mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
Teacher Appreciation Week (Executive Session)
John Boozman (Republican, AR) \u2014 2021-4-26

I rise today to recognize the extraordinary work of the teachers in Arkansas and across the country. prgtoken As we prepare to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, it is clear that educators are in a class by themselves when it comes to resilience. Over the last 12 months, they have shown us what it means to be selfless and brave at a time when both were critically necessary. prgtoken I am especially proud of teachers in Arkansas who rose to the challenge of leading classes 100 percent virtually for the first time and then embraced reopening our schools in August 2020. The sudden transition to virtual learning was an extraordinary hurdle, as educators had to learn new technology and new teaching techniques overnight. prgtoken For all of us who have learned to use Zoom, it is worth taking a moment to imagine an online classroom with 30 wiggling first graders who want to show you their pets, or that you are teaching calculus to high school students who are preparing for an AP exam while attending class from their car at a Wi-Fi hotspot. Somehow, with great creativity and dedication, teachers embraced this mission and continued to do everything they could to reach each child. prgtoken When Arkansas schools reopened in the fall, they were faced with a tremendous new challenge, from masks and social distancing to teaching classes, where some students were at their desks and others were on the screen. Arkansas teachers, once again, did the impossible for their students. prgtoken Over the last year, I have heard from educators who worried for their own health and safety but said their dedication to their students was stronger than fear. They learned new skills literally overnight, overhauled the curriculum, and reimagined every aspect of their classroom to comply with COVID-19 guidelines. Somehow, they also made our kids feel safe--safe enough to learn, set an example with their positive attitudes, and let students know how important they were, whether in the classroom or on a computer screen. prgtoken As they worked to maintain the academic progress of each child, they also provided a lifeline in an otherwise chaotic time. It is amazing to see the smiles on faces of the kids when they see their teachers. Even though nothing was normal, they gave students an escape back to normalcy by being there and continuing to do what they do best--teach. prgtoken When we look back at the heroes of this tumultuous time, it is clear that teachers will be among those we honor as society's most valuable players. prgtoken On behalf of the people of Arkansas, I want to thank our teachers for the great work that they have done this year and every year to bring out the best in each child and pave the way to a brighter future. prgtoken .
HONORING THE SERVICE OF PASTOR JOHN DAVID NUGENT
Brian Babin (Republican, TX) \u2014 2021-4-26

. Madam , I rise today to honor the faithful service of John David Nugent as he retires from his role of nearly 25 years as lead pastor at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Jasper, Texas. Under Pastor Nugent's leadership, the Hillcrest family has grown tremendously from 617 to 1,632 church members. Pastor Nugent's time at Hillcrest Baptist has also seen the construction and completion of a new campus for the church to call home. prgtoken Prior to his time at Hillcrest, Pastor Nugent became licensed in ministry in 1973 and was ordained on September 16, 1979, at Central Baptist Church in Monroe, Louisiana, where he served as associate pastor from 1977 until 1981. He would later go on to serve as pastor at First Baptist Church in Lone Pine, Louisiana; New Zion Baptist Church in Oak Grove, Louisiana; and First Baptist Church in Spurger, Texas, before making the move to Jasper. prgtoken Over the years, Pastor Nugent has held influential roles with the Sabine Valley Association, New Bethel Association, Bayou Macon Association, and Louisiana Association. prgtoken For nearly a half century, Pastor Nugent has been a steadfast servant of God and tirelessly devoted to furthering His kingdom. He has selflessly dedicated his time as pastor to improving the lives of his congregants, strengthening his community, and spreading the word of the Lord to all who would listen. It is no wonder why he is held in high regard by all who know him. Madam , I honor and thank my friend, Pastor Nugent, for his years of dutiful service.
COVID-19 HATE CRIMES ACT
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2021-4-27

