mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Juneteenth (Executive Calendar)
Tina Smith (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2021-6-16

from Maryland. I rise today in gratitude because last night the Senate put us one step forward to finally making Juneteenth a Federal holiday. prgtoken Juneteenth is our Nation's oldest celebration of emancipation, and it should have been established as a Federal holiday long ago. So I am glad that yesterday the Senate passed our bill, with Senator Markey and Senator Booker, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, by unanimous consent. prgtoken The end of slavery in this country is a central milestone in our history, and Juneteenth should be commemorated nationwide as a day of celebration and reflection and rededication to the cause of racial justice in this country. prgtoken I am forever grateful to the generations of activists who made this possible, and, in particular, I want to thank Ms. Opal Lee, who at 89 years old walked halfway across this country to rise in support of Juneteenth as a Federal holiday. prgtoken Yesterday, I had the opportunity to call Ms. Lee, now in her nineties, after this bill cleared the Senate, and I wish you could have heard the sound of joy in her voice when I told her the good news. This is a memory that I know I am going to treasure for the rest of my life. prgtoken So to Ms. Lee, if you are listening here today, I want to tell you that I have been honored to support your moral cause here in the Senate, and I hope to celebrate Juneteenth as an official Federal holiday with you soon. prgtoken I also want to thank my colleagues, especially Senator Markey and Senators Booker and Warnock, for their prgtoken leadership on these efforts, as well as Senator Cornyn and Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, for their work to get this over the finish line. When it passed last night, we had over 60 bipartisan cosponsors, and I am grateful to all of them and all of you for your support. prgtoken So commemorating Juneteenth as a Federal holiday is an encouraging and meaningful step, but we have so much farther to go on the path toward justice. Let's use this victory to build momentum for the systemic change that we need--protecting voting rights and safeguarding our democracy, passing meaningful policing and criminal justice reform, pursuing economic and environmental justice, and working toward a more just and equitable world. prgtoken There will be plenty of times when this path seems impossibly long because the scale of the injustice is overwhelming. But when this happens, I will be thinking of Ms. Opal Lee, of her long walk to Washington, DC, and the joy in her voice when she heard the news that the Senate had taken one more step toward her dream of Juneteenth. May we all draw inspiration and strength from her example. prgtoken I am proud to walk this path with you, Ms. Lee, and with all of you. Let's keep this going. prgtoken .
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2021-6-16

reserving the right to object, I have real concerns my colleagues' efforts to subvert the legislative process and push through a bill without due consideration from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. I know my distinguished colleague from Florida is very interested in these issues. I hope he would ask his leadership to put him on the committee because he consistently comes to the floor and wants to circumvent the committee. This is not the first time. prgtoken Let me be very clear: Hamas is a terrorist organization, and the terrorists who lead Hamas have no regard for human life, whether they be the life of innocent Israelis targeted by their rocket attacks or the Palestinian families they constantly put in harm's way. prgtoken Israel has every right and responsibility to defend herself from attacks against their civilians, and the United States does not, and will not, ever provide funding to Hamas. Neither of those statements are up for debate. In fact, I would argue that every single Member of this body agrees with those assertions. prgtoken Indeed, the Senate has a long history of carefully crafting foreign aid programs with robust oversight, as well as sanctions that target Hamas and its supporters. With that in mind, there is simply no reason this bill can't go through regular order and sustain a markup in the Foreign Relations Committee. I looked at the dates of introduction and then its subsequent referrals--less than 3 weeks. We have done it before, and we can do it again. prgtoken As the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, I have shown that I prioritize moving serious, bipartisan legislation. This bill in question is not a serious attempt at legislating; it is a partisan talking point. prgtoken Had the Senator from Florida, who is the chair of the Senatorial Campaign Committee, or any of the bill's sponsors had a genuine interest in asserting Congress's role in foreign policy and the hard work that goes into legislating, they would have gone through the regular order of the committee process. They did not. prgtoken Instead, I imagine they would rather relish in a tweet proclaiming that support taxpayer funding of Hamas or oppose defending Israel. And all I can say to this is, enough abusing the United States- Israel relationship for partisan political purposes. It does damage to the United States. It does damage to the State of Israel. prgtoken I am proud of my legislative efforts to defend Israel for over three decades, and I would argue that the facts that these efforts have been bipartisan speak to the strength of the United States-Israel relationship. Both s and share a long track record of working together to defend Israel's right to exist and legislating accountability for U.S. taxpayer dollars spent overseas. But we have to do the work, and I do believe there are Senators who are genuinely interested in working toward that goal
CLIMATE CRISIS
Kathy Castor (Democrat, FL) \u2014 2021-6-16

