mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
National Defense Authorization Act (Executive Calendar)
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2020-10-19

in July, the Senate passed the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, with 86 Senators from both sides of the aisle voting in support of it. prgtoken I am glad that we had such a strong vote because I believe--and I have always believed--it is the most important vote, most important bill that we do all year. The NDAA, as we call it--that stands for National Defense Authorization Act--is how Congress provides the policy and resources for our national defense for the ensuing year, and it always passes by a bipartisan bill. And it has now for 60 years in a row. Well, not quite 60. It is 59 years. It will be 60 when this bill is concluded. prgtoken There is not much we do around here anymore on a bipartisan basis for this long, but the NDAA is special. Here is why: Because each and every American benefits from the bill--each family, each community in each State. Oklahoma is no exception to this rule. What makes Oklahoma special is this. Just as much as this bill takes care of Oklahoma, Oklahoma takes care of the country by the very nature of those things, those functions that we perform each year, militarily. prgtoken As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have already been down here a lot talking about the NDAA and how this bill protects all Americans, how it cares for our military families, and how it gives our military the resources needed to defend this Nation. prgtoken Confession is good for the soul. I have to admit, as chairman, I made certain that the NDAA did the maximum benefit possible for Oklahoma. I want to talk a little bit about what the NDAA does for Oklahoma and how what we do in Oklahoma makes the rest of the country more secure-- because it does. prgtoken Oklahoma is home to some of the Department of Defense's most valuable installations and assets, and it has been this way for the better part of a century. It is also the epicenter of public-private collaboration, where industry partners and universities and others work in close coordination with our military. prgtoken The defense programs based in Oklahoma protect our military advantage, making sure that we stay ahead--or, I should say, even better and more accurately now, get ahead of our competitors, especially China and Russia. I think we all understand now China and Russia are the greatest threat facing this Nation. We allowed them to-- I don't say this critically of the previous administration, but during the previous administration, a lot of our military actually suffered some 25 percent, in terms of appropriations, during the last 5 years. That would have been from fiscal year 2000 to fiscal year 2015, and so we, in some areas, are not ahead of China and Russia. prgtoken I have been around for a long time. I am a lot older than some of the other people in here, and I remember the administrations since World War II. I always prided ourselves in that we had the very best of everything. We learned
Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett (Executive Calendar)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2020-10-19

I want to start tonight by just making a few remarks regarding what is ahead of us in the next few days, and that is the debate about a Supreme Court Justice. I won't be able to cover everything tonight that I want to cover, but I will just make some preliminary comments about healthcare, which has been the driving debate in this nomination or at least the issue that has dominated the debate so far. prgtoken We made, in my judgment, great progress in 2010, when the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was passed. Some refer to that statute as Care, which isn't really the name of the statute and doesn't adequately describe what it is about. The patient protection part of the act--or the name of the statute--is the part that I think involves most Americans, all the coverages that are provided, all the protections, I should say, that are provided. One example of that, of course, is the protection for preexisting conditions. The state of the law prior to that was if an insurance company did not want to cover someone because of a preexisting condition, they had the authority to do that or they could cover the person but charge them more. That is no longer permitted, and in a State like Pennsylvania, that number--the number of people who are protected by that provision of the law because they have a preexisting condition--that number is 5.5 million people. Nationally, it is as high as 135 million. So we know what is at stake in the debate, and it just so happens in this context that it is part of the debate about the Supreme Court nominee, Judge Barrett. prgtoken I have a threshold, initial concern that is even before we get to the debate about the Affordable Care Act and what might happen to it by virtue of the lawsuit filed that is now before the Court with an argument date of November 10. I think that is the primary reason for the rush of her nomination--so that she can be a member of the Court for that argument on November 10 and make that decision, which I think is highly likely to be a decision against upholding the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. prgtoken The threshold concern I have, though, is just the way this process has unfolded, not just more recently but over time. The President, when he was a candidate, said he would choose from a list that was developed basically by prgtoken two groups: the Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation. They came up with a list, and that is the list he said he would choose from. That list was expanded when he became President. prgtoken Judge Barrett was on that list, Justice Kavanaugh, Justice Gorsuch-- you can see the pattern there. I don't want a Supreme Court that is chosen by those two groups, but, so far, that is what the President has decided to do. prgtoken In this case, the rush is, I think, for that basic reason, that the majority party here and s in the House and a Presiden
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL UNDER CHAPTER 8 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER OF THE CURRENCY RELATING TO ``COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT...
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2020-10-19

