across the nation. prgtoken In 1972, Imam Haazim Faqueeh Rashed converted to Islam and dedicated his life to his faith and service. In 2003, Imam Rashed moved to Sacramento and played a foundational role in establishing Sacramento's Masjid As-Sabur and soon became its Imam. In addition to leading his congregation, he was involved in numerous organizations and dedicated much of his time to the Sacramento's interfaith and community efforts through the Council of Sacramento Valley Islamic Organizations (COSVIO), Sacramento Area Congregations Together (Sac-ACT) and served on the Board of CAIR-Sacramento Valley/Central California. prgtoken Imam Haazim Rashed worked tirelessly to help those in need and was known for his jovial uplifting character. He lifted the spirits of others and gave his life to helping community members. Imam Rashed was a devout husband, loving father and doting grandfather. I offer my deepest condolences to his wife of 46 years, Janice Davis Rashed, his children, extended family, and his community as Imam Haazim Rashed has touched the lives of many. prgtoken Madam , I rise today in honor of Imam Haazim Faqueeh Rashed, a man who has dedicated his life to the advancement of the American Muslim community and all communities in Sacramento. As Imam Haazim Faqueeh Rashed is being honored with the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring his contributions to Sacramento and beyond.
RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF AMERICORPS
Ami Bera (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-11-19

today I rise to talk about one of the great service-based programs in America, the AmeriCorps program. prgtoken Since 1994, more than 1.1 million Americans have served in AmeriCorps. Today, more than 75,000 AmeriCorps members serve each year at over 21,000 locations across the country, including nonprofits, schools, public education agencies, and community and faith-based groups. prgtoken AmeriCorps members come from all across this country. They are young men and women looking to learn leadership and give back to our country and our communities. prgtoken They serve critical needs like fighting poverty, sustaining national parks, responding to and preparing for disasters, and mentoring youth. prgtoken They mobilize and coordinate millions of volunteers to serve alongside them, which promotes a lasting impact on the volunteers and the communities that they serve. prgtoken I was recently fortunate to speak at the induction ceremony for the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, one of three AmeriCorps programs. AmeriCorps NCCC members are assigned to one of four regional campuses, one being Sacramento, California, the district I represent. prgtoken Before becoming AmeriCorps members, the inductees have to take the AmeriCorps member pledge; and, as I read that pledge, I thought this is something that we ought to think about as Members of Congress. prgtoken , let me read that pledge to you right now. It says: I will get things done for America, to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier. I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities. Faced with apathy, I will take action. Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground. Faced with adversity, I will persevere. I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond. I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done. prgtoken Imagine, if these young Americans can take that pledge, what if we just changed that last line to ``I am a Member of Congress, and I will get things done''? prgtoken We can learn something from these young people. Let's come together as a body. Let's emulate what we are teaching that next generation, and let's get things done, Congress.
OCEAN PLASTIC POLLUTION
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2019-11-19

the world's oceans serve as a crucial carbon sink, a home to hundreds of thousands of known and countless unknown species of marine life, an essential source of protein for billions of people, and a facilitator of billions of dollars in tourism, fishing, shipping, and other economic activity. Today, the oceans, on which life on Earth depends, are under serious threat. prgtoken Threats from climate change, habitat destruction, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and pollution--plastic waste pollution in particular--are accelerating and causing potentially irreparable harm to this planet. prgtoken I spoke recently on the significant health, environmental, and economic impacts of the more than 300 billion pounds of plastic waste circulating in the oceans, and on funding in the Senate version of the fiscal year 2020 Department of State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill to strengthen U.S. efforts to address this pollution. prgtoken Today I will further discuss the scale of the problem and actions that governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), private companies, and other stakeholders can take to address this challenge. prgtoken I want to share a few findings and recommendations from a report recently published by Ocean Conservancy and the Trash Free Seas Alliance, a global group of companies and NGOs seeking to reduce and reinvent products and services that contribute to ocean pollution. prgtoken Absent collective action, the report depicts a bleak future--one involving more than 550 billion pounds of plastic waste in the oceans by 2025, clogging our rivers and waterways, threatening marine life and seabirds, endangering human health, contaminating the food supply, and triggering a significant decline in economic benefits. prgtoken For perspective, the amount of plastic entering the oceans each year is equivalent to dumping a garbage truck full of plastic into the ocean every minute of every hour of every day. That is 1,440 truckloads of plastic per day, or more than half a million truckloads per year. And, of course, this does not include the immense amounts of chemical waste and other types of pollution that enter the oceans every day. prgtoken As the report describes, rising ocean plastic pollution is a direct result of the increasing global production and use of plastic, which totals more than 750 billion pounds per year, an estimated 40 percent of which is single-use. Waste management systems, particularly in developing countries, are woefully incapable of managing the growing quantity of plastic waste. prgtoken So the majority of plastic entering the oceans was never collected as part of a formal waste management system, and without increased resources for waste management programs and improvements to collection infrastructure, developing countries--and the oceans--will continue to be inundated with plastic waste. prgtoken There is no single solution. Instead, the repor
Remembering Kay Hagan (Executive Calendar)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2019-11-19

