mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REOPENING THE ECONOMY
Rand Paul (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-4-21

no amount of money--not all the money in China--will save us from ourselves. Our only hope of rescuing this great country is to reopen the economy. If you print up billions of dollars and give it to people, they are unlikely to spend it until you end the quarantine. prgtoken The good news, though, is that the scientific community finally has facts instead of conjecture. The models that used 3.4 percent mortality were, fortunately, very wrong. Random samples of thousands of people have now been tested for antibodies or immunity to coronavirus. Two large randomized studies in California show similar results. The number of people who already developed antibodies to the coronavirus is 25 to 50 times higher than the number that is being reported as infected. This is great news. This study means that the mortality rate may well be 25 to 50 times less deadly than previously thought. prgtoken The virus is still dangerous, and we shouldn't ignore the risks, but we should put those risks in perspective. These randomized tests indicate that, instead of a 3.4 percent mortality, that the rate could be as much as only 0.1 percent or 0.2 percent. We now have scientific evidence from randomized studies that we can manage this disease without continuing the draconian lockdown of the economy. prgtoken The question before us isn't to do nothing or to print endless amounts of bailout cash. The debate should now include the one choice that will get our economy growing again: reopening American commerce. prgtoken Today, I rise in opposition to spending $500 billion more. The virus bailouts have already cost over $2 trillion. Our annual deficit this year will approach $4 trillion. We can't continue on this course. No amount of bailout dollars will stimulate an economy that is being strangled by quarantine. prgtoken It is not a lack of money that plagues us but a lack of commerce. This economic calamity only resolves when we begin to reopen the economy. Opening the economy will require Americans to rise above partisanship, to understand that deaths from infectious disease will continue, but that we cannot indefinitely quarantine. prgtoken Make no mistake about it, this has been a difficult month for our country. For many of us, we have not seen a greater challenge. I am encouraged to see how our communities are responding. In Kentucky, we have seen tremendous collaboration. People from all walks of life have come together to help each other. We have worked to identify and supply additional protective gear, masks, and gloves to protect our doctors and nurses who risk their lives on a daily basis. prgtoken UPS has set up an airlift operation out of Louisville that includes a healthcare facility for FEMA. This lets FEMA make overnight deliveries from anywhere in the country. Over 3 million pounds of masks, gloves, and other equipment have been shipped to the Louisville airport by UPS. prgtoken We have worked with some of our
CORONAVIRUS
Dan Sullivan (Republican, AK) \u2014 2020-4-21

we are going to vote here in a minute on the next package that is going to try to help our Nation address these unprecedented challenges. I want to thank the majority leader, the White House, and the who have come forward to do this. prgtoken It is very important that we are doing this. In my view, as the leader said, we should have done this 12 days ago. We are facing unprecedented challenges. When we passed the CARES Act 4 weeks ago--and I think Leader McConnell did an incredible job bringing the U.S. Senate together on a vote of 96-0, as Minority Leader Schumer mentioned with regard to this legislation that our Nation needed so desperately and that we are trying to provide more resources because the resources needed had already been spent. prgtoken After that vote, I came to the floor, and I made a statement that, although I was proud to have voted for that and proud to have been a part of the negotiations for that because our Nation was going to need it--did need it, desperately--that we knew there would be mistakes. We knew there would be areas that weren't covered that should have been. We knew elements of that bill would run out of money, as they have. prgtoken I made a plea that we should be here working on behalf of the people we represent. Our Governors are back home working hard, doing a good job; but as I mentioned, the evening that we passed the CARES Act, from the perspective of Congress--House and Senate--this should be our duty station as we address these unprecedented challenges, and I still believe that. We have heard about the difficulties that could come with voting and having Members of Congress catch COVID-19, but we can do this safely. We can vote safely. prgtoken As Senator Lee mentioned earlier, Americans all over the country are on the frontlines--truck drivers, healthcare workers, grocery store attendants--helping their fellow Americans. If they can be doing that, I think we should be here working on behalf of them. prgtoken There is so much more to do. We need to be nimble. Let me give you an example. The energy sector right now--hugely important to my State--is being decimated because of what is happening globally with regard to energy prices. Great workers are being laid off. Small businesses in many sectors in Alaska like tourism are at a huge risk. Had we been here--you know, there is a lot of talk right now about the delay--the minority leader, Pelosi, wouldn't have had an excuse to delay the funding for the PPP for 12 days. How many small businesses and jobs were lost because of that delay? We will never know, but I am sure it was in the thousands. prgtoken I am reading a book right now, ``1776,'' by David McCullough. It is about the incredible challenges that our Nation went through at the birth of our Nation. It is mostly about George Washington and the tough battles he led and fought. He lost a lot of them in New York. prgtoken One remarkable thing
CORONAVIRUS
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2020-4-21

