mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
SERIOUS ISSUES FACING OUR COUNTRY
Maxine Waters (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-7-22

. Madam , I'm here to point out just how interconnected the climate emergency is to America's housing crisis and how it impacts communities of color. prgtoken We are living in a climate emergency. Wildfires are raging, sea levels are rising, and severe weather events are getting stronger. Meanwhile homes are being destroyed, and not nearly enough is being done to address environmental racism and the ways in which communities of color across this country suffer disproportionately from a lack of action. We cannot stand by as corporations, big oil, and industry titans pollute the air we breathe and contaminate the water we drink without consequence. prgtoken The truth is that these negative environmental factors compound social and economic conditions, and lead to higher levels of chronic health problems such as asthma, diabetes, and hypertension in communities of color and low-income communities. It should surprise no one that on average, people of color comprise 56 percent of the population living in neighborhoods with facilities that release toxic substances into the air and water supply. prgtoken This is a fair housing issue and a direct result of systemic racism and historically racist policies, including redlining and exclusionary zoning, that segregate low-income people and people of color into areas that have suffered from decades of disinvestment. These segregated areas are often located closer to industrial districts and are therefore more likely to be deprived of green spaces, healthy homes, and clean drinking water. None of this is news. But, because of worsening residential segregation, the increasingly harmful effects of climate change and extreme weather events are exacerbating these conditions in low-income communities and communities of color. prgtoken Today, formerly redlined communities suffer from hotter temperatures, and their homes are 25 percent more likely to experience damage due to flooding compared to communities that were not redlined. In some cases, whether due to repeated flooding or because they are located at higher elevations, low-income communities of color, such as in Puerto Rico and Florida, are facing displacement, known as climate gentrification. prgtoken The real-life examples are far too plenty. Take for example, St. James Parish, Louisiana--a community that is often referred to as ``Cancer Alley.'' I traveled there in 2001 to bring international attention to corporate pollution and the human costs of that pollution on communities of color. St. James Parish has a long history of inequality. The parish is located along the lower Mississippi River where enslaved Africans were forced to labor. Today, it serves as an industrial hub, with nearly 150 oil refineries, plastics plants, and chemical facilities. Not only have these facilities polluted the surrounding water and air, but they have also subjected the mostly African American residents of St. James Parish to cancer, respi
AVERTING LOSS OF LIFE AND INJURY BY EXPEDITING SIVS ACT OF 2021
Madeleine Dean (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2021-7-22

I thank Chairman Nadler for offering me this minute and a half, and I thank him for his leadership for bringing this bill to the floor. prgtoken , I rise in support of the ALLIES Act. This bill will save lives and protect our allies. It will also honor our commitment to the region. Thousands of Afghans have served as interpreters, drivers, and guides to assist U.S. troops. Their service and commitment have been consistent over the 20 years that now marks the longest U.S. war in history. prgtoken The Afghan Special Immigrant Visa, or SIVs, allows people who worked for or on behalf of the United States Government to seek lawful permanent residence in the United States. But as we prepare to remove our troops, the Taliban continues to target our friends. The ALLIES Act of 2021 provides for an additional 8,000 SIVs to accommodate everyone who currently could be an eligible candidate in the pipeline. We have an opportunity and a moral obligation to save the lives of those who served us. prgtoken As we draw down our military presence in Afghanistan, many who served alongside our troops continue to face increased threats because of their service to us. We must do the right thing by our brave allies. prgtoken , I thank Representative Crow for his service and his leadership on this bill, and I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill.
REMEMBERING HARRY M. ROSENFELD
Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN) \u2014 2021-7-22

. Madam , I rise today to offer the thanks of a grateful nation for the life and work of former Washington Post Metro editor Harry M. Rosenfeld who guided the newspaper in its Pulitzer Prize-winning Watergate coverage. Mr. Rosenfeld died last week at the age of 91. A survivor of Berlin's Kristallnacht in 1938, he and his family immigrated to New York City in March of 1939, just months before World War II began. After graduating from Syracuse University and a stint in the U.S. Army, Mr. Rosenfeld joined the New York Herald Tribune syndicate and rose to managing editor before joining The Post. Editor Ben Bradlee made him assistant managing editor for metropolitan news where he inherited a staff of hungry reporters covering local beats, among them Carl Bernstein. Mr. Rosenfeld later hired a very persistent Bob Woodward. The double-byline stories of Woodward and Bernstein, covering scandal and corruption in the Nixon administration, eventually led to Nixon's 1974 resignation. He ended his career as the editor of newspapers in Albany, New York. I offer my condolences to his wife Anne and his three daughters and his extended family. Mr. Rosenfeld's enduring sense of justice and demand for accountability helped change American history and inspired a generation of journalists. His passion for the truth and for journalism was an inspiration and a model to be emulated. His was a life well led.
AVERTING LOSS OF LIFE AND INJURY BY EXPEDITING SIVS ACT OF 2021
Sylvia R. Garcia (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-7-22