today, I rise to urge my colleagues to take a stand for civil rights and basic financial fairness and join us in defense of the Community Reinvestment Act. I appreciate my distinguished colleagues from Delaware and the ranking on the Banking Committee, Senator Brown, for their remarks. prgtoken For more than four decades now, this core civil rights law has helped ensure that banks that do business in our low- and moderate-income communities actually invest--invest--in those communities. Before the Community Reinvestment Act, or CRA, as it is called, banks often avoided lending to customers and businesses in the lower income neighborhoods where they opened branches. This practice was known as redlining because, back then, banks would draw literal red lines around the communities that they did not want to lend money to. Not surprisingly, the communities that were redlined were African American, Latino, and low-income communities. prgtoken In essence, they were content to take the deposits from low- and moderate-income families, people of color, small businesses, and farms, but then they turned around and denied those very customers mortgages, loans, and other lines of credit. prgtoken The Community Reinvestment Act was enacted to put an end to that redlining and spur greater investment in our minority communities and lower income neighborhoods. But even today, we are still grappling with the socioeconomic and racial consequences of this systemic financial discrimination. prgtoken Many of our most impoverished neighborhoods are the same neighborhoods that were redlined decades ago. It is one of the reasons that the generational wealth of Black and Brown Americans remains drastically lesser than those of their White counterparts. That is why we have to reject the administration's proposed rule changes to the Community Reinvestment Act. prgtoken The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's--the OCC--CRA new rule would result in significantly fewer loans, investments, and services to low- and moderate-income communities, and it would permit banks to avoid businesses and investments in these neighborhoods. In essence, it would lead to a new form of modern-day redlining, all with the Federal Government's blessing. It is no wonder why civil rights groups, including the NAACP and the Leadership Council on Civil and Human Rights, have fought so hard against this rule. They do not want banks to be given the green light to discriminate against minority and low-income consumers. Make no mistake--industry stakeholders and regulators are just as divided over the administration's actions. That is why, in fact, neither the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation nor the Federal Reserve has joined in this effort. Neither of them has joined in this effort. prgtoken That is why I urge our colleagues to do the right thing and repeal this harmful new CRA rule. prgtoken In a year where the entren
REMEMBERING NORMAN HARRY
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2020-10-19

I come forward today to recognize the life and service of Norman Harry, wise leader of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, fierce advocate for the environment and a friend to all Nevadans. On the morning of August 11, 2020, Mr. Harry passed peacefully at his home in Nixon, NV, his family surrounding him in love. He was 65 years old. prgtoken Mr. Harry was born to Floyd and Charlotte Harry on October 20, 1954, and was raised on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation in addition to spending time with family on the Walker River Paiute Reservation. At Fernley High School, he played basketball and was a member of the rodeo club, going on to gain recognition as a competitive team roper and talented rodeo photographer as a young man. prgtoken On December 21, 1990, he married Beverly, and together, they have a son, Jared, and a daughter, Autumn. He was dedicated to his family and to his people and was recognized as a national leader in the environmental justice movement as he was a tireless advocate for his people, the lands, the water, and the bounty our natural world provides. prgtoken Mr. Harry's legacy includes his historic work protecting Northern Nevada's Pyramid Lake. Under his leadership, the Truckee River Operating Agreement was completed and settled decades of litigation over water rights and preserving the flow of water to Pyramid Lake and securing it for future generations. prgtoken Over the years, Mr. Harry served in many roles for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, including as Tribal chair for three terms and vice chair. He fought many battles to protect water quality in northern Nevada and waged a multiyear battle that ended the open burning of munitions at the Sierra Army Depot in Herlong, CA, a practice that sent toxic clouds eastward over the nearby Pyramid Lake Paiute tribal lands and northern Nevada. In 2005, he fought for the removal of 13 tons of rockets, shells, and ammunition from Pyramid Lake left by the military going back to World War II. He served as chairman of the board for Great Basin Mine Watch and, through his life, urged other Tribal leaders to get involved in protecting groundwater and environmental resources for the people. He mentored and taught countless other activists and organizers to champion issues of environmental protection. prgtoken Today, I celebrate the life and many contributions of Mr. Norman Harry, and I offer my sincere condolences to his family and Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. The State of Nevada is a better place because we were lucky enough to call Norman Harry one of our own. His activism, leadership, knowledge, and voice will be sorely missed.
Coronavirus (Executive Calendar)
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-10-19

