mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
STUDENT BORROWER CREDIT IMPROVEMENT ACT
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2020-1-29

. Mr. Chair, first, I would just like to make some closing remarks on the previous argument. The gentleman is right. We need to make college more affordable, and I passed a bill in Tennessee when I was a senator, a referendum on the ballot that has raised over $5 billion to send kids to college in Tennessee, $5 billion free scholarship money. So, yes, I don't talk the talk, I walk the walk. prgtoken , my amendment makes it unequivocally clear that credit reports should not be used as the sole reason for the denial of employment. prgtoken This amendment is for the countless constituents who have contacted my office with disturbing stories of being denied a job opportunity because of their credit report. prgtoken This amendment is for the many people in this country who are currently in a vicious cycle: To pay down their debt, they need a job, but they can't get hired because of their debt. prgtoken According to the Society for Human Resource Management, 43 percent of employers are conducting pre-employment credit checks, claiming that a potential employee's credit score is somehow an accurate predictor of future job performance. Nobody says that. Like nobody says that you have to have a crime in an impeachment article to impeach a President. Abuse of power is sufficient. prgtoken Yet, there has not been any proof that a credit report or a credit score can predict how an employee will perform, none whatsoever. prgtoken A credit report doesn't tell the whole story. Maybe a person had a long stretch of unemployment. Maybe they unexpectedly had a health or a medical crisis. prgtoken This practice has had a disproportionate impact on some of our most vulnerable, credit-challenged citizens; recent college grads, divorced women, low-income families, senior citizens, and minorities. prgtoken Everyone deserves the opportunity to begin rebuilding their credit history by obtaining employment. We should be doing everything in our power to help people find jobs during these tough economic times, not hinder them. prgtoken Making sure credit reports are not used as a means for denial of employment has been a very important issue to me and my office, and I have introduced a bill, the Equal Employment for All Act, every Congress for the last 11 years. prgtoken Unfortunately, in eight of those years, we were in the minority and so we couldn't get a hearing. But now, Mr. Lawson has brought a bill, which I appreciate greatly, and he is on the committee and this issue is now before us. prgtoken What matters most is that important issues like this are addressed and fixed by Congress and get to the floor for a vote. I would like to thank Mr. Lawson. prgtoken I would also like to go back and thank my former staffer, Michael Fulton, who worked tirelessly on the Equal Employment for All Act and the Fair Access to Credit Scores Act. I am happy to see that language to provide free credit scores is also included in the Comprehensive CRED
STUDENT BORROWER CREDIT IMPROVEMENT ACT
Mark Takano (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-1-29

the balance of my time. prgtoken I urge that my colleagues back this very commonsense amendment, which would ensure that any person who has been arrested but never convicted or whose case has never been brought to trial--actually, not been convicted. I want to make it very clear, if they have not been convicted, they should not be listed on a consumer credit report. prgtoken , .
STUDENT BORROWER CREDIT IMPROVEMENT ACT
Maxine Waters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-1-29

. Mr. Chair, first, I would like to thank all of the participants in this comprehensive package. I would like to thank Ms. Pressley, as the sponsor of this comprehensive piece of legislation, Mr. Lawson, Ms. Adams, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Lynch, and Ms. Tlaib, for all of the work that they put in to ensure that we were covering the years of complaints that we have gotten about our credit bureaus and the mishandling of our consumers and a lack of protection for consumers who have suffered at the hands of our credit bureaus who did not take into consideration these very serious complaints. prgtoken So, , the Comprehensive Credit Reporting Enhancement, Disclosure, Innovation, and Transparency, this act, makes much-needed and overdue reforms to improve the credit reporting system. The issues addressed by this bill are important for the economic well-being of millions of Americans and our economy. prgtoken As we have discussed, the bill is supported by, again, Americans for Financial Reform, the National Association of Consumer Advocates, and the National Association of Realtors. So, with all of this support, and with consumers who have been waiting for years for their Representatives to do something about the fact that their data is all in the hands of these credit bureaus who are determining whether or not they can acquire credit; whether or not they are going to be able to get a loan; whether or not they are going to be able to have a decent quality of life because they have done everything that they could do to have good credit; and that when they have said to the credit bureaus, there is an error, they have got me mixed up with someone else, and they cannot get this straightened out for them, and they suffer. prgtoken So the time has come, and I am so very pleased that my committee is answering all of the requests from our constituents and your constituents and all of the constituents of Representatives in this body, to do something. The time is now, and we are doing that. This comprehensive piece of legislation will absolutely deal with these concerns that have been identified for so long. prgtoken I urge all Members who care about their constituency, who have been hearing these issues for so many years, I urge them to vote ``yes'' on this bill. prgtoken , .
NEVER AGAIN EDUCATION ACT
Eliot L. Engel (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-1-29