Mr. Casten is right. You know, listing off all the job opportunities, the transportation sector, he is right. prgtoken And this is a global competitiveness issue. We have got to win this race with China and the Europeans. They are building those electric vehicles. prgtoken But how exciting was it to see the announcement from Ford and GM? prgtoken I can't wait to see this electrified F-150 truck, the Lightning. prgtoken This is an enormous opportunity, especially in the industrial Midwest that has really seen a lot of job loss over the years to China. We are going to get back on this, and the only way we can do it is through making these targeted investments. prgtoken We want to build the electric vehicles that the world drives. We want to make sure that that charging infrastructure goes coast to coast in every community. prgtoken But it is going to take the focus of America. And the good news is, all Americans--I don't care if you are a or or Independent, or what, they understand that clean energy is the future; and that if we do it right, we can lift communities that need it; and we can create millions and millions of jobs. prgtoken Now, I started with the science. And we heard from some outstanding colleagues, and we are going to hear a lot more from them in the coming weeks as we hammer out the American Jobs Plan. prgtoken But there was one witness at one of our early hearings, Dr. Abdelhadi, who is an expert, who has been focused on climate for many years, and I want to just remind what he said. prgtoken He said: The limited actions to address this climate crisis have resulted in lost opportunity and have produced a challenge that is even greater than it was even a few years ago. With political and society will, and with strategic and scientifically informed action that considers all of the dimensions of climate change, the dangerous trajectory we are on can be altered, such that our generation's story can be one of success and not failure.
Nomination of Tommy P. Beaudreau (Executive Calendar)
Joe Manchin, III (Democrat, WV) \u2014 2021-6-16

today the Senate will be voting to invoke cloture on the nomination of Tommy Beaudreau. And I have to explain the difference between ``Bohdroh'' and ``Beaudreau.'' ``Bohdroh'' is when you are up north in Alaska being raised, and that is how it is said and pronounced. It is spelled B-O-H-D-R-O-H. Now, if you are down in the South, especially in Louisiana, it would be all Beaudreau, which is B-E-A-U-X. So there is a difference here, and Tommy wanted to make sure that I explained that to you. prgtoken Mr. Beaudreau has been nominated to serve as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior. I believe that he will be an outstanding Deputy Secretary. He is experienced. He knows the Department of the Interior, and he is familiar with the wide range of issues that come before it. prgtoken He has previously served as the first Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, and as Chief of Staff of the Department. His performance at his nomination hearing demonstrated that he has both a very firm grasp of the issues and the ability to listen, learn, and work with all sides and to find commonsense solutions to difficult problems. prgtoken He has the knowledge, the experience, the temperament, and the skills needed to serve in this important position. Mr. Beaudreau fully understands the role of the Department of the Interior in striking the balance in its dual mission of preserving and protecting our national parks and public lands and providing a large part of the energy and mineral resources that we need to power the Nation. prgtoken And I believe Senators on both sides of the aisle will find that he is someone that they can work with. Mr. Beaudreau is supremely well qualified for the job. He was reported out of the Senate Energy Committee with a very, very strong bipartisan vote. I heartily support his nomination, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same. prgtoken .
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN HELPS FAMILIES
Joseph D. Morelle (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-6-16

I rise today to acknowledge the significant struggles facing working families across America, struggles that have been exposed and exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. prgtoken That is why, through the American Rescue Plan, we took action to expand the child tax credit, helping to uplift families and reduce poverty. In my community, more than 40,000 households will receive an average benefit of nearly $3,000 that will begin being disbursed in just a few short weeks. This is projected to lift 8,200 children out of poverty in my district alone. prgtoken When we talk about transformative investment to support working families, this is exactly what we mean, and it is why we need to make the expanded child tax credit permanent, to put kids and parents on the path to success, because when we ease the financial burden on families, they have the security and flexibility to contribute to the workforce, strengthen our economy, and set our children up for a stable and successful future.
HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF DR. THOMAS J. HYNES, JR.
David Scott (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2021-6-16

