mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
PAYING TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS
Kendra S. Horn (Democrat, OK) \u2014 2020-7-22

. Madam , I thank the gentleman for yielding. prgtoken It is my honor to rise today to recognize, honor, and celebrate the life, legacy, and impact of Congressman John Lewis. prgtoken Of those who have left their mark on history, the unique and indelible imprint of John Lewis stands in a category all its own. His strength, courage, commitment, compassion, kindness, and fierce determination to challenge injustice made the world a better place for all of us and truly bent the arc of history ever closer to justice. prgtoken John showed us that being bold and standing up for those whose voices aren't heard are inextricably linked with the need for compassion and hope. prgtoken Though I don't think any of us were ready to let him go--I know I certainly wasn't--I simply cannot imagine the world had he not been in it. And it is one of the greatest honors of my life to be able to have served with him and to call him a colleague and to join him on the civil rights pilgrimage last year, as I know many voices have said before. prgtoken And it was on this journey that I had the opportunity to share with him a blessing that had been bestowed upon me that I believe embodies the life and the lessons and the legacy of John Lewis that I will share today in his Honor. ``May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart. ``May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people. ``May God bless you with a gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy. ``May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really can make a difference in this world so that you are able, with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.'' prgtoken Thank you, Mr. Lewis, for living those lessons and those words. Godspeed.
HONORING CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS
Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2020-7-22

. Madam , I rise tonight to remember Congressman John Lewis. prgtoken And for me, the best way to honor the memory of this beautiful man, this kind soul, our colleague, our friend, and for so many of us, our teacher, is to share his best lessons. prgtoken And in his 2017 book, Congressman John Robert Lewis said the following: ``Freedom is not a state; it is an act. ``It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. ``Freedom is a continuous action we must all take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society.'' prgtoken These are words to drive our work and our lives. And he spoke them to the world. prgtoken But to us, on June 4, on a call with so many of our colleagues, he told us: ``Be brave. Don't get weary. Let's continue to work.'' prgtoken And I wrote those words down, because like everything John Lewis said, they struck me as powerful and important and worth remembering. And in his memory and in his honor, we should all do just that, continue to work.
LAUNCHING JUSTICE IN POLICING WEBSITE
Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2020-7-22

. Madam , it has been nearly 4 weeks since the House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Leader McConnell and the -led Senate, however, refuse to call it up for consideration or a vote. Meanwhile, the problem of racial injustice is not going away on its own. prgtoken For millions of Americans, this issue is deeply personal, having experienced racial bias in our justice system firsthand. Most police officers, Madam , are trying hard to do their job prgtoken professionally and serve their communities well, and there are so many exemplary officers committed to addressing head-on the inherent bias and the problems in the culture of policing that lead some to commit acts of misconduct. prgtoken Still, millions of people live in fear simply because of the color of their skin and because of the history of police misconduct against African Americans in our country. prgtoken Madam , we must never accept this norm. Indeed, in his last public appearance, John Lewis visited Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington and then encouraged Americans to stand up for social justice. He said this: ``We must continue to be bold, brave, courageous, push and pull till we redeem the soul of America and move closer to a community at peace with itself.'' prgtoken His wise words continue to inspire Americans to be courageous in standing up, speaking out, and working to lift our country up to the highest of our ideals. prgtoken In order to make sure that all voices are being heard in Congress and in this national discourse, I launched a website to make it easier for Americans to share their own stories, learn about the legislation we passed, and share their thoughts on our bill. It is a platform for people to contribute to this work of redeeming the soul of America, as John Lewis urged us to do. That site is JusticeinPolicing.us. prgtoken Already, Madam , thousands of Americans from nearly every State have visited the site, and many have shared their own wrenching stories about why we need to pass this bill. prgtoken One woman in my district wrote about how, as the mother of 2 young Black men, she worries every day about them encountering the police. That should not be the case in America. That isn't good for families. It isn't good for the police. It isn't good for our communities. And as I said, it is not good for our country. prgtoken Another wrote about how her elderly parents were pulled over in Oklahoma because the officer couldn't believe that her African-American father was married to her White mother. Both were in their eighties. That was just 3 years ago. prgtoken One person from Iowa posted about being a lifelong who is tired of her party's failure to tackle police misconduct and systemic racism in our country. That person is right. And it is not s alone whom I am sure she is concerned with. prgtoken The Senate could act today on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The Senate ought to
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-7-22