. Madam , I rise to speak in favor of H.R. 943, the Never Again Education Act. prgtoken Monday, we recognized International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which marks 75 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp. The Holocaust is a crime without parallel. And how we deal with its memory defines us as a people and as a country. prgtoken As we look back at one of the darkest chapters in history, it is also our duty to look forward. prgtoken Antisemitism is on the rise and hatred and intolerance seem to spread unchecked. This cannot stand. As we honor the memory of those who came before us, we must recommit ourselves to securing a bright future for the next generation. prgtoken To ensure this, we must continue to educate younger generations on the atrocities of the Holocaust and how it could occur. That is why I strongly support H.R. 943. It is critical that the Department of Education provide the funds needed for schools to implement Holocaust education programs into their curriculum, so students understand the history of the Holocaust. I urge the Senate to pass this bill immediately.
HONORING THE MEMORY OF MADISON ELIZABETH WEGENER
Elissa Slotkin (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-1-29

I rise today to recognize the life of Madison Elizabeth Wegener of Brighton, Michigan, who was 14 when she passed away last Tuesday. prgtoken When she was six, Maddie was diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease that currently has no cure. prgtoken From all accounts, Maddie was a vivacious and adventurous young woman. She loved Great Danes, taking walks in the woods, and making maple syrup at her grandparents' farm. prgtoken Because of her illness, Maddie became an advocate for organ donation at a young age. In her selflessness, upon her death, Maddie was able to save four lives, and also provide the gift of sight through her organ donations. Think about that. prgtoken Maddie's generosity of spirit sets a powerful example, as her legacy will live on in her family, in her community, and in those that she helped save. prgtoken Maddie was just a freshman at Brighton High School, where her mother teaches English. prgtoken I had the privilege to attend the Brighton-Howell basketball game 10 prgtoken days ago. The students were asked to come onto the court during half time to make a donation and take a free throw for Maddie. Students from both schools, from every social circle, walked onto that court to support her family. prgtoken I know that the Brighton community has rallied around her family and today is mourning her loss. Our hearts are with her family as we honor and celebrate the life of this remarkable young woman.
WELCOMING RABBI AVRAHAM HAKOHEN ``ROMI'' COHN
Max Rose (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-1-29

I rise today to recognize Rabbi Romi Cohn, a leader on Staten Island and a dear, dear friend. prgtoken Rabbi Cohn has dedicated his life to Jewish culture and heritage and built a renowned career as a mohel in New York City for over 25 years. I am especially honored to welcome Rabbi Cohn this week as we remember the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. prgtoken Rabbi Cohn's career is merely a continuation of a lifetime of fighting for the Jewish faith. His early life was uprooted by the rise of the Nazi Party, their invasion of Czechoslovakia, and the outbreak of World War II. Under Nazi rule, he saw the Hitler Youth attack his father in the street. prgtoken When war broke out, he joined the partisans fighting Nazi tyranny. At 15 years old, Romi was the youngest member of the Czechoslovakian partisan forces. Among other feats, he helped save 56 Jewish families escape the horrors of the Holocaust. prgtoken He fought with the partisans until the end of the war and then went in search of his own family. Of his parents and six siblings, only his father and two sisters had survived. prgtoken Rabbi Cohn saw how a democracy can be corrupted into a fascist dictatorship and what happens when anti-Semitism is allowed to fester. prgtoken Sadly, across this country, we see an alarming rise in anti-Semitism and hatred. Rabbi Cohn's legacy reminds us never to accept bigotry, not when we see it in the street, not when we saw it in the Halls of Congress, not when we see it anywhere. Our freedoms are not free. We must fight for them or risk losing them. prgtoken Rabbi Cohn is a model and example for all of us to follow, and I thank him for his extraordinary life of service.
STUDENT BORROWER CREDIT IMPROVEMENT ACT
Stephen F. Lynch (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2020-1-29