. Madam , I rise today to honor an extraordinary Georgian and a great American, Dr. Thomas J. Hynes, Jr outgoing President of Clayton State University. prgtoken Dr. Hynes is retiring as President of Clayton State University (CSU) after over ten years of serving the institution with honor and distinction. During this time, he has led the University to success and growth and helped secure Clayton State's position at the forefront of Peach State academics. Beloved by Lakers across campus, the leadership of Dr. Hynes has empowered students and greatly strengthened the CSU community. prgtoken Throughout his career, Dr. Hynes has committed himself to service through education. He previously served as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Professor of Mass Communication at the University of West Georgia. Prior to his time at West Georgia, he served in various departments at the University of Louisville for eighteen years. Outside of his university experience, Dr. Hynes has greatly benefitted our community. He has served as the overall Chair for the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce, the Chair of the Chamber's Education Committee, a member of the Fayette County and Metro Atlanta Chambers of Commerce, and on the Atlanta Regional Commission, amongst many other local and national positions. I express my deepest appreciation for the dedication that Dr. Hynes has given to the Thirteenth District and the state of Georgia. prgtoken Throughout his various tenures, Dr. Hynes has instilled his students and others around him with exemplary values. He has led by example to reflect the importance of service to our communities. He has facilitated and encouraged an open exchange of ideas, a principle too often overlooked in a contentious world. Dr. Hynes has taught his students to pursue excellence through knowledge and to uplift themselves through a quest to reach their full potential. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Hynes for the impact he has left on future generations and I thank him for his ability to connect with his students in such a powerful way. prgtoken Madam , I congratulate Dr. Hynes on his retirement from Clayton State University and I wish him continued success, health, and happiness in the future. CSU is also prepared for continued greatness, thanks to Dr. Hynes' commitment to Strategic Plan 2022, an initiative that will give students the resources they need to succeed in a changing world, with an emphasis on community involvement. prgtoken May God continue to bless Dr. Thomas J. Hynes, Jr and Clayton State University.
Police Departments (Executive Calendar)
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-6-16

. As you heard from the chairman of the committee, he only intends on taking one crime out of the chain of command, and that is sexual assault. And the reason why that is so problematic is, No. 1, it will continue to undermine women in the military, marginalize them and isolate them, creating a ``pink court'' that all legal experts have agreed would be highly ineffective and would harm the military justice system. prgtoken Second, our allies have already made this move. They have taken all serious crimes out of the chain of command and given it to trained military prosecutors in the UK, Israel, Germany, Netherlands, and Australia. In those instances, they did it specifically for defendants' rights. And we have a similar problem in this country because right now we have a great deal of racial bias in who gets punished. prgtoken If you are Black or Brown in the U.S. military today, you are 2.5 times more likely to be punished. And most commanders are White commanders. There is further data that shows most Black and Brown servicemembers have either experienced or witnessed racism within the ranks. prgtoken If we want to fix this criminal justice system, you need a bright line, and it should be at all serious crimes. That is how we fix the military justice system. That is how we give justice to sexual assault survivors. prgtoken And for the chairman to say today that it would cost too much money or that they don't have sufficient resources or sufficient lawyers, it isn't true. And those are the same arguments that were used over the last 8 years about excluding sexual assault from the chain of command as well. prgtoken So I don't think these are legitimate arguments. I think they are brought up year after year as just a way to put an impediment in front of the reform that is needed to fix the system. prgtoken I now yield the floor to my colleague Senator Grassley.
VOTE EXPLANATION
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-6-16

due to a family medical emergency, I was unable to attend today's votes on motion to invoke cloture and confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 148, Radhika Fox, of California, to be an Assistant prgtoken Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Had I been able to attend, I would have voted yea on the motion and yea on confirmation. prgtoken , due to a family medical emergency, I was unable to attend today's votes on motion to invoke cloture and confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 173, Lydia Kay Griggsby, of Maryland, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland. Had I been able to attend, I would have voted yea on cloture and confirmation. prgtoken , due to a family medical emergency, I was unable to attend today's vote on the motion to invoke cloture of Executive Calendar No. 123, Tommy P. Beaudreau, of Alaska, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior. Had I been able to attend, I would have voted yea on the motion.
A MOMENT OF THANKS
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-6-16

it is not often when you can stand on the floor of the House and use the terminology: I feel full or filled. prgtoken It is a terminology that many of us are familiar with in the religious communities of our Black American tradition. prgtoken But after a journey of 10 years, I just want to take this moment to thank all of my colleagues, and s, who showed America that there is unity in the understanding of our history, that the history of slavery is the original sin and should never be ignored. prgtoken But now we have a national independence holiday for Juneteenth. Let us come together. prgtoken I thank Senator Markey; Senator Cornyn; Senator Smith; our friend Danny Davis; Doug Matthews; the Moody family; and, of course, Reverend Thomas and many others from the Galveston area; Opal Lee; and the father of Juneteenth, the late Representative Al Edwards. prgtoken Opal Lee still lives. She brought 1.6 million petitions to the United States Congress in the dead of summer. prgtoken On behalf of all who have waited for this, I thank them. And to the Congressional Black Caucus, Joyce Beatty as the Chair, we stand here as the conscience of the Congress thanking them with all my colleagues. prgtoken Again, we say our message is our power. We are here to serve, and there is more to come in changing lives for justice, equality, and freedom. That is what happened today.
Senate Legislative Agenda (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-6-16