I read this morning that more Americans have died in the last 3 months than in any 3-month period in the history of the United States. That is a stunning statistic. We are searching the records to make sure that it is an accurate statement, and I am afraid it is. prgtoken So far, we believe 140,000 Americans have died of this COVID-19 crisis that we are facing. This is not a moment of American greatness. They have just done a review of the nations across the world and the safety of living in those nations that face this pandemic. Where does the United States rank among the nations of the world in terms of safety in dealing with the coronavirus? It ranks 58th--two ranks ahead of Russia. prgtoken How could we have reached this moment in time when this pandemic has been so devastating in the United States, more so than in many other countries around the world--countries that are supposedly not even close to us in terms of economic development and strength? They have handled this far better than the United States. Yet what are we doing about it now? It is a valid question. prgtoken I know that the President has decided he doesn't want the likes of Dr. Tony Fauci by his side any longer when it comes to talking about this pandemic, but Dr. Fauci and Dr. Collins, of the National Institutes of Health, were interviewed over the weekend and were asked directly about the issue of testing. prgtoken Why does it take so long in the United States to get results, and what kind of problems does that create? prgtoken Well, we know. If people suspect they are positive for this virus and go in for a test, they are worried that they may be endangering their own lives, not to mention the lives of others. Then, they have to wait 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 6 days--more--for the test results. That is unacceptable. We need to invest more money in testing and more money in finding tests to provide quicker results. prgtoken You would think that it would be obvious to everyone, but it is not obvious in this negotiation that is taking place now in the U.S. Senate. There are Senators who are resisting the idea of putting more money into testing in the United States. What country do they live in? Do they ever go home from Washington to see what is happening in the rest of this country? We closed down the testing facilities in my hometown of Springfield, IL, this last week. It was disappointing, for we needed it, and we need more. prgtoken If we are serious about opening this economy, if we are serious about stopping the spread of this pandemic, and if we are serious about opening our schools and making certain that teachers and pupils are safe, we need more testing. Yet here we are, tied in knots, as Senator Schumer said earlier. prgtoken The s can't agree among themselves about the issue of putting money into testing in the midst of this pandemic. It is hard to believe. It was more than 2 months ago that the
TAXPAYER FIRST ACT OF 2019
TJ Cox (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-7-22

today is a great day for public lands, for land conservation, for outdoor recreation, and for every American who values these gifts that Mother Nature has provided for our country. prgtoken Last year, we made a promise to the American people to protect their public lands, our national treasures, by permanently reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund as part of the John Dingell Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. Today, we are poised to make good on that promise by passing the Great American Outdoors Act, which will permanently and fully fund the LWCF. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of that bill. prgtoken These funds have not just protected our Nation's most well-known national parks, but, over the years, LWCF dollars have also created parks, ball fields, and other outdoor recreational spaces in every corner of our country from Alaska to Florida, from Maine to Hawaii. prgtoken This also includes many communities in my district, such as Mendota, Huron, Selma, Sanger, Parlier, Lemoore, Corcoran, Allensworth, Shafter, Buttonwillow, McFarland, and Arvin, just to name a few. prgtoken , I thank the bipartisan team of my colleagues and activists who have worked hard to make this legislation a reality. prgtoken There is an old East Asian proverb that says: One generation plants the trees for another generation to enjoy the shade. Today, we are replanting those trees. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this bill.
TAXPAYER FIRST ACT OF 2019
Debra A. Haaland (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2020-7-22

I rise today in support of the Great American Outdoors Act. prgtoken From the day I became the chairwoman of the National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee, I have heard from constituents, colleagues, and advocates about fixing the maintenance backlog and fully funding LWCF and making it permanent. prgtoken LWCF has helped provide recreational opportunities for underserved and low-income communities in nearly every Congressional district, and last year, we passed an historic permanent authorization. prgtoken In my district, LWCF has supported the Valle del Oro National Wildlife Refuge, Petroglyph National Monument, Tingley Beach recreation area, the Elena Gallegos Open Space picnic area, and Martineztown Park. prgtoken The great American Outdoors Act will ensure LWCF's full $900 million is used every year for conservation and environmental protection, to boost local outdoor economies, and to protect intact ecosystems essential for adapting to climate change. prgtoken The bill also establishes the National Park Service and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to provide five Federal land management agencies with up to $9.5 billion over 5 years to address the deferred maintenance backlog on our public lands. prgtoken These agencies will now be able to aggressively address deferred maintenance, improve visitor services, and support Tribal communities in places like Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands National Parks, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, and El Malpais National Monument. prgtoken Repairing the crumbling infrastructure on our public lands today is critical so that future generations can enjoy them. I am proud of the work we did to get this bill to this point, and I urge my colleagues to invest in our National Parks and public lands, and vote ``yes'' on the Great American Outdoors Act.
HONORING CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS
Karen Bass (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-7-22