I thank the gentlewoman from California for her longtime leadership on this issue. I also thank my colleague, Ms. Pressley from Massachusetts, for her work as well. prgtoken I am extremely grateful that the text of my bill, H.R. 3629, the Clarity in Credit Score Formation Act, which would require the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to periodically evaluate the models and underlying algorithms used to measure consumer creditworthiness, has been made part of this measure. prgtoken I also appreciate the opportunity to speak in favor of my colleague's work, which is embodied in H.R. 3621, the Comprehensive CREDIT Act, which is before us today. prgtoken Mr. Chair, as we have heard throughout debate, credit reports and credit scores are an important part of American consumers' financial lives. Yet, despite that importance, we continue to see serious problems with the way creditworthiness is measured and with the credit models that the credit agencies use. prgtoken We know that consumers have consistently faced errors in their credit reports and that, oftentimes, those errors are serious enough to impact important opportunities in obtaining housing and other major financial decisions. These errors can lead directly to consumers being denied credit or paying substantially more for the credit that they do receive. prgtoken Despite complaints from my colleagues, by expanding the pool of information used to make credit decisions, applicants and lenders actually won't have to rely solely on often-flawed data in credit reports, and consumers can get the credit they deserve for regularly paying their rent on time and their bills on time and more, without raising the cost to the system of doing so. prgtoken While these new uses of data can allow expanded access to credit, sometimes that same data can be misconstrued and result in unfair discrimination. We have seen this most clearly in the credit scores of our sons and daughters in uniform and military personnel in the Armed Forces. prgtoken It is customary that service to our Nation requires military families to move around fairly frequently as deployments and unit assignments change. Taken by itself and out of context, frequently moving your residence year to year can give the false impression to a credit agency that an applicant is not in a stable situation and can adversely impact their ability to access credit. prgtoken Other uses of data can be closely related to factors such as race or gender, or become a proxy for a protected class. prgtoken We have already seen examples of this. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has sued Facebook over its use of data-targeting, which violates the Fair Housing Act by adversely stereotyping families who live in public housing projects. Even Housing Secretary Carson has openly stated: ``Facebook is discriminating against people based upon who they are and where they live.''
STUDENT BORROWER CREDIT IMPROVEMENT ACT
Donna E. Shalala (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2020-1-29

such time as I may consume. prgtoken , when you default on a student loan, you impact your credit score. Indeed, your credit score with all three credit agencies will most likely drop. That means that buying or renting a house, purchasing or leasing a vehicle, going back to school, or receiving competitive offers for credit cards will be very difficult. prgtoken Each year, more than 1 million student loan borrowers go into default. Nearly 40 percent of borrowers today are expected to default on their student loans by 2023. prgtoken We know that people most at risk of defaulting on their student loans are more likely to be Hispanic or African American. Defaulters are more likely to be older, to be Pell grant recipients, and to come from a nontraditional educational background when compared to borrowers who never default. prgtoken Research also tells us that people of color are more burdened by their educational debt. They have less parental wealth to draw on, as well as higher rates of unemployment. prgtoken By the time their loan falls into default, a typical borrower will see their score drop around 60 points, to an average of 550, which is considered very poor. prgtoken Entering default makes it harder to obtain future loans and prevents borrowers from receiving any additional Federal student aid until their loans return to good standing. Loan providers can then begin to garnish their wages, to impose restrictions on earnings, and to take their tax refund. prgtoken A student loan default stays on your credit report for 7 years--even if you pay off the loan in full. Having that notification on your credit report will make lenders nervous about working with you and hurt your economic stability for years. prgtoken , my amendment instructs the GAO to carry out a thorough review on how credit scores impacted by a student loan default can destroy people's lives. The amendment also asks the GAO to examine how multiple delinquencies on private student loans can hurt borrowers, including a demographic breakdown by race, gender, age, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. prgtoken Allowing student loans to enter delinquency can often have a negative effect on a borrower's credit score and in credit reports due to the fact that each loan is reported individually. prgtoken , Congress has a vested interest in ensuring that we expand the middle class, we grow the economy, and we protect consumers from irreversible financial damage to their credit. I believe that H.R. 3621, with the inclusion of this amendment, will establish parity for student borrowers and provide Congress with the necessary tools to craft meaningful legislation that will help avoid the tragedy of student loan default. prgtoken I thank Congresswoman Kendra Horn for sharing my concerns on this issue and for cosponsoring this amendment. prgtoken , I urge my colleagues to support the
STUDENT BORROWER CREDIT IMPROVEMENT ACT
Daniel T. Kildee (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-1-29

