mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
REAFFIRMING IMPORTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES TO PROMOTE THE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS
Andy Levin (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-9-24

such time as I may consume. prgtoken I want to start by thanking the gentleman from California (Mr. Ted Lieu) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart) for introducing this resolution, which affirms the importance of U.S. leadership to assist the unprecedented number of refugees and displaced persons around the world. prgtoken Our country has a rich history of accepting refugees from all walks of life. It is the cornerstone of what makes America so special and why so many of us are actually standing here today. prgtoken For decades, the United States admitted more refugees than any other country. As a nation of immigrants, Americans have always felt a special obligation to take in people fleeing violence and danger. prgtoken But now, precisely when we are facing a worldwide refugee crisis, with the numbers of displaced people at a record high, the administration has drastically cut admissions. They are rejecting our traditions of openness and willingness to help people facing great peril by slamming the door on these innocent men, women, and children. prgtoken There are 70.8 million people who are displaced around the globe, and the administration has cut the number we are allowing into our country to 30,000. It is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, and it is a moral stain on this country. prgtoken This resolution emphasizes the need for the U.S. to lead on the global refugee crisis and calls on the Secretary of State and the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to continue supporting refugees and displaced persons. It is a good measure that I urge my colleagues to support. prgtoken , . House of Representatives, Committee of Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, September 12, 2019. Hon Jerrold Nadler, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Nadler: I am writing to you concerning H. Res. 444, Reaffirming the importance of the United States to promote the safety, health, and well-being of refugees and displaced persons. I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation. I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary under House Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H. Res. 444 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of Committee on the Judiciary conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this legislation. Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included
IN HONOR OF THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND LEGACY OF MRS. JUANITA ABERNATHY
Terri A. Sewell (Democrat, AL) \u2014 2019-9-24

. Madam , I rise today to honor the remarkable life and legacy of Mrs. Juanita Abernathy, a selfless and determined leader in the struggle for civil rights, whose direction and tireless engagement were integral to the progress of the movement. From the Montgomery bus boycott to the marches from Selma to Montgomery and on Washington, D.C and beyond, Mrs. Abernathy played a key role in our nation's proudest instances of citizen activism. She fought boldly alongside her husband, the Reverend Dr. Ralph Abernathy, and their dear friends and fellow architects of the movement, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, to enact necessary and meaningful change, whose effects reverberated throughout our country. While many male leaders of the civil rights movement have rightfully become household names, the women whose struggles and sacrifice were equal and whose participation was necessary, have not enjoyed the same recognition. Mrs. Juanita Abernathy was a brilliant, courageous leader in her own right, and today we recognize her remarkable and distinct contributions. prgtoken Mrs. Abernathy was born on December 1, 1931 in Uniontown, Alabama, the youngest of Alexander and Ella Gilmore Jones' eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Jones, who made their living as dairy, beef and cotton farmers, did well for themselves, and were named the most successful farmers in the Black Belt by Tuskegee Institute in the 1940s. At an early age, Mrs. Abernathy was sent to live with her older sister to attend an African American boarding school, Selma University Prep School, from kindergarten through graduation. In the ninth grade, she met her future husband, the Rev. Dr. Ralph Abernathy, who wrote in his memoir that he was impressed by her audacious spirit and inherent dignity. Both were on display at the local grocery store when a white clerk refused to carry Mrs. Abernathy's groceries to her car. She replied that if he was unable to carry her groceries to the car, he should instead go ahead and return the groceries to the shelves. In 1952, after Mrs. Abernathy completed her B.S. in business education at Tennessee State University in Nashville, she and Dr. Abernathy were married. prgtoken Mrs. and Dr. Abernathy moved to Montgomery, Alabama, where she became a secretary for the Alabama chapter of the NAACP and taught high school courses on business education, while Dr. Abernathy served as pastor of the First Baptist Church on Ripley St. In 1954, the couple hosted a new pastor, who had been brought in to lead the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and his wife, Coretta Scott King. In 1955, around the family dining room table, Mrs. Abernathy wrote the business plan for the Montgomery bus boycott, a plan which later served as a blueprint for the Civil Rights Movement. Meant to last only one day, the boycott went on for 381 days, eventually leading to the courts desegregating public transi
NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH
David J. Trone (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-9-24