it is with great honor that I rise today to coanchor the Congressional Black Caucus Special Order hour. For the next 60 minutes, we have a chance to communicate to the American people our great love for an American hero, Representative John Lewis. prgtoken , from the great State of California (Ms. Pelosi), my colleague and the honorable from the city of San Francisco.
MEMORIALIZING THE HONORABLE JOHN LEWIS
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2020-7-22

I appreciate the time. prgtoken I say to the gentleman from North Carolina that I remember that the last time I saw John Lewis was March 5, his birthday; and the gentleman offered the prayer. That meant a lot to me, and it showed me the respect that you had for him and that he had for you. It was a beautiful moment. prgtoken There was not a more perfect person that has probably served in the Congress and, certainly that I have known in my life, than John R. Lewis. He had every quality that you would desire in a human being and couldn't even imagine a person to have them altogether. prgtoken He was a hero of the civil rights movement and cared greatly about the injustices that he had seen as an African American, and that is what launched him on his civil rights struggles. But once he got moving, it was people of different issues of discrimination that he championed; whether it was gay and lesbian; whether it was Native Americans; whether it was women, or just simple people being victims of gun violence, John Lewis took up the cause and he stood up for everybody. prgtoken He did not know color. He did not know gender. He did not know any differences in people. He loved all people. prgtoken It was such an honor to serve with him. prgtoken Early in my career, the American Bar Association presented the Day Award to John Lewis, Richard Lugar and myself. The award was nothing compared to the fact that I was with John Lewis that day. It made me feel much greater than I ever could become. prgtoken I had the great honor to travel with him to South Africa for the 50th anniversary of Robert F. Kennedy's Ripple of Hope speech in Cape Town. I saw and I sat across from he and Bishop Desmond Tutu, and I knew I was seeing two angels together, two special souls united. prgtoken Mr. Lewis loved two people in life that were his heroes; one was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and the other was Robert Kennedy. The purpose of that speech on that trip was to honor Robert Kennedy and the 50th anniversary of that speech. prgtoken In that speech, Robert Kennedy said: ``It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.'' prgtoken Robert Kennedy might as well have been speaking about John Lewis that day in 1964, because that is what John Lewis did; and he was more than a ripple of hope, he was a tsunami of hope. He was in every good cause there was, and he sacrificed himself physically in South Carolina, in Alabama, in Mississippi, for civil rights. And he sacrificed himself even when he was a Member of Congress for different causes, getting arrested. prgtoken And when he was on death's
HONORING CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS
Dwight Evans (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2020-7-22

I rise to honor a truly great American and a real-life hero. prgtoken I was fortunate enough to have him as a colleague for 4 years. Congressman John Lewis has been an inspiration to me at a very young age. prgtoken I remember the first time I saw him was on the evening news. He was walking across the Pettus Bridge. I felt very strongly about him and what he was doing. I was 10 years old, and I found him to be inspiring. He was purposeful. He was driven to make a difference. He was driven to make some good trouble. prgtoken Now, we must carry on with the work of civil rights and equal opportunity. prgtoken Rest in power, Congressman Lewis.
HONORING CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-7-22

To every man there is a way, a ways, and a way, And the high souls take the high way, And the low souls take the low. While all the rest on the misty flats drift to and fro. But to every man there is a way, a ways, and a way, And each man decideth which way his soul shall go. prgtoken John Lewis always took the high road, always giving of himself in such a way that you knew that he was gracious and kind. prgtoken John had faith. prgtoken Like John, I grew up in rural America, went to a one-room school, never had a new schoolbook. But John had the faith of a mustard seed and said: If you want to move a mountain, just say to the mountain be moved. And if it wouldn't, then you get you some dynamite, nitroglycerin, TNT, and blow that sucker down. prgtoken That was John Lewis. May he rest in peace.
HONORING CONGRESSMAN JOHN ROBERT LEWIS
Ben Ray Luján (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2020-7-22

