mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO PAUL SOGLIN
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat, WI) \u2014 2019-5-23

today I wish to recognize the exceptional career and legacy of Madison, WI's longest serving Mayor, Paul Soglin. Mayor Soglin spent his many years in office as driving force behind Madison's extraordinary economic success and high quality of life. prgtoken Paul Soglin was raised in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, where he excelled academically at Highland Park High School. He graduated with honors from University of Wisconsin--Madison in 1966 and from the UW-Madison Law School in 1972. prgtoken Soglin gained national notoriety on campus as an activist for social and political change. He frequently protested American military involvement in the Vietnam war and demonstrated against Dow Chemical Company for its role in manufacturing napalm and Agent Orange for use in Vietnam. Beaten by police during the protests, Soglin became a respected voice on campus. During this trying time in our Nation's past, Soglin demonstrated his enduring commitment to peace and civil rights. prgtoken Soglin won election to the Madison City Council in 1968, representing the city's student wards. Four years later, he accomplished one of the biggest upsets in Madison history by defeating two-term incumbent William Dyke, becoming the youngest mayor in the city's history. During his first term as mayor, he established Madison's Civic Center to showcase the city's growing arts scene. He made tremendous improvements to the city's public transit system and transformed State Street into an iconic pedestrian mall, one of Madison's defining landmarks. prgtoken After leaving public office to teach at Harvard in 1979, Soglin returned to Madison to practice law and was twice reelected to lead Wisconsin's capital city. In all, he served as Madison's 51st, 54th, and 57th mayor. During his second stint as mayor, Soglin accomplished one of his crowning achievements, breaking through a 70-year debate to build the Monona Terrace Convention Center that Frank Lloyd Wright designed for Madison's Lake Monona's shoreline. He is also credited with invigorating Madison's economy and rebuilding its declining downtown. prgtoken Through his more than two decades of investment in infrastructure, the arts, and recreation, Paul Soglin has helped build a welcoming and flourishing city that appears often on lists of the Nation's most livable cities. Throughout this growth, he has also fought to ensure that Madison's resources and assets are available to all city residents, regardless of their economic standing. prgtoken In addition to Paul Soglin's remarkable public service, I feel fortunate to know him as a lifelong family friend. From my earliest memories of Paul teaching me how to throw a Frisbee to his generous moving reflections at my mother's memorial service, Paul Soglin has provided me with encouragement and inspiration. prgtoken As he begins his next chapter after 22 years of service, he leaves with the knowledge that he has left an indeli
TAX REFORM
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2019-5-23

there was an article in the paper today telling us something that surprises nobody in this Chamber, really, on either side, surveying the tax packages, the proposals from and s, and making the contrast, and it said the ic tax packages are significantly better for the middle class than the tax package. prgtoken We know what happened 2-plus years ago when the Finance Committee, in the middle of the night, kept writing new language and biasing it towards the wealthiest people in the county. prgtoken We know that the tax bill, voted for by the majority, opposed by all of us because over 75 percent of the benefits, over time, went to the richest 1 percent. Contrast that with our Working Families Tax Relief Act, which focuses on middle-class and working-class taxpayers, focuses on the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit under the theory that, if you cut taxes for the rich, which s always do, that the money trickles down, but it doesn't trickle down. They say it is going to trickle down and help the middle class. Well, it really never does. prgtoken I heard President promise a group of us in the White House that everybody would get a $4,000 raise and several thousand dollars in tax cuts for middle-class families--it just didn't happen. prgtoken The way you grow the economy is you focus on the middle class, you cut taxes for the middle class, put money in their pocket, they spend it in local communities. You cut taxes for the rich, it goes to a Swiss bank account or wherever it goes. prgtoken So the newspaper today said what everybody already knows, that the best way to grow the economy, the best way to help this country, the best way to help the middle class is--surprise--cut taxes for the middle class. That is what the Working Families Tax Relief Act does. It helps working class kids. prgtoken The tax bill pretended to cut taxes through the child tax credit. For the child tax credit, it actually left 26 million children out. Our legislation focuses on those 26 million children. They are not children of the rich. They are children of the middle class. They are working families. They are low-income kids. prgtoken So it is clear that that is the way this body should go. I understand who has the votes. I understand that the President of the United States--where the White House looks like a retreat for Wall Street executives--the President of the United States can always jam another tax cut for billionaires through this body. prgtoken But let's do the right thing and actually put our focus on working families. prgtoken .
IN HONOR OF REVEREND DOCTOR EMMETT SCOTT ANITON, JR.
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2019-5-23