I rise today to urge immediate passage of the bipartisan FUTURE Act, which is H.R. 2486, to restore critical funding for historically Black colleges and universities, known by the acronym here in Washington as HBCUs, as well as minority-serving institutions, so-called MSIs. prgtoken The $255 million in funding that HBCUs and MSIs rely on lapsed on September 30 of this year. Both the historically Black colleges and universities and the minority-serving institutions are underresourced and don't have the flexibility to operate in the red in the hopes of potential reimbursement later on. prgtoken Campuses are already feeling this impact. Just 2 weeks after this program expired, some campuses notified employees that their positions and programs may be terminated. We are talking about real people losing their jobs and programs being cut that play a critical role in graduating and retaining students in the STEM field--science, technology, engineering, and math fields. All of this is impacting students across the country. Presidents of some of these institutions have told us that planning has ``all but stopped.'' This funding lapse is urgent, and it must be addressed now. prgtoken From the perspective of my home State of Pennsylvania, we have two of the oldest historically Black colleges and universities--two of the oldest in the whole country--Cheyney University, as well as Lincoln University, and, in addition to that, a growing Hispanic-serving institution, in this case, the Reading Area Community College. prgtoken We know that the investment made by the FUTURE Act will support college completion and academic opportunities at these and all historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions across the country. The FUTURE Act is fully paid for. It would not add to the deficit. It has strong bipartisan support in both Chambers. prgtoken My colleagues in the majority are holding this funding hostage in an effort to pass what I would argue is a partisan bill. That is not just my argument or my opinion; some of my colleagues have said this is the reason they are holding up this critical legislation. prgtoken Instead of passing a bipartisan comprehensive reauthorization of our future higher education law, which my colleague Senator Murray is pushing for, some s want to force to support a partisan bill. prgtoken Instead of working in a bipartisan fashion to fix our current system so it works better for students, families, and teachers, they want us to support a so-called micropackage, the Student Aid Improvement Act. This act, in my judgment and the judgment of others, fails to address a number of critical areas, including improved campus safety and access to higher education affordability and accountability. Because of that, it maintains the status quo. prgtoken Make no mistake, the Student Aid Improvement Act is a partisan bill. The bill fails to addr
LET'S GET THE USMCA DONE
Ben McAdams (Democrat, UT) \u2014 2019-11-19

. Madam , for weeks we have heard that action on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement is eminently doable. So why haven't we gotten it done? prgtoken It is time to put politics aside and to come together for the future of our countries and our people. prgtoken NAFTA went into effect in 1994. It was due for modernization. By all reasonable accounts, USMCA represents progress for farms and ranchers, for autoworkers, for medical device manufacturers, and others. prgtoken This is a multitrillion-dollar economic relationship between the United States and our two neighbors. It supports millions of American jobs. In Utah alone, trade with Mexico and Canada supports over 120,000 jobs, jobs that pay the rent, that provide healthcare, that send kids to college and help Utahns save for retirement. Over $418 million worth of agricultural exports are sent from Utah to our North American neighbors each year. prgtoken We were elected to move forward on priorities that matter to people's everyday lives. There is nothing more fundamental for businesses, employees, and communities than to have stability on the economic front. prgtoken Today, I am saying no more foot-dragging; no more vague promises about ``soon.'' It is time to deliver on what we promised. Come to an agreement. Bring USMCA to the House floor, and let's get it done.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, TRANSPORTATION, AND HOUSING AND URBAN...
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2019-11-19