I rise today to speak on behalf of people and small businesses in Michigan that are being left behind on this bill. As my friend from Florida has said, we can do something. The Senate ic leader is going to be offering us an opportunity to vote on something comprehensive that has been passed by the House that doesn't leave small businesses, families, healthcare providers, and the need for testing and tracing behind. prgtoken When I think about who is being left behind in this bill, I think of the single mom of two boys who is seeing her hours cut, and her paycheck has shrunk, and she is left behind by what we are being asked to vote on right now. There is no need for that. She doesn't know how she is going to keep the lights on. The weather is getting cold. prgtoken The 83-year-old retiree who is struggling to afford food and who goes to bed hungry night after night is being left behind on what we are being asked to vote on. That doesn't have to happen. We have an alternative that has passed the House that we can vote on and get this done today. prgtoken The owner of a small restaurant is being left behind. He has been able to stay open by offering takeout, but he is just barely--just barely--holding on, wanting specific help that is available through legislation introduced in the Senate, that is bipartisan, that is not in this bill. He is being left behind. prgtoken We are talking about the families who thought 2020 would be the year prgtoken they would finally get ahead, and then COVID hit, and now they are at risk of being evicted and losing their homes that brought their children stability for the first time. prgtoken There are the Michigan families who have lost loved ones--more than 7,000 grandmas and grandpas and moms and dads, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, cousins, neighbors, and friends. prgtoken People in Michigan aren't talking about a stimulus bill; they want a survival package because it is survival for them right now. Instead, s have introduced a bill that leaves our urgent health care needs, our families, and far too many businesses behind. prgtoken This proposal leaves behind the most important thing we need to do right now to get the pandemic under control. President has said that we will wake up one day and COVID-19 will have miraculously gone away. Oh, wouldn't that be great. But we are tired of waiting and getting up every day and being faced with the threat of COVID-19. prgtoken If we want people to send their kids to school, reopen their businesses, get back to work, be able to go shopping at their small businesses, to be able to eat at their restaurants, then we need to make sure things are safe. Right now, it is not safe. prgtoken COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and deaths are spiking all across the country. The White House is still resisting a national testing strategy, as if it is some kind of giveaway to
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Mazie K. Hirono (Democrat, HI) \u2014 2020-10-19

there is no shortage of examples showing how our Nation systemically fails communities of color and other minorities, but the events of 2020--namely COVID-19 and the killings of Black Americans--have brought heightened attention and urgency to addressing inequities and disparities throughout our nation. Tragically, these inequities and disparities pervade our health care system, resulting in poor health outcomes and barriers to care for far too many communities. prgtoken , I believe that healthcare is a right--not a privilege--and that this right should extend to everyone in our Nation. Yet, this is not the case. Our Nation falls short in ensuring that right to everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, immigration status, or any other factor, which is why I am reintroducing the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA). This bill is a comprehensive blueprint of bold policy solutions that address a wide spectrum of health equity concerns. prgtoken Despite progress made through the Affordable Care Act, health care access remains a problem in the U.S with minority communities disproportionately facing barriers to coverage. HEAA expands access to health care for many communities in need including immigrant communities, rural communities, and of particular importance to my state, citizens of the Freely Associated States who are living in our country under the Compacts of Free Association. prgtoken We know that diversity in our health care workforce can improve health outcomes, and yet racial and ethnic minorities remain underrepresented in our health professions. HEAA seeks to address the lack of diversity in our health workforce through loan repayment programs and health professions fellowships. The bill would also help providers better serve a diverse patient population with culturally and linguistically appropriate health care services through investments like cultural competency education and expanded language access services to assist the over 12 percent of Hawaii residents and about 8 percent of people nationwide with limited English proficiency. prgtoken Women, children, and adolescents often face additional barriers and disparities in accessing information, health education, health services, and coverage. HEAA aims to dismantle those barriers and address a range of infant, maternal, sexual, and reproductive health needs, particularly for prgtoken marginalized and underserved communities. For example, HEAA would invest in sexual health education for underserved, minority, and LGBTQ youth and link them to services related to positive health behaviors. The bill also seeks to address our country's tragically high maternal mortality rate, particularly for Black women, who have a maternal mortality rate three to five times that of White women. HEAA would expand services to pregnant and postpartum women, develop maternal health ini
CORONAVIRUS (Executive Calendar)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2020-10-19