it is with a heavy heart that I come to the floor of the Senate today. Over the last few weeks, I talked to countless people throughout Utah and across the Nation, but especially in Utah, about the troubles that they have encountered, about the profound sadness that the American people are experiencing right now, the frustrations that they have. This is something that we have never seen in this country, not on this scale, not during our lifetimes. prgtoken My thoughts and prayers go out to my fellow Americans and my fellow Utahns as they are struggling to make ends meet, whether it is figuring out how to make payroll or keep food on the table at home or a combination of both, as it is for so many. I am mindful of them and of all the difficulty that the American people are going through right now. prgtoken I want to begin by echoing something that Senator Schumer said a moment ago. We need to do what we were elected to do. Now, I don't agree with everything Senator Schumer just said--in fact, I would strongly disagree with a lot of what he just said--but I do agree with that. We need to do the job we were elected to do. prgtoken Let's think about where we are right now and where we have been over the last few weeks. We have seen healthcare providers working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have seen the President and his staff at the White House working 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. We have seen the Centers for Disease Control and members of the public health community who have continued to work tirelessly--farmers, truck drivers, grocery store employees, and pharmacists working to make sure that we continue to have access to the things we need in order to live. We have seen members of the news media working overtime, even if, as is the case for many of them, they do so only to blame all of this--rather unfairly in my opinion--on the President of the United States. We have seen parents working both their jobs--both of them--from home and simultaneously home schooling their children; yet Congress is in recess. This, , is simply unacceptable. prgtoken If COVID-19 requires Congress to act, then it requires Congress to convene. Now, look, I understand the need for distancing, and there are ways we can accommodate that here. Support staff can stay home. Policy experts can mostly work from home. Many of our meetings--most of them, in fact--can be conducted over the phone or by video conference. I have seen this myself in the last few weeks. I have been working as many hours as ever, just with a lot of meetings over the phone and through Zoom and platforms like that. prgtoken The meetings can continue, but all the essential work of Congress-- that is, any steps necessary in order to enact legislation, the task of legislating itself--can be done only by Members who are voting and present in their respective legislative Chambers, either the Senate or the House of Representatives. This i
RECOGNIZING JIM BISHOP
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican, GA) \u2014 2020-4-21

. Madam , I rise today to congratulate Mr. Jim Bishop for being awarded the University System of Georgia Regents' Hall of Fame Alumni and Distinguished Friends Achievement Award. prgtoken Throughout his career, Mr. Bishop has had a passion for creating a better future for education in Georgia. prgtoken Thanks to his dedication, the two-year Brunswick Junior College was transformed into an esteemed four-year institution called College of Coastal Georgia, which has witnessed immense growth and success since its founding. prgtoken Mr. Bishop has also been a leader in the legal profession in Georgia's First District for over 60 years and has been steadfast in putting others above himself. prgtoken Since becoming a regent in 2007, he has been a pillar in the University System because of his high integrity, stature, and proven commitment to higher education in Georgia. prgtoken I want to thank Mr. Bishop for all he has done for the state of Georgia, and I wish him the best of luck in all his endeavors to come.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE AVIATION MUSEUM OF KENTUCKY'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY
Andy Barr (Republican, KY) \u2014 2020-4-21