I rise today to discuss the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. I was a cosponsor of this bill, which was introduced by Senator Hirono and passed the Senate on April 22, 2021, by a vote of 94 to 1. I was in Minnesota to attend the memorial service for Daunte Wright when the bill came up for a vote, but I would have voted in favor of the bill had I been present. prgtoken I have been alarmed by the sharp increase in hate crimes against members of the Asian-American Pacific Islander, AAPI, community during the pandemic. According to Stop AAPI Hate, there have been approximately 3,800 incidents of anti-Asian bias across the country in the last year, and that number only includes what has been reported. As we saw with the recent mass shooting in Georgia, in which six of the eight victims were women of Asian descent, these crimes are horrifying and heartbreaking. prgtoken I have also talked to constituents in my State who have experienced verbal attacks, physical abuse, and threats to their businesses simply because they are members of the AAPI community. What they have endured is not right. These are hate crimes, and it is time for us to stand together, to denounce hate, and take action. prgtoken When I first arrived at the Senate, I worked hard to pass the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. As a prosecutor, I was at the White House when President Bill Clinton introduced the bill, and 9 years later, I got to cast one of the deciding votes to make the bill a reality. Since then I have worked with Senator Murkowski to introduce the bipartisan Justice for Victims of Hate Crimes Act, which will help to ensure that Federal prosecutors can effectively enforce the Federal hate crimes law. After places of worship were targets of violence in my State, I joined my colleagues in cosponsoring legislation to strengthen protections for religious institutions that was signed into law in September 2018. prgtoken The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act will ensure that the Department of Justice invests the resources needed to fully investigate pandemic- related hate crimes against Asian Americans and will support local law enforcement to report and respond to hate crimes. While there is more we must do to root out hate and bias in our country, this bill is an important step forward, and I am grateful to Senator Hirono for her work in leading this legislation.
BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-4-27

today, the Senate will take up a series of votes to confirm three highly qualified nominees to the administration: Jason Miller for Deputy OMB Director, Janet McCabe for Deputy EPA Administrator, and Colin Kahl for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. prgtoken And then, later this afternoon, the Senate will move forward with the process to take up the bipartisan water infrastructure bill. I expect the Senate will do so with significant bipartisan support. prgtoken The water infrastructure bill is as noncontroversial as it gets. It was approved by the Environment and Public Works Committee on a unanimous consent vote--every single , every single --thanks to the good work of Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito. This water infrastructure bill is also a core component of the infrastructure proposal released last week. So I hope this legislation will serve as a starting point for our two parties to collaborate on infrastructure when and where we can. At the moment, Senators Carper, Duckworth, and Cardin continue discussions with Senators about possible amendments. prgtoken But let me be very clear: The Senate must conclude its work on the water infrastructure bill before the end of the week. prgtoken This is not a controversial bill or a complicated new program. In too many communities, access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water is not a guarantee. Surely, we can all agree that in America clean drinking water should be a fundamental guarantee. prgtoken The Senate must take first necessary steps to invest in communities with aging water infrastructure by passing this bill, and we must do so this week.
Public Service Recognition Week (Executive Calendar)
Kyrsten Sinema (Democrat, AZ) \u2014 2021-4-27

I rise today to introduce a bipartisan Senate resolution recognizing the thousands of Arizonans and millions more across America who go to work every day to serve their fellow citizens, protect our communities, and make our country a stronger place. prgtoken America's public servants work across our uniformed services, as well as in Federal, State, and local governments, to advance our country's health and safety. If we ever needed a reminder of the importance of our public servants, the past year has provided one. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic downturn, public servants kept us safe, provided care for our heroes, coordinated urgent medical supplies for our communities, and helped keep our small businesses open. prgtoken Along our borders with Mexico and Canada, Border Patrol agents tackled challenging conditions to provide security, limit the spread of COVID-19, and protect our communities from criminal activity. At ports of entry, Customs officers worked to maintain cross-border trade and commerce to keep fueling American jobs. prgtoken VA employees cared for our veterans and are playing a critical role in delivering vaccines to veterans, veterans' spouses, and caregivers and dependents. prgtoken Postal employees continued to deliver the mail, keeping everyday families connected and helping employers remain open. prgtoken To all of our firefighters, police officers, public health officials, and teachers, you deserve our thanks every day, but moments of crisis often help to remind us how much we rely on all of you. prgtoken When Kingman, AZ, recently experienced a cyber attack, it was local officials, alongside members of the National Guard, who mobilized to contain the damage and get the city back online. prgtoken Through these moments of sacrifice and service, these men and women show that public service is not about winning partisan political battles or getting your fame out on cable news. It is about serving a cause greater than ourselves. prgtoken In Arizona we are no strangers to dedicated public servants who left their marks on our State and country--from Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to lead the Arizona State Senate and to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, to my personal hero, Senator John McCain, who dedicated his life to public service, both in uniform and here in the U.S. Senate. prgtoken Beginning this Sunday, America will mark Public Service Recognition Week, and I am honored to again introduce this year's bipartisan Public Service Recognition Week resolution with my friend Senator Lankford of Oklahoma. prgtoken On the Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management, Senator Lankford and I work closely together to strengthen Americans' confidence in our government by making the government work better for everyday Americans. That is a goal we share with all of America's public servants, and I am proud that last year the Senate came tog
ORDERS FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021
Tammy Duckworth (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-4-27