. Madam , I rise today in remembrance of our friend and colleague John Lewis, the gentleman from Georgia, a great man, a treasure, and our brother. prgtoken Congressman Lewis spent his life fighting for justice. When Mr. Lewis spoke, he did so with a force and moral clarity. prgtoken He was an original freedom fighter who embodied what it means to be a humble public servant. prgtoken John never let anything stand in the way of doing what was right. His legacy will continue by the generations of brothers and sisters he inspired to get in good trouble. prgtoken It was a blessing to have known Congressman Lewis, and I know his light will continue shining bright in the courage and conviction of the American people. As we lay our friend to rest, the torch of justice shines bright. Let us honor Congressman Lewis by continuing his fight. prgtoken Rest in power, my friend.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2020-7-22

I rise, together with the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, to talk about the chairman's plan to conclude the deliberations of the legislation before us today. prgtoken As you well know from being in the committee, this was a process that was bipartisan, thoughtful, extremely well-orchestrated by the chairman, and we accomplished a great deal. As you know, the members of the committee--we considered literally hundreds of different amendments by the members as we marked up the legislation. Then we passed the bill out of committee, we brought it to the floor, and at that point, a total of 880 amendments were filed on the legislation--446 amendments, 422 ic amendments, and 12 joint amendments. So we had a rich field to pick from in terms of trying to improve the legislation. prgtoken The first substitute that was introduced on the floor to begin formal deliberation included a total of 79 amendments--34 amendments, 34 ic amendments, and 11 joint amendments. Then we proceeded forward. Last week we came up with another unanimous consent to allow the votes that took place this week on several very important amendments, but in addition to that, we incorporated another legislative proposal including 62 amendments. prgtoken So from the introduction of the bill to the floor and to this moment, we have adopted 141 amendments. They are bipartisan, both and s. Now we are at the point--and the chairman, I believe, has a very thoughtful way to conclude the legislation--to consider another round of amendments and then be able to move to final passage very quickly. prgtoken Again, let me conclude by saying that the chairman has done a remarkable job. I commend him for his bipartisanship, his thoughtfulness, and his consideration, and I am completely supportive of his proposal to bring this bill to a conclusion. prgtoken .
HONORING CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS
Terri A. Sewell (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2020-7-22

I rise today to honor the life and outstanding legacy of our colleague, friend, mentor, and my hero, Congressman John Robert Lewis. prgtoken Growing up as a little girl in Selma, Alabama, John's incredible legacy was a hero's tale as familiar to me as any Bible story or family lore. prgtoken As a little girl singing in the choir, the children's choir at Brown Chapel AME Church, my home church, it was the church where John and so many wonderful foot soldiers would come time and time again to honor the legacy of the Bloody Sunday march. prgtoken But to know John was to know a man without ego, who, despite his many well-deserved accolades and successes, loved every person he met. He looked them in the eye. Can't you hear him? ``My brother, my sister,'' he would say. prgtoken John loved this country more than any person who I have met, and it was his deep-seated patriotism that will live on. prgtoken His legacy, indeed, was the Voting Rights Act. And, we, in this body, can do something about that. Yes, we can prgtoken name things for John, but the biggest thing that we can do is rename H.R. 4. We should call it the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Act of 2020 and fully restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965. That is the legacy of John Lewis. prgtoken He gave us the road map. Can't you hear him? Never give up, never give in. Keep your eyes on the prize. Keep the faith.
TAXPAYER FIRST ACT OF 2019
Ben McAdams (Democrat, UT) \u2014 2020-7-22

. Madam , Utah is blessed with many treasured national areas, from parks and trails to red rock canyons. Conserving these places is more important than ever, and today, we take landmark action by passing full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This successful conservation program has given us, at no cost to the taxpayer, decades of vital funding for national and State parks, wildlife refuges, and recreational areas. prgtoken State and local officials rely on the money to improve local parks and trails, which see increased demand along the rapidly growing Wasatch Front. Utah has five of the country's most beloved national parks, including Zion National Park, which has quite literally been loved to death and has a $67 million backlog in deferred maintenance. This bill provides some desperately needed funding to fill that backlog. prgtoken , I am proud today to be voting for this legislation and the promise it holds for our economy and an excellent quality of life in Utah for my children and for future generations.