. Madam , I rise today to honor an outstanding Man of God, a devoted spiritual leader, and dear friend of longstanding, Rev. Dr. Emmett S. Aniton, Jr who will be celebrating his 40th anniversary as the distinguished pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia on Friday, May 24, 2019, at 6:30pm. prgtoken Emmett Scott Aniton, Jr. was born on March 8, 1940, in Oneonta, Alabama to the union of Mr. Emmett Scott Aniton, Sr. and Mrs. Estella Aniton Woods. He attended Southside High School in Etowah County, Alabama, where he graduated in 1959, before earning his Bachelor of Theology degree from Selma University in 1964. He entered the United States Army and completed a tour of duty in Qui Nho'n, Vietnam, and returned home to Alabama where he matriculated at Alabama A&M University, earning Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in 1971. prgtoken After responding to God's call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Rev. Aniton pastored the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Alabama from 1966 to March of 1979. For more than 12 years, Rev. Aniton was the shepherd at First Baptist where he ministered to the needs of his flock christening babies, baptizing believers, performing marriages, and consoling bereaved families, while developing and honing his skills as a church administrator and inspiring preacher. prgtoken Then in November of 1978, the congregation of Friendship Baptist Church called and the Holy Spirit sent Rev. Aniton to Columbus, Georgia. His pastoral duties began in April of 1979 and he has faithfully and effectively served for over 40 years. Under Reverend Aniton's dynamic and spirit-filled leadership, the Friendship Baptist Church has experienced tremendous growth--spiritually, numerically, and in its physical facilities. But most importantly, under his leadership, Friendship has prgtoken been a beacon of hope and salvation for the congregation through its many ministries which share the good news of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. prgtoken Yet, Madam , the outstanding servant leadership demonstrated by Rev. Aniton did not stop at Friendship Baptist Church. His impact has been felt in the larger community and beyond. He has served on the boards of the Pastoral Institute, the Liberty Theatre, the Metro Columbus Urban League, and the Fourth Street Towers. He has been President of the Mount Calvary Congress of Christian Education and the Muscogee County Clergy Association; instructor for the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia Congress of Christian Education and the American Baptist Theological Seminary (off-campus). He received the NAACP Religious Affairs Award, Rainbow PUSH Coalition Lifetime Achievement Award, the PUHL (Peace, Unity, Honesty, and Leadership) Award; and in May of 2011, received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity Degree from St. Thomas Christian College in Jacksonville, Florida. prgtoken Reverend Aniton has achieved much in his life, but none of it would have
MEMORIAL DAY
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2019-5-23

on this Memorial Day, I join all Americans in recognizing the brave men and women in uniform who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. Freedom is not free; it costs the blood shed by America's sons and daughters, who unselfishly served their country and laid down their lives for its protection. The impact of their sacrifice is enduring, forever felt by the parents, spouses, children, friends, and loved ones they left behind. prgtoken Army CPT Brian Bunting, known by all his friends as Bubba, grew up in Potomac, MD. He was a distinguished athlete and scholar during his 6 years at the Bullis School, and chose to attend the U.S. Military Academy. Shortly after the September 11 terrorist attacks, Brian graduated in 2002 and was commissioned as an Army officer. Brian was known for his infectious laughter and humor and eventually married Nicole Pascal Bunting in 2006; Nikki had known Brian since the sixth grade. Shortly after Nicole gave birth to their infant son, Connor, Brian would answer the call of duty when activated by the Individual Ready Reserve to deploy to Afghanistan with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. During his deployment, he returned home for leave and was able to spend a short period with his wife and son, Connor. A few days after his return to Afghanistan, Brian was killed by a roadside bomb in Kandahar on February 24, 2009. At the age of 29, not only did Brian leave behind his wife Nikki and infant son Connor, but he also left behind another son, Cooper, who would be born months after Brian's death. prgtoken I remember the sacrifice of Baltimore native SGT Damion G. Campbell. The Forest Park High School faculty described Damion as being ``very mild-tempered and sophisticated,'' as someone who served as a leader and role model for younger students. Damion's mother, Donna Robinson, described him as an ``outgoing, fun-loving and joyful person'' who was passionate about the Army. Sergeant Campbell was a 23-year-old Army medic serving in Afghanistan and was killed in action on August 26, 2005, when a bomb exploded near his vehicle during a patrol in the Khayr Kot district. We remember him today for his ultimate sacrifice and thank him for his service and passion for America. prgtoken Like Sergeant Campbell, Army SPL Toccara Green of Rosedale, MD, also excelled at Forest Park High School, where she spent all 4 years in the Junior ROTC program. She graduated from high school in 2000 and attended Norfolk State University in Virginia, prgtoken where she studied telecommunications and broadcasting. In 2002, Toccara joined the Army and was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division. While she was deployed to Iraq, part of her job was operating a 50-caliber machine gun on an Army supply truck during convoy operations, a critical role to protect the convoy and thwart enemy attacks. She once told her family ``her ideal situation was to go out fighting for our country.'
SETTING EVERY COMMUNITY UP FOR RETIREMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2019
Linda T. Sánchez (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2019-5-23