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m Wednesday, April 28; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; finally, that the cloture motion on the Power nomination ripen at 12:30 p.m.
TRIBUTE TO LORI HOUSMAN
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2021-4-27

I rise today to recognize the distinguished career and retirement of Lori Housman after 20 years of service at the Congressional Budget Office. Throughout her time at CBO, Lori has been a cornerstone of the Medicare unit. Her expertise in Medicare's payment policy for physicians, as well as her patience and good humor, has been essential to the Congress as it has developed legislation in this complicated area. prgtoken During her time in public service, Lori has worked on legislation that dramatically changed how Medicare operates, including the Affordable Care Act and the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, commonly referred to as MACRA. Lori's tireless dedication to providing the Congress with objective analysis embodies the best of CBO's commitment to serving both sides of the aisle with expertise, professionalism, and fairness. Her exemplary work in analyzing legislation is matched by her warmth toward and genuine interest in others, earning her the admiration of congressional staff. Her efforts over the years have surely helped to make the Medicare Program better for tens of millions of Americans. prgtoken To her colleagues, Lori is a constant source of knowledge, support, and kindness. She has trained many groups of CBO analysts and managers throughout her tenure, teaching them to think critically about how legislation can be translated into analytical models and how to explain how legislation can be clarified to better reflect the intent of the Congress. In addition to her contributions to CBO's analytical work, her colleagues at CBO congressional staff are grateful for her patience and generous spirit, especially in extraordinary circumstances. prgtoken As chairman of the Finance Committee, I, along with Ranking Member Crapo, thank Lori for her service, and we wish her a relaxing, well- deserved retirement with her husband Van on their boat, Pigs Flew.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2021-4-27

shortly, we are going to be taking up S. 914, the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, and I would urge my colleagues to approve this legislation promptly. prgtoken The Environment and Public Works Committee reported this legislation by a unanimous vote. We don't get too many unanimous votes here on substantive, important legislation, and we were able to get that because this bill is truly bipartisan. prgtoken I want to congratulate the leadership of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Chairman Carper, for the management of the committee to bring us together, and Senator Capito, the ranking member. The two of them set the climate for us to work together to bring out a drinking water and wastewater infrastructure bill. I also want to compliment my counterpart in regards to the Subcommittee on Infrastructure, Senator Cramer, who is the ranking member--I am the chair--and Senator Duckworth, who is the chair of the Water Subcommittee, and Senator Lummis. All six of us worked together so that this Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act really does represent the views of all the Members of the Senate, and it is a bill that is desperately needed by our communities. prgtoken Water infrastructure is critically important to our Nation. It is important for drinking water. It is important for how we treat our waste, wastewater. The needs are tremendous. The American Society of Civil Engineers gives us a report card grade of D in 2021. The gaps are billions of dollars a year necessary to bring our water infrastructure up to standard. prgtoken This legislation will move us in the right direction. It authorizes $35 billion of water infrastructure, which is desperately needed in our communities. It will allow us to upgrade aging infrastructure, address the threat of climate prgtoken change, invest in new technologies, and help marginal communities in dealing with these needs. prgtoken COVID-19 has made the challenges even more dramatic for our communities. Water utilities have incurred additional costs. I think that is quite obvious. They had to deal with the protective equipment for their workers to deal with COVID-19. They had workers who were out as a result of COVID-19. They had to deal with changing the way they operated their business. There was a demand for greater water during COVID-19, just the washing of our hands frequently. It requires us to have access to more clean water. prgtoken The ability of our customers to pay their bills was challenged during COVID-19. As we know, American families' incomes were very stressed and are still stressed as a result of COVID-19. The gap between the ability of the public support for water infrastructure and what ratepayers are asked to pay is getting larger and larger. We haven't made the money available from the public side for water infrastructure, and to put more pressure on the rate when customers are already having a
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-4-27