. Madam , I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of more than 23 million Americans who are in recovery. prgtoken September is National Recovery Month. In 2019 we are celebrating 30 years of that designation. We are marking that today in Congress with an effort we are calling ``Congress Goes Purple''. prgtoken Madam , I want to thank my colleagues Denver Riggleman, Annie Kuster, and Brian Fitzpatrick for partnering with me to make this happen. prgtoken Those among us who are struggling with mental health concerns or substance use disorder need to know there is no shame in seeking help. Their journey to recovery is something to be celebrated. prgtoken These disorders don't discriminate, and neither should we in helping find people a path back. I came to Congress to help make recovery a real possibility for more Americans. prgtoken Starting in the mid-1990s, we have seen opioids invade and destroy families across America. From the district I represent in Maryland to big cities and small towns across the country, there is not a single community that has not been fully spared from the devastating effects of the opioid epidemic. It is a true crisis. prgtoken For the first time in 100 years, we have seen life expectancy decline for 3 straight years in this country. Americans are dying sooner than their parents' generation, and we can blame the opioid epidemic. prgtoken The numbers are staggering. Last year, we saw over 70,000 people die of a drug overdose. More Americans have died in 1 year of drug overdose than from the wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq combined. prgtoken Behind each one of those numbers is a person. Behind each one of those numbers is a family and a community that feels the immense pain and loss. My family was one of those. prgtoken In 2016, on New Year's Eve, my nephew Ian Jacob Trone died of a fentanyl overdose. He was 24 years old, and he died alone in his hotel room. prgtoken I worked with Ian for over 5 years while he was struggling with addiction. We tried treatment centers and halfway houses and mental health specialists. I worked closely with him to do everything I could to get him the help he needed, and we still lost him. prgtoken Unfortunately, it is not just addiction numbers that are staggering. SAMHSA estimates in 2017, over 19 million people in the U.S. experienced substance use disorder, but of that group, 8.5 million also had a co-occurring mental illness. prgtoken This is the most important issue in America. We must act now and stop more people from losing their lives. I know if we are going to make a difference, then all of us, including the Federal Government, need to act. That is why, as a new Member of Congress, ending the opioid addiction epidemic is my number one priority. prgtoken I have started a bipartisan freshman working group, which is now composed of 64 lawmakers from 31 States all dedicated to ending this epidemic. Together, we are pushing bills that will bring consi
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
Stacey E. Plaskett (Democrat, VI) \u2014 2019-9-24

. Madam , as you can see, I am here alongside my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus in strong opposition to the administration's proposal to severely restrict broad-based categorical eligibility, or cat-el. prgtoken This rule would kick millions of people struggling with hunger from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, most commonly known as SNAP, as well as approximately 250,000 children from preschool meals; 250,000 children who rely on this program to provide them with lunch, with breakfast, allowing them to be able to utilize their skills in school, allowing them to be able to learn on a daily basis. prgtoken Many of these children, we know, without this program are unable to eat, are unable to be able to stay awake in school because of the hunger that is within them, right here in this country. And so we are fighting to make sure that those children are not removed; that those millions of Americans are not removed from this program. prgtoken SNAP provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move toward self- sufficiency; providing food assistance that averages just $1.40 per person per meal, $1.40 per meal. prgtoken SNAP is a modest benefit, with nearly half of the participants running out of benefits before the end of the month. If anything, policymakers should be debating how much to increase this supplemental benefit, given that there is no room for cuts. prgtoken What's more, 's tax law gave more in tax breaks to the top 1 percent than SNAP costs in its entirety. And if the administration is looking for strategies to achieve savings in SNAP, while actually helping workers, it need look no further than raising the Federal minimum wage. Raising the Federal minimum wage to $12, not even the $15 proposed in the Raise the Wage Act, would save $53 billion over the next 10 years, nearly four times as much as the proposed rule, by ensuring that workers earn more so that they are better able to afford food, instead of punishing labor market struggles with hunger. prgtoken The administration's proposed rule would recalculate how we measure poverty, a move that would more than likely result in reducing the eligibility criteria for individuals and removing people off certain Federal programs that are meant to assist poor and low-income families. prgtoken Recently, the administration proposed a rule that would recalculate how we measure poverty, a move that would more than likely result in reducing the eligibility criteria for individuals and removing people off certain Federal programs that are meant to assist poor and low-income families. prgtoken The proposed rule would change how the Census measures poverty in a manner that will artificially drive down the number of people counted as officially poor. Because eligibility for a range of basic supports is calculated based on the poverty threshold, each year,
DECLARATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY
Tom Udall (Democrat, NM) \u2014 2019-9-24