COVID-19 has changed just about every aspect of American life--every aspect. The bottom line is very simple: The way Americans work, the way we send our kids to school, and the way we run our businesses have all changed. COVID has derailed the economy. prgtoken Millions of Americans have missed the rent, missed the mortgage, applied for unemployment, been forced to skip meals. American poverty is beginning to increase more dramatically. More than 8 million have gotten sick. More than 220,000 have died. prgtoken The response here in Congress to a pandemic that affects our country in a way we haven't seen in decades should be to comprehensively provide relief. Our mission is not to pick out one or two industries and say ``maybe later'' to the rest. We can't privilege a small issue here or there and ask everyone else to wait. Our mission is to deliver big for a country and a people who are suffering direly. Our mission is to meet the needs of the country and leave no one--and leave no one-- behind. prgtoken But Leader McConnell and the majority have failed to grasp the gravity of this situation from the beginning. They put the Senate on pause for more than 5 months, while cases went up and the death toll mounted. When the time came for them to pull together in August, they couldn't even get Senators to agree on one. Eight months into this long and brutal crisis, the leader is filled with stunts and playing the smallest of small ball, when so many are hurting. prgtoken Today, the majority will try to force a stunt--not even a real vote on a bill--but it leaves almost the entire country out of the picture. They are holding the vote over a backdrop of a dire increase in cases. The majority of States are seeing spikes right now. Half of all States have had their highest single day ever in total cases in the last month. prgtoken Experts say we have hard months ahead of us. It is possible the worst is yet to come--a second wave. We must act now to provide relief to the whole country, and our leader and the Senate are up to a stunt and not even negotiating or putting a bill on the floor, and the American people know it. They know who is to blame. They blame President and the majority. We know that. prgtoken We know, when it comes to COVID, that the blame correctly falls on the shoulders of Leader McConnell and all his Senators, who are afraid to do anything, who are divided. Anytime Mr. Mnuchin gets on the phone with them, they say: Don't do anything. We are too divided. prgtoken Everyone knows that. prgtoken We must provide real relief. That is what want to do. But in the proposal today, there is no funding--zero funding-- for testing or tracing, the best way to stop this COVID menace. prgtoken And in the bill tomorrow, the funding for testing and the plan for testing is so completely in
Coronavirus (Executive Calendar)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2020-10-19

. ``Idiots.'' ``Idiots.'' That is what the President called Dr. Anthony Fauci and the public health experts in the Federal Government. prgtoken The President said: People are tired of COVID. I have the biggest rallies I've ever had. And we have COVID. People are saying: ``Whatever. Just leave us alone.'' They're tired of it. prgtoken Then he added: People are tired of hearing Fauci and these idiots, all these idiots who got it wrong. prgtoken Those are the words of the President of the United States, , in the midst of the worst pandemic America has seen in over a century--220,000 dead and counting. prgtoken What lies ahead with this COVID epidemic, which the President is so tired of hearing about? What have the so-called ``idiots'' told us about the future of COVID-19? Here is what they have told us: More than 70,450 new coronavirus cases were reported in the United States on Friday, the highest figure since July 24, according to the New York Times database. More than 900 new deaths were recorded, and over the past week, there have been an average of 56,615 cases per day--an increase of 30 percent from the average 2 weeks earlier. prgtoken Is this a political commentary, these facts? No. These are the numbers and statistics of reality--a reality which President refuses to acknowledge. prgtoken How are we doing when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the world? Well, we have five times the infection rate of the nation of Germany. What is going on here? The great United States of America has five times the infection rate of Germany? prgtoken Well, let's get across the ocean. Let's bring it to this side of the Atlantic. How are we doing in comparison to the nations here? Well, let's compare the United States to Canada. The COVID death rate in the United States is 2\1/2\ times the death rate in Canada. prgtoken What does Justin Trudeau know about this epidemic that did not? He knew that it took leadership to deal with it. He knew that we had to step up as a nation and gather together all the people of this country in common purpose to beat back this virus, and he failed to do it--President failed to do that. He said to the Governors ``You are on your own. Go out and find protective equipment. Find ventilators. See what you can do on the open market'' instead of using the power of the Presidency and the leadership of the Presidency to help make certain that every American had access to what they needed to stay safe. prgtoken How did he do in setting standards for dealing with this deadly virus? prgtoken First, he denied it was deadly. He argued it was going to go away. When it gets warm outside, it will go away. It is a hoax. You remember those statements. And do you remember that incredible press conference where the President went off on some tangent about disinfectant and Lysol? It was sickening to think that the leader of the free world w