today I rise to recognize Lions Clubs International as it celebrates 100 years of outstanding service in Connecticut. prgtoken In the winter of 1921, Lions Clubs International, now the world's largest service organization, dispatched an organizer to Connecticut to form the first Lions Club in New England, the Bridgeport Host Lions Club. Throughout their century of service, these volunteers have worked diligently to help set up a fresh-air camp for Bridgeport's youth, create a vision clinic at Bridgeport Hospital, purchase x-ray devices at St. Vincent's Medical Center, provide dental services for the indigent at Park City Hospital, and a litany of other community projects. Lions Clubs in New Haven, Greater Hartford, New Britain, New London, Greenwich, Waterbury, Meriden, Torrington, and Bristol would soon follow. Today, approximately 160 clubs with over 4,600 Lions are serving their communities, many collaborating with local governments to act as dependable volunteer arms. prgtoken In 1925, a future Connecticut resident, Helen Keller, would have a profound impact on the mission and very future of Lions Clubs International with her simple plea: ``Will you not help me hasten the day when there shall be no preventable blindness; no little deaf, blind child untaught; no blind man or woman unaided? I appeal to you Lions, you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind. Will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness?'' Connecticut Lions not only embraced her message, but also did much more, donating monies and time to support their communities locally and globally. Lions Clubs across the State have sponsored parades, festivals, and school projects, as well as raised funds for building equipment to improve the quality of life for children, the disabled, seniors, and veterans. Connecticut Lions have taken families in need shopping to make their holidays brighter. In support of the health and well-being of their communities, Lions Clubs have donated ambulances, school buses and other vehicles, and vital prgtoken equipment to our local emergency response teams, senior centers, and social services agencies. prgtoken Perhaps the most critical area of focus for Lions Clubs has been in vision care. In their ``crusade against darkness,'' Lions Clubs have raised enormous sums for research into blindness and eye disease. The Connecticut Lions Eye Research Foundation was chartered in 1956, establishing an eye research clinic under the auspices of Yale University, and later helped establish a second research facility with the University of Connecticut. Thanks to the work at these clinics, thousands of children and adults have benefitted from quality care and research. prgtoken Connecticut Lions have also established three District Lions Low Vision Centers to improve the quality of life and independence of those suffering from low vision. I h
TRIBUTE TO VICTORIA CECH
Jon Tester (Democrat, MT) \u2014 2021-4-27

I rise today to extend my sincere appreciation to Victoria Cech, who is planning on retiring from her position as the executive director of the Montana Health Research and Education Foundation. The citizens of my State are truly grateful for her tireless efforts to improve thehealth of all Montanans. prgtoken During her tenure at the foundation, Victoria was responsible for managing our State's hospital flexibility and frontier community health improvement programs, both of which provide vital support to our State's critical access hospitals. Why is this important? Because Montana has the distinction if not losing a single critical access hospital since the program's inception. It is the work of the foundation and Victoria's tireless leadership that has contributed to this great success. prgtoken But her work did not stop there. She continued to lead efforts to improve care in Montana by expanding two of the area health education centers managed by the foundation. These efforts led the charge in addressing behavioral health needs in our State, even bringing national attention to Montana when the foundation partnered with the National Council for Behavioral Health and Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation to complete the Teen Mental Health First Aid pilot program at Jefferson High School in Boulder. prgtoken Patient safety and quality improvement are also major focuses of the foundation. Victoria pioneered these efforts, leading a quality improvement team that moved Montana's hospitals into the highest ranked position within the Hospital Improvement Innovation Network hosted by the American Hospital Association's Health Research & Education Trust. prgtoken In 2014, Victoria was at the helm of the foundation when our country saw its first Ebola patient. The foundation was managing the hospital preparedness program--HPP--which it continues to do today. With five Montana residents under Ebola surveillance, the preparedness program quickly ramped up to raise awareness in hospitals across the State. That preparedness work has expanded dramatically since then, bringing in four full-time planners who played a large role in helping Montana prepare for and manage the coronavirus pandemic. prgtoken All 50 States are also experiencing an epidemic of drug addiction and opioid use that has hit Montana particularly hard, especially on the high line. The Montana Hospital Association and its foundation took this reality to heart and worked to expand its education and engagement work to move the needle on reversing opioid addiction. Under Victoria's leadership, the foundation was successful in securing a Rural Communities Opioid Response Program grant that is currently helping to address opioid addiction along the Canadian border and increasing engagement in our Tribal communities. prgtoken With all the work that Victoria has done, she has not overlooked the needs of her team members or those of the Montana Hos