we are at a crucial point in our democracy, with a big decision to be made. Tomorrow, we can correct this unconstitutional violation by the President of the United States of taking military money, military readiness money, national security money, and moving it over for a border wall. prgtoken Canceling these 127 projects is not just a one-off. Let's remember that. We all know the President fully intends to keep at it. It has already been reported that if the President doesn't get the $5 billion he has requested for his wall in 2020, the next budget year, the administration plans to take another $3.6 billion from the Pentagon's construction budget. This President will not stop raiding funds we have appropriated, unless we stop him and terminate his sham emergency declaration. prgtoken The careful planning for the 127 canceled projects contrasts sharply with the administration's haphazard rush to build the President's wall. The President wants 500 miles of wall before the 2020 election. To do so, the administration may need to skirt the Federal procurement process and aggressively take lands away from private landowners through eminent domain. prgtoken Don't worry, says the President to his staff: I will pardon you if you break any laws. prgtoken This is no way to run a government, and, certainly, no way to spend taxpayer dollars. prgtoken Don't get me wrong. I support strong border security. We need well- trained officers, mobile assets, surveillance technology, and adequate resources. But a multibillion dollar wall is wasteful, ineffective, and offensive. prgtoken Now, I know some in this Chamber disagree with that opinion. The place to debate and decide how we spend taxpayer dollars to keep our border secure is in the Appropriations Committee, its various subcommittees, and on the floor of the Senate. That is what the Constitution says. prgtoken James Madison wrote in Federalist 84: ``An elective despotism was not the government we fought for; but one in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced . . . that no one could transcend their legal limits without being effectually checked and restrained by the others.'' prgtoken It is time for this body to check and restrain the executive branch. The President is invading our constitutional prerogative. He is not a despot. His constitutional powers are limited. It is up to us to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, as we swore an oath to do, and to do the work we were elected to do. prgtoken , .
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
David Scott (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2019-9-24

. Madam , that is correct. And that is why we are here tonight, with great compassion, with great fairness, asking our Members of Congress, on a unanimous basis, to join in this fight. prgtoken It is not just our fight. This is a fight that appeals to the basic nature and purpose of the American people. That is us. And I appreciate the gentlewoman inviting me to share in making this appeal.
Nomination of Daniel Habib Jorjani (Executive Session)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2019-9-24