. Madam , I rise in support of the SECURE Act. I thank Chairman Richard Neal for his tireless efforts to get this legislation across the finish line. prgtoken I have been proud to support versions of this bill for many years, and I am pleased that one of my bills has been included. My piece of this package offers a simple yet impactful way for small businesses across the country to better afford retirement plans for their employees. prgtoken Too many Americans simply aren't putting enough money away to ensure a secure retirement. Today's bill takes important steps to strengthen access to retirement security for hardworking Americans, and I am proud to have contributed one piece to solving this puzzle. prgtoken But we still have a lot of work to do. I look forward to the passage of the SECURE Act today, and I am ready to keep working on the Ways and Means Committee to continue addressing our national retirement savings crisis. prgtoken Madam , I again thank Chairman Neal.
SETTING EVERY COMMUNITY UP FOR RETIREMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2019
Bradley Scott Schneider (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2019-5-23

. Madam , I rise in strong support of the SECURE Act. prgtoken A secure and dignified retirement is a critical part of the American Dream, but for too many seniors, this aspiration is falling increasingly out of reach. prgtoken I am pleased that this House is taking action today in response. Our bill will help more Americans save for retirement by allowing workers to participate in 401(k) plans. prgtoken Additionally, the legislation makes it easier for small businesses to offer retirement plans to their employees and help small businesses set up automatic enrollment programs. It replaces antiquated barriers slowing the adoption of multiemployer plans and improves the quality of service providers. prgtoken The AARP estimates that these changes will lead to more than 700,000 new retirement accounts. prgtoken Finally, as we approach Memorial Day and reflect on the ultimate sacrifice made by fallen servicemembers and their families, I am pleased this legislation fixes a provision in the 2017 tax law that increased taxes on survivor benefits paid by families. Our Gold Star families already deal with the unimaginable loss of a loved one; they should not also be facing a tax increase. prgtoken Madam , I am so proud this legislation was a bipartisan effort in the Ways and Means Committee, and I urge my colleagues to support this important bill to improve retirement security.
REMEMBERING MAMA LILA CABBIL
Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2019-5-23

earlier this month, community members came together to celebrate the life of Lila Cabbil, affectionately known as Mama Lila, or Ms. Cabbil, a dedicated and well-known activist and a member of our community. prgtoken With genuine respect for her legacy, we join with the community in celebrating Ms. Cabbil, remembering the impact she continues to have on so many people and hold her tight to her family. She will be sincerely missed and long remembered. Mama Lila lived to serve and advocate for a better quality of life for her community. prgtoken Born in North Carolina and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Mama Lila possessed a strong sense of justice and willingness to stand against injustices. She became involved with the civil rights movement and was a close friend of Rosa Parks. prgtoken Mama Lila soon became a prominent leader in the movement, becoming the president of the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development. She has been a tireless advocate for economic and social justice, as well as for food and water justice in the city of Detroit. prgtoken In addition, Mama Lila has served as an educator for younger generations, advocating for greater social awareness and sensitivity. She facilitated dialogue across cultures and built relationships in order to address systematic oppression and combat racism. prgtoken We offer our words of praise as a memorial for Mama Lila. May her family find comfort in their faith and their memories of this fine person and her distinguished life.
HELPING FAMILIES ACHIEVE LIFETIME FINANCIAL SECURITY
Steven Horsford (Democrat, NV) \u2014 2019-5-23