. Madam , I rise today to honor the Aviation Museum of Kentucky on their 25th anniversary. The Aviation Museum began as a dream of members of the Kentucky Aviation History Roundtable. In April of 1995, the Aviation Museum was incorporated as a non-profit and it opened to the public in August with the help of the surviving members of the 1942 Doolittle Squadron. prgtoken The Aviation Museum is located at Lexington, Kentucky's Blue Grass Airport. The Aviation Museum helps the general public understand and become enthusiastic about aviation, thus building support for the aviation industry. This industry contributes billions of dollars and thousands of jobs to Kentucky's economy. Kentucky exported $14.6 billion in aerospace parts in 2019. prgtoken The Aviation Museum provides many educational opportunities for Kentucky's young people through flight training, Learning through Aviation, and Aviation Summer Camp. An important part of the Aviation Museum's mission is educating youth about career potential in the field of aviation. prgtoken The Aviation Museum provides over 25,000 square feet of exhibit space. Exhibits showcase the science of flight and the history of aviation in Kentucky. Attracting visitors from all 50 states and indeed from around the world, the Aviation Museum contributes to the tourism economy of Kentucky. prgtoken The Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame is housed at the Aviation Museum and tells the stories of 99 Kentuckians with special achievements. Recognized honorees include military pilots, civilian pilots, and scientists. prgtoken The Aviation Museum of Kentucky fills an important role in Kentucky. It is my honor to acknowledge them on their 25th anniversary before the United States Congress.
PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-4-21

well, in the month since I last addressed this Chamber, life for nearly every American has been upended. Stay-at- home orders have swept across the country. The monthly toll of new unemployment claims are measured in the millions. Our health system has been strained to the breaking point. American workers and businesses are suffering financial hardship not seen since the Great Recession. Almost 800,000 of our fellow citizens have tested positive for COVID- 19. And most heartbreakingly, America has lost more than 37,000 precious lives to this coronavirus--many, many of them New Yorkers. prgtoken Over the past 2 months, the Senate has come together on three occasions to pass legislation in response to this multifaceted crisis, to rescue our ailing healthcare system, to cushion the blow to American workers and businesses, and to prepare our country for a more prosperous future on the other side of this pandemic. prgtoken Our last legislative effort, the CARES Act, was unprecedented in size and in scope--the largest stimulus in American history. Remarkably, on such a large and complex bill, the Senate came together 96-0 to pass this crucial emergency relief, getting ayes from Senator Sanders to Senator Cruz and everyone in between. It shows that, even with the partisanship here, as tough and harsh as it can be, we can come together unanimously in a time of great crisis. prgtoken Still, the depth of the crisis we now face meant that funding for certain programs in this bill had already been depleted, and a number of required fixes had to be made to make sure these programs worked as intended. An interim bill, COVID 3.5, is necessary. prgtoken Now, my friend, the leader, tried to bypass negotiations on such an interim measure. He tried to jam through a bill that would have increased funding for one small business lending program but not others, when they were all running out of funding. His proposal did not attempt to fix the dire lack of lending to small businesses that are truly small, underbanked, underserved, minority, or women-owned. His proposal included nothing at all for our healthcare system, nothing to address the national shortage in testing, nothing to help State, local, or Tribal governments who are breaking their budgets to fight this disease. prgtoken All of us want to help our small businesses--all of us--but this emergency demands we take action on many fronts. So we have spent the last week negotiating with the administration--Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, Chief of Staff Meadows, as well as Pelosi and House with us, the Senate , to improve the legislation. We reached a final agreement earlier today. prgtoken Now, there are plenty of disagreements between our parties these days, but once again, we are coming together to pass this legislation by unanimous consent--not a single Senator objected. prgtoken I want to thank Secretary Mnuchin. I spent hours and hour
CORONAVIRUS
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-4-21