over the past 2\1/2\ years, we have seen a remarkable pattern emerge in the types of people nominates to serve in his administration. His nominees have extensive conflicts of interest. They work to advance the interest of foreign clients, financial patrons, or other special interests. In doing so, they are actively hostile to the very departments in which they have been nominated to serve. prgtoken Daniel Jorjani--the President's nominee to serve as Solicitor of the Department of the Interior--is a classic example of this pattern. The DOI Solicitor is a critically important position in the Department. In addition to being the chief legal adviser to the Secretary, the Solicitor is intimately involved in developing the legal justifications for Department policies, defending DOI positions in court, and overseeing compliance with the Freedom of Information Act, FOIA. prgtoken Given the influence the Department's Solicitor has on issues, such as the implementation of the Endangered Species Act, stewardship of public lands, and holding companies accountable for their impacts on the environment, it is essential that whoever occupies this job can execute his or her duties in a manner that upholds the public trust. prgtoken With the nomination of Daniel Jorjani, has once again shown that he prioritizes exploiting our environment for the benefit of fossil fuel companies over the very real interests of the American people and protecting our environment. prgtoken Prior to joining the administration, Mr. Jorjani spent 7 years working in organizations throughout the Koch brothers' sprawling empire. In positions such as the general counsel of Freedom Partners, Mr. Jorjani assisted the Koch brothers in pursuing a relentlessly pro- fossil fuel agenda. He fought against the administration's actions to combat climate change and protect the environment. prgtoken It was with precisely this experience in mind that appointed Mr. Jorjani as the Principal Deputy Solicitor and Acting Solicitor of DOI in 2017. During his tenure in these roles, prgtoken which did not require Senate confirmation, Mr. Jorjani wasted little time before mounting a full frontal assault on -era environmental regulations, to the delight of his former patrons. Of the eight Solicitor's legal opinions that Mr. Jorjani authored, seven roll back -era environmental regulations. prgtoken Let me focus on one example that certainly sticks out. In a stunning reversal of a 2017 opinion issued by then-Solicitor Hilary Tompkins, Mr. Jorjani pushed to shield companies from liability for killing birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act as long as it was not the company's intended action. prgtoken That is like saying BP shouldn't have to pay to clean up the Deepwater Horizon oilspill because they didn't intend to release nearly 5 million barrels--200 million gallons--of oil into the Gulf of Mexic
RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF JANE DIFLEY FROM THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NH FORESTS
Ann M. Kuster (Democrat, NH) \u2014 2019-9-24

. Madam , I rise today to recognize Jane Difley on the event of her retirement as President of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. prgtoken A licensed forester, Jane's esteemed career included time at the American Forest Foundation and the Vermont Natural Resources Council before joining the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests in 1996. In addition, Jane was the first woman elected to serve as the President of the Society of American Foresters. During her 23 years with the Forest Society, Jane has been a tireless advocate for land conservation in the Granite State. prgtoken At the helm of the Forest Society, Jane successfully heightened the pace of land conservation efforts in the face of increasing development. Under her direction, the Forest Society more than doubled the size of its conserved Forest Reservations to 56,000 acres and played a role in the conservation of over 290,000 acres overall. She advocated for the important role of Granite State forests in community recreation, wildlife habitat, and environmental health. prgtoken The important work accomplished during Jane's tenure at the Forest Society will serve as an enduring testament to her commitment to New Hampshire's forests. On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's Second Congressional District, I thank Jane for her service and wish her the best of luck in her new chapter.
INTRODUCTION OF THE SAINT LAWRENCE SEAWAY RENAMING BILL
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2019-9-24

. Madam , today, our nation celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. On this anniversary, I am introducing legislation to add ``Great Lakes'' to the name of the Seaway. prgtoken This new name, the ``Great Lakes'' Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation will now reflect the Seaway's enormous role for connecting commerce, promoting economic development, and protecting national security across the nation. prgtoken In 1959, Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and U.S. President Eisenhower presided over festivities that marked the opening of the modern Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway. prgtoken Sixty years later, the role of the seaway is just as crucial. A 2018 analysis by the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation found that commercial navigation that transits the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario sustains 92,661 jobs in the US, Canada, and supports almost $13 billion in economic activity. prgtoken It is imperative that the United States continues to support the mission of the Seaway and ensure that it receives the recognition it deserves.
SECURE AND FAIR ENFORCEMENT BANKING ACT OF 2019
Ed Perlmutter (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2019-9-25

. Madam , the balance of my time. prgtoken Madam , I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry). As I said at the top of this debate, this bill is about public safety, accountability, and respecting States' rights. prgtoken Our bill is narrowly tailored to get cash off the streets and improve public safety in communities across the country. prgtoken I thank my cosponsors. They have heard from me. They have been working with me for years, and I really appreciate that. Especially, I thank the staff of the Committee on Financial Services, the staff of my cosponsors, and my own staff for the work they have done to put this bill and coalition together. prgtoken There are many marijuana issues that remain, but this one gets the cash off the streets. This is about public safety. prgtoken Madam , I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the SAFE Banking Act, and .