. Madam , I rise today to join my colleagues in support of the SECURE Act, a bill that gets to the heart of our retirement income crisis. prgtoken Unfortunately, too many of my constituents are in danger of not having enough money to put away for retirement. In fact, 86 percent of Nevadans do not feel financially prepared for retirement, and most older Nevadans wished they had saved more money. prgtoken Fortunately, the SECURE Act will make it easier for Nevadans to save for their retirement. It makes it easier for small businesses to offer retirement plans to their employees, allows part-time workers to participate in 401(k) plans, and provides relief to pension plans, ranging from rural co-ops to organizations like the Jewish Federation of America. prgtoken I am also proud to share that this legislation includes my bill, H.R. 2806, which fixes a provision in the flawed tax plan that raised the tax rate for scholarship and fellowship students up to 37 percent. prgtoken As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I would like to thank Chairman Neal for his leadership in getting this bipartisan bill passed unanimously through our committee. prgtoken The SECURE Act will help families achieve lifetime financial security, a core of the American Dream. I urge every Member of this body to support its passage.
S. 151
Edward J. Markey (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2019-5-23

I rise in support of the TRACED Act, a piece of legislation that will help all Americans deal with the epidemic of robocalls, which afflicts them and their families every single day of the year. prgtoken I thank Chairman Wicker for all of his assistance in moving this legislation expeditiously through the legislative process. prgtoken I thank my partner, Senator Thune from South Dakota. He and I have worked very hard to reach this moment where and s can come together on an issue, which we all agree is something that we have to address in a very serious way. prgtoken So this question of robocalls and their role in American society, well, it is a daily deluge of calls that Americans experience. It is more than a nuisance in 2019. It is a consumer protection crisis. prgtoken Americans across the country face an epidemic of robocalls bombarding landlines and mobile phones. While our phones were once a reliable means of communication, they have been turned against us and are now mechanisms for scammers and fraudsters who wish to do us harm. The numbers are staggering. prgtoken In 2018, consumers received an estimated 48 billion robocalls--18 billion more than in 2017. That is 131 million robocalls per day--more than 5 million calls an hour, more than 1,000 calls per second in the United States, and nearly 500 million robocalls to Massachusetts residents alone. prgtoken The reality is that we no longer have confidence in our phones. What was once a trusted means of communication, our phone has become a tool for fraud, scams, harassment, and an avenue by which individuals with bad intent can access our homes, our purses, or our pockets at any time. prgtoken Caller ID is not trusted. Important calls go unanswered. Innocent Americans are defrauded. Our seniors, in particular, are targeted. Robocalls are a menace. But today, the U.S. Senate is saying loud and clear that robocall relief is in sight. prgtoken I am proud to partner with Senator John Thune from South Dakota on the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act, or TRACED Act. Our legislation cracks down on scammers that now account for nearly one-half of all of the robocalls in our country. It is an unbelievable number. One-half of all of the robocalls are now being delivered by scammers trying to take advantage of innocent Americans. prgtoken Years ago, scammers needed expensive, sophisticated equipment to robocall and robotext consumers en masse. Today, they just need a prgtoken smartphone to target thousands of phones an hour at literally very little expense. So something has changed, and we know it has changed, and this is our opportunity here today to do something about it. prgtoken These new technologies allow illegal robocallers to conduct fraud anonymously, depriving both Federal regulators and consumers the ability to identify and punish the culprit. By passing this legislation today, we are sending a
SETTING EVERY COMMUNITY UP FOR RETIREMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2019
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-5-23

. Madam , I rise to speak in support of the ``Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019.'' prgtoken H.R. 1994, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act helps Americans to save more for a secure retirement and delivering a urgently needed fix for Gold Star military families facing drastic tax hikes under the GOP tax scam. prgtoken This legislation: prgtoken Makes it easier for small businesses to offer retirement plans to their employees; prgtoken Ensures that hard-working home health care workers can receive retirement benefits; and, prgtoken Eliminates the unexpected and unfair enormous tax increases caused by the GOP tax scam that were on the survivorship benefits of children in Gold Star military families already facing the extraordinary hardship of losing a loved one. prgtoken The spouses of our fallen heroes sometimes sign over earned benefits to their children to ensure the family receives all benefits. prgtoken This bill will help Gold Star Families who are being taxed unfairly by the Tax Cut. prgtoken But because the new tax law brought changes to how children's assets are taxed, many Gold Star Families are required to pay thousands of additional dollars in taxes on survivor benefits--a crushing blow to families who have already given so much to our country. prgtoken Prior to the Tax Cut Scam, money given by the military to the children of troops who died on duty were taxed at the same rate as their surviving parents. prgtoken But under 's tax cuts the changes included in the December 2017 tax law overhaul, those benefits were instead treated the same as family estate transfers, which increased the tax rate from no more than 15 percent to up to 37 percent. prgtoken This change significantly raised the tax bills for many of those military families. prgtoken It is important to provide these needed changes to protect Gold Star Families, and I look forward to the additional changes that are under way to help others hurt by the inequity of the tax hike for the very rich.