Senators are moving forward this week on two major legislative initiatives: infrastructure and voting rights. prgtoken Bipartisan infrastructure talks continue in our Senate committees and among our Members. prgtoken Remember, discussions about infrastructure, both physical and human, are proceeding along two tracks. The first track is bipartisan, and I understand there has been some progress. The second track pulls in elements of President 's American Jobs and Families Plan and will be considered by the Senate even if it does not have bipartisan support. prgtoken Today, we are going to start moving the trains down the second track. I will convene a meeting with all the Members of the majority party on the Senate Budget Committee to begin the important work of producing a budget resolution for the Senate to consider. This is something we have planned for quite a while, but we are moving forward today after having individual discussions which I have had with many members of the Budget Committee. prgtoken It is a diverse committee. Senator Sanders is the Chair. Senators Warner and Kaine are on it as well. prgtoken There are many items to discuss, but one subject is not up to debate. I will instruct members to ensure that any budget resolution puts the United States on track to reduce carbon pollution at a scale commensurate with the climate crisis. We need significant reductions in emissions through clean energy and electric vehicles, as well as funding to help manufacturers and farmers be a part of the solution in fighting climate change. prgtoken The American Families Plan, as well, is essential to the forthcoming budget resolution and must be robustly funded. prgtoken The Senate will also vote on major voting rights legislation before the end of June. prgtoken Yesterday, the ic caucus hosted a group of ic lawmakers from Texas who led the dramatic walkout to prevent the Texas legislators from passing one of the most draconian voting laws in our country. It was a powerful meeting. We heard moving testimony from five different lawmakers about the vicious, nasty, even bigoted attacks against voting rights in their State. prgtoken The actions taken were totally partisan, just like those in all the other legislatures. So the idea that this can have some kind of bipartisan solution befuddles me, because every action taken in the legislature is done just with State Senators, assembly members, with no ic participation or input. In fact, the Texas legislators told us they were deliberately excluded from certain meetings and conference committee hearings. prgtoken Speaking for our caucus, we were all taken by the courage of the Texas legislators, their fortitude, and, most importantly, by their mission to defend the right of every American to be able to access the ballot, not just in Texas but across the country. These lawmakers in one State put ev
CLIMATE CRISIS
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2021-6-16

I want to thank my very able colleague, Congressman Casten, for the opportunity to join him and Congresswoman Castor, the leaders of this marvelous committee on climate change. I thank them very much for leading our country and world in this regard. prgtoken My goal as chair of the House Energy and Water Subcommittee is to help them and help our generation embrace prgtoken a better future for those that will follow. We must sustain life on Earth. Let us all help our country and world meet the challenges as we face the dawn of this new climate change era. prgtoken The clean energy future of our Nation and our ability to reboot and reenergize the domestic manufacturing economy depends on climate- related infrastructure programs for inventing that new future. Addressing climate change will create and even bring back good paying jobs right here at home. Addressing climate change is our portal to sustain life on Earth for generations to come. prgtoken Headlines coast to coast, as others have referenced, tell part of the story. Yes, the Earth is warming. The rate of increase for damaging weather events is unrelenting. Each of us, and each of our districts, have personally experienced the impacts of this historic change. If we fail to address the hastening crisis, it is to our collective peril. prgtoken As a small first step, I would urge every American who may be listening to plant trees. Yes, everyone can do something. A first simple step is to plant a tree to capture the carbon that is already in the air, and the tree will produce oxygen to help you breathe, and to help your children breathe and your neighbors. It is amazing what happens. prgtoken Cleveland, Ohio, used to be known as ``forest city.'' We have a big job to do in replanting many of the trees that have aged-out over the years, and making Cleveland, and places like it, a much more oxygen- rich community. prgtoken Addressing climate change will help human health. As America stands at a crossroads in this new energy age, we must ensure that infrastructure includes strategic investments in energy, clean energy, climate, and water resources innovation. prgtoken Technologies and innovation driven by the Department of Energy are already helping to address climate change. They already have markedly driven down the cost of wind, solar, energy storage, and efficient lightbulbs by 60 to 95 percent just since 2008, and we are not done yet. They have led to widespread deployment and consumer savings. prgtoken New innovations will lead to new opportunities. In my own home region, I was very pleased to be at the birth of a company called First Solar, now the largest in the Nation, invented locally using cadmium- telluride technology. And now, just recently in the past month, First Solar has announced the hiring of an additional 500 new employees in good jobs to match the thousands they already employ, to meet an unmet market demand. prgtoken Reversing the impacts of clima