I thank Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Chairwoman Maxine Waters for their leadership on this legislation and for advocating for consumers. prgtoken The credit reporting system in this country is not consumer focused and is in need of a major overhaul. prgtoken Consumer complaints about their credit reports are one of the most frequently reported issues submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Over 40 million Americans have errors in their credit reports. In fact, just last week one credit reporting company announced it was changing the credit scoring model which could arbitrarily reduce credit scores for millions of Americans without allowing any public input whatsoever. prgtoken Having poor credit makes it harder and more expensive to borrow money, buy a home, or own a car. It also negatively impacts a person's ability to be approved for an apartment, get car insurance, and even to get a job. The lack of transparency and accuracy in the credit reporting system leaves borrowers at the mercy of credit reporting agencies, which is holding American families back. prgtoken The Comprehensive CREDIT Act is a much-needed, comprehensive overhaul of the credit reporting system. This bill would enhance consumer rights and increase the accountability and transparency of consumer reporting agencies. prgtoken Specifically, the bill would help rehabilitate credit for student borrowers with private loans. Right now Americans are experiencing a student loan debt crisis. Student loan debt is now at $1.3 trillion. This is the largest source of debt in the U.S even more than credit card debt. This is delaying young people from making critical investments in their own future like buying a house, starting a family, or saving for their own children to go to college. prgtoken The Comprehensive CREDIT Act would combat this by requiring a credit reporting agency to remove a delinquent or defaulted private education loan on a borrower's consumer report if they have shown a good history of loan repayment for 10 consecutive months after the delinquency or default. If a borrower has demonstrated a good faith effort to resume loan repayment after a delinquency or default, then they should not be punished with a lowered credit score. prgtoken I also support the underlying legislation very strongly, and I have introduced an amendment that I think would strengthen the bill even further. My amendment would provide a 6-month grace period to preserve the credit score of borrowers living and working in an area impacted by a major disaster or emergency if there is an interruption in their 10 consecutive months of loan repayment. prgtoken In 2016 in my own hometown, the people of Flint experienced a drinking water emergency. I know many of you have heard me discuss this on many occasions. During that period people were not able to access safe drinking water, families were saddled with unexpected medical bills, parents
MUSLIM BAN
André Carson (Democrat, IN) \u2014 2020-1-29

. Madam , I would like to thank Congresswoman Tlaib for her leadership, for her friendship, for all that she does not for just her constituents, but for Muslims, non- Muslims, and Americans. prgtoken Madam , I rise today in support of the NO BAN Act, which was a great opportunity for me to be a coauthor, and I urge Congress to swiftly pass this legislation. prgtoken Madam , in the 3 years since President implemented his Muslim ban, its dangerous impact is clearer than ever: Families remain torn apart, America is less respected around the world, and our country isn't any safer. prgtoken But for this President and for all of those who crafted this ban, this policy was never about national security. Since his first day in office, he has worked to advance a dangerous white nationalist agenda, and the Muslim ban is its cornerstone. prgtoken It is no surprise, then, that he may be planning to expand this ban to even more countries, many in Africa, which he has previously described in some of the most vulgar and offensive ways. prgtoken As a Muslim and as a Black man, it pains me to witness this low moment in our country. It is not the only time America has shut its doors to people in need simply because of their race, ethnicity, and nationality; but, thankfully, we can make it the last time. Madam , that is why it is so important that we pass the NO BAN Act to end the Muslim ban and make sure history no longer repeats itself in this way. prgtoken Our legislation has more than 200 cosponsors in the House and the endorsement of nearly 400 diverse civil rights, faith, national security, and community organizations. Americans of all backgrounds are behind this great bill and are demanding Congress to pass it, to take a bold stand against bigotry. So I am extremely pleased that the NO BAN Act is expected to be taken up by the Judiciary Committee next month. prgtoken As my colleague, Congresswoman Tlaib said, and I want to reaffirm, Muslims are part of what makes this country great. prgtoken Muslims have been a part of this country since the inception of what we now know to be America. Ever since those West African slaves were brought here to America, Muslims have contributed to our country. prgtoken Go to any major courtroom, and you will find a Muslim lawyer, maybe a judge. Go to any major hospital in this great country, and you will find a Muslim physician. There are Muslim engineers, Muslim scientists, Muslim educators, Muslim politicians. You have three in Congress. We will see more in the future, God willing. prgtoken Madam , I urge my colleagues and all Americans who believe in equality for all people to support the NO BAN Act. Together, we will get it passed and begin a new chapter in our country's history.