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , I rise in support of this continuing resolution. prgtoken I listened carefully to what the gentleman said just prior to my taking the floor, and I wish that the other body had done its work. We did ours. I am pretty proud of our Members. prgtoken This bill ensures that the Federal Government and its lights stay on, that we pay our bills on time, and that the people's business continues while negotiations on a full year's spending deal proceed. prgtoken While we are hopeful an agreement can quickly be reached, I am really disappointed that the Senate continues to delay while so much is at stake. I really don't understand the problem over there. prgtoken For each day that we delay in passing a full-year appropriations bill, we send a message of uncertainty that has consequences for the business of the American people. Be glad you are not a contracting officer in one of the agencies, certainly the Department of Defense, at this point. prgtoken For our subcommittee, my bill, the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, proposes key investments to the Army Corps of Engineers, in our Nation's crumbling water infrastructure, and in the energy innovation pipeline that is so essential to sustaining life on Earth. The United States must remain at the forefront of energy innovation to address climate change, so vital to people across the globe. prgtoken This bill essentially offers a pathway, and that is all it is, for our committees to negotiate on a final bill that makes these key investments and many others across committees. prgtoken In addition to giving Congress the space to finalize our bills, this continuing resolution makes key investments in the Census, and they make those investments as soon as the bill passes. prgtoken We must ensure a complete census count. In fact, the country can't wait even 1 month to invest in this ramp-up effort. Ads are out all across the country. The Census Bureau has to do its job. prgtoken And the Census will support reapportionment and will impact everything the Federal Government does, from grant programs to redistricting. prgtoken I urge my colleagues to support this legislation so the committees can move toward full agreement. I urge prayerful thoughts for our colleagues over in the other body to do their work so that we don't have to use up the full time before December 20 and we can actually pass the bills that are necessary before that time. prgtoken , .
HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF SENATOR JOHNNY ISAKSON
John Lewis (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2019-11-19

. Madam , I want to thank my beloved colleague and my friend for yielding. I would like to thank our colleague, Mr. Austin Scott, for organizing this Special Order tribute to a great man, to a wonderful human being. prgtoken Madam , I rise to recognize Senator Johnny Isakson, a son of Atlanta, Georgia. Senator Isakson is a special man. He is a good man. I want to thank him for his years of service in the Georgia State Legislature, in the United States House of Representatives, and, now, in the United States Senate. prgtoken On February 25, 1999, I introduced Johnny as the newest member of the Georgia congressional delegation to the House of Representatives. He came to Congress as a graduate of the University of Georgia and a successful businessman. prgtoken Before coming to Congress, he served as a member of the Georgia Air National Guard, the State house minority leader, a State senator, and the chair of the State board of education. prgtoken On that day, I said he brought a wealth of knowledge with him. I explained to our colleagues that, in his decades of public service in our home State, Johnny developed a great reputation as a bridge builder, a man who has strong beliefs but was also willing to work with others to get things done. prgtoken Very quickly, Members of the House and Senate discovered how true this was. The Senator does not make a lot of noise, but he has the ability and the capacity to speak truth to power. prgtoken When Johnny served in the House of Representatives, we always found a way to come together, and we continued that tradition when he was elected to the Senate. Over the years, we worked together on many, many issues, like transportation, water, housing, and veterans affairs. We always found a way to get along and to do the good work the people deserved. prgtoken Time and time again, he stood with us, he worked with us to uplift African Americans in the State of Georgia, to recognize individuals like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and Jackie Robinson, native of Georgia. He did not just talk the talk, he literally walked the walk. prgtoken Senator, you not only supported the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act in 2006, but, a few years later, you even co-led the congressional pilgrimage to Selma, Alabama. I want to say thank you for all of your good and great work. prgtoken Those of us who know you will agree that you are always thoughtful and mindful, a warm and welcoming gentleman in the truest sense of the word. prgtoken For two decades, you, Senator, led a team that could cross the aisle without compromising their values. Whenever a constituent came over from a meeting with you and your staff, they felt heard and respected. prgtoken I hope you do not mind, but I would like to share a moment that stands out for me and will always stand out for me as long as I live, to this very day. prgtoken One morning, before I was scheduled to read the 13th Amendment on the House floor, Senator Isa
HONORING THE WATER REPLENISHMENT DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Linda T. Sánchez (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-11-19

. Madam , I rise to honor one great agency in my district. On November 17, 2019, the Water Replenishment District celebrated its 60th Anniversary. prgtoken The Water Replenishment District (WRD) is a groundwater management agency that has developed innovative projects and programs for locally sourced, sustainable water to replenish two of the most utilized urban groundwater basins in the United States. WRD was established in 1959 in response to unregulated and unmanaged over-pumping of our aquifers which caused many drinking water wells to go dry. prgtoken Located in Lakewood, California, WRD is the largest groundwater agency in the State of California. The district's service area covers a 420-square-mile region of southern Los Angeles County, the most populated county in the United States. They provide half of the drinking water for 43 cities and over 4 million people. Due to WRD's hard work, that water is now completely locally sustainable. prgtoken These efforts include programs like Water Independence Now (WIN) and new facilities like the Albert Robles Center for Water Recycling and Environmental Learning (ARC) in the City of Pico Rivera. WRD has shown a dedication to sustainability and a commitment to providing safe drinking water to residents in its service area, which includes the majority of the 38th Congressional District of California. prgtoken I am honored to represent districts like WRD and look forward to what the next 60 years have in store.