I am pleased that we are ready to act and we will be able to pass legislation in a few moments that will help deal with this pandemic. Like my colleagues, I have been in teleconferences with different groups in Maryland, and I have seen the pain caused by the coronavirus. In Maryland, we are losing around 30 citizens every day to the coronavirus. Over the last week, our Nation has lost over 15,000 to the coronavirus. This pandemic is with us in a very serious way, and we need to respond. prgtoken I am pleased that, this afternoon, we will be providing additional resources to our healthcare providers, particularly those that are on the frontlines, in dealing with the coronavirus and that we will be passing legislation to establish a national strategy on testing, working with our States to make sure all communities have adequate testing so that, when we reopen our society, we can do so in a safe manner. prgtoken I am also pleased that we are acting on the small business provisions. The programs that we passed in the CARES Act that provide help to small businesses was very popular and was oversubscribed. I am particularly pleased that we are able to pass today provisions that are greatly improved from when I was last on the floor a little over 1 week ago when the majority leader made the unanimous consent request that would have included only additional money for the Paycheck Protection Program,--$250 billion--and would not have dealt with the healthcare issues or the challenges that I expressed on the floor at that time in regards to the small business provisions. The reason that we now have a bill that we can be very proud of is because this has been negotiated with all Members of the Senate being involved through a bipartisan process, rather than just being brought to the floor by the majority. prgtoken We saw that happen on the CARES Act originally. The original bill that was brought to the floor by the majority leader that he attempted to pass did not include major help for our State and local governments, did not include major help for our healthcare institutions, did not provide funds for many of our programs that are critically important to our local communities. We were able to improve that program because we worked together. and s have produced a bill that we can be proud of. prgtoken As I said when I was last on the floor in regards to the small business provisions, we have a bipartisan process. prgtoken Senator Rubio and I have been working closely together to develop the tools for small businesses. Yes, I do acknowledge the work with Senator Collins and Senator Shaheen because we have come together to try to put together a package that could work. prgtoken What I had mentioned on the floor when the last UC was made was that there were problems with the original request made by the majority leader, and I pointed that out. Underserved communities have not been able t
TAHOMA HIGH SCHOOL STATE CIVICS CHAMPIONS
Kim Schrier (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2020-4-21

. Madam , congratulations to the hardworking students of Tahoma High School from Maple Valley, Washington, for being selected for the 11th consecutive time to represent Washington state in the annual ``We the People: The Citizens and the Constitution'' competition organized by the Center for Civic Education. prgtoken These dedicated students have spent the past year studying the history and principles of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They have gained a better understanding of our nation's founding values, representative democracy, and how the lawmaking process functions. prgtoken The annual in-person ``We the People'' final competition typically takes place in Washington, D.C in late April. Understandably, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the event was cancelled this year. Regardless, I am tremendously proud of these students' diligent work over the past year. Civic education is vital to a well-rounded high school education. In this time of crisis, it is more important than ever that young people are well-informed so they can engage constructively with public policy. I hope that these talented students feel empowered to vote, participate in politics, and be leading voices for positive change in our state and country. I am excited to hear about how they carry the principles and values of civic education into their future endeavors and become the next generation of leaders. prgtoken I am especially grateful to Gretchen Wulfing for her dedication to civic education. In addition to teaching government at Tahoma High School, Gretchen has coached Civic Education for 12 years. Most recently, in 2016, she was honored as one of Washington's distinguished Civic Educators. prgtoken Teachers like Gretchen are especially vital in this uncertain time, and the 8th District is extremely appreciative for her dedication to educating students in Maple Valley. prgtoken Finally, I would like to individually recognize each student, whose tremendous commitment and enthusiasm to learning our Constitution, I deeply admire. Congratulations to: Riley Barlett, Dane Bowman-Weston, Katerina Bruhl, Matthew Bruneel, Neena Chana, Claire Cunningham, Grace Denison, Shelby Ellis, Djanaya Esiong, Issabella Huser. prgtoken Sarah Kropelnicki, Preston Lievano, Jaden Mason, Aidan Mercado, Emma Nickel, Gage Nickel, Calvin O'Connell, Luke Oriolt, Daniela Perezchica- Trancoso, Claire Riordan, Elizabeth St. John, Jasmine Tran, Janey Yee. prgtoken Congratulations again to Gretchen and these bright students from Tahoma High School for their dedication to civic education. We in Washington's 8th District couldn't be more proud of them, and we wish them the best of luck.
CLARIFICATION OF CONGRESSIONAL INTENT REGARDING SECTION 6412 OF PUBLIC LAW 116-92
Adam B. Schiff (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-4-21

. Madam , last year I introduced H.R. 3494, the Damon Paul Nelson and Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2018, 2019, and 2020. The IAA was included in the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, which became Public Law 116-92. prgtoken Section 6412, a provision that I authored and that first passed the House as part of the IAA, authorizes the Director of the CIA to provide enhanced injury benefits to a covered employee and/or qualifying dependents who suffer an injury overseas due to war, insurgency, hostile act, or terrorist activities. prgtoken I rise today to clarify the intent of Congress on one point: due to the unique and limited circumstances under which these benefits are authorized, and for the purposes of Section 104 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, all amounts paid pursuant to Section 6412 should be treated as amount paid under chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, regardless of whether the recipient would otherwise qualify for workmen's compensation.