I rise today in support of H.R. 3985, the ALLIES Act of 2021. prgtoken First, I thank the chairman for bringing this bill forward, and I thank my friend, Mr. Crow, for sponsoring this bill. prgtoken Recently, I met with Combined Arms, a local organization that works with veterans and SIV recipients in Houston. They shared their harrowing stories of the sacrifices they and their families have made and of their fear that they have of being put to death. prgtoken They also shared with me the times that they have been waiting to receive their SIVs. In some cases, they have waited for 10 years. This is unacceptable. prgtoken I call on my colleagues to support this legislation so we can protect our allies and reform the system, but also to support the immediate evacuation of our allies in Afghanistan to U.S. soil, where we can ensure their safety. prgtoken We can't wait any longer. We need to act now. We need to evacuate all 18,000 allies with pending SIV applications and their immediate families who are in danger. prgtoken , I met with a young man who is now safely in Houston, but sadly, his father has already been murdered by the Taliban. At least 300, I am told, have already been murdered, just like his father, by the Taliban. The more we delay, the more we put families at risk. prgtoken , we need to support this bill. We need to support an immediate evacuation. And we need to make sure that our friends who stood with us, that we now stand with them.
AVERTING LOSS OF LIFE AND INJURY BY EXPEDITING SIVS ACT OF 2021
James A. Himes (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-7-22

I thank the gentleman from New York for his leadership and for the 2 minutes, which may be the most important 2 minutes I have had on the floor in a very, very long time, because what we debate here today is not an ideological disagreement. It is not a question of whether you are a or a , . It is a fundamental question of who we are as a country and will we abide by the values that not only make us successful in times of war, but which distinguish us as a people and allow us to say that we are an exceptional nation. prgtoken When our troops--troops like Jason Crow, the sponsor of this legislation--go to engage in combat in foreign lands, they are armed and equipped with the very best technology money can buy. But from the human standpoint, from the all-important humanitarian and cultural standpoint, they are blind and deaf. That is fixed by locals who risk everything, not necessarily for the money, but because they believe in who we are. This is the moment when we return the favor by saying: If you stood with us, we will stand with you. prgtoken It is far from a national security perspective, because God help those who go into a country if we don't take care of those who helped us in Afghanistan. But, more importantly, it is about our values. prgtoken , you know very well that our military has at its core the value that we leave no one behind. Now we decide whether we live by that value or whether we take the cheap, the easy, the quick, and ultimately, the dangerous way out. It is dangerous for the next conflict we find ourselves in and dangerous because of what that will tell the world about our commitment to loyalty and the values that make us exceptional.
Introductory Statement on S. 2454
Alex Padilla (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-7-22

I rise to introduce the ``Water Reuse and Resiliency Act.'' This legislation would authorize $1 billion for innovative water infrastructure projects that respond to our Country's growing water needs and the historic drought facing the Western United States. prgtoken In the face of unprecedented heat and drought conditions across the Western United States, and growing water resource challenges across the entire Nation, it is critically important that we invest now to modernize and adapt our water systems for the 21st century. prgtoken The Environmental Protection Agency's Alternative Water Source Projects pilot program provides competitive grants to engineer, design, construct, and test alternative water source systems, including water recycling systems and projects that conserve, manage, reclaim, or reuse water resources. prgtoken The Water Reuse and Resiliency Act would reauthorize the EPA's Alternative Water Source Projects pilot program for five years, increase the authorization to $1 billion, and make stormwater reuse and groundwater recharge projects eligible for grant funding. prgtoken According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as of July 13, an estimated 89% of the Western U.S. is experiencing drought. Unfortunately, historic droughts are becoming the new normal. The impacts of drought on water availability are compounded by triple-digit temperatures, record low snowpack levels, and a growing population. prgtoken By expanding the use of alternative, non-traditional water sources, such as capturing stormwater runoff and recycling wastewater for groundwater recharge, the Water Reuse and Resiliency Act supports innovations in water treatment that can deliver a new, safe, and reliable source of water for potable use or irrigation. prgtoken I thank my co-lead, Senator Feinstein, for her tireless leadership fighting for clean water for Californians and prgtoken all Americans. I also thank the cosponsors of this bill for championing this vital effort with us in the Senate. prgtoken I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the ``Water Reuse and Resiliency Act'' as quickly as possible. prgtoken Thank you, , .
SUCCESS ACT
Grace Meng (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-7-22

. Madam , during the COVID-19 crisis, we have seen how crucial internet access has been for learning and completing assignments. The homework gap, experienced by as many as 17 million students in the U.S. who do not have internet access at home, is an inequity that predates the coronavirus pandemic. prgtoken When I first began talking about this issue, I was shocked and saddened to recognize there were so many misconceptions about who was part of the homework gap. So many of my colleagues believed the homework gap is something that predominantly affects students in rural America. But in fact, one in five school-age children in NYC's public school system--the largest public school system in the country--do not have internet access at home. prgtoken The nature of homework assignments has fundamentally changed. Before, all you needed was a pencil and paper. But that is no longer the norm. Internet access is essential to completing homework assignments. It broke my heart to hear stories of families parked outside McDonalds or Starbucks trying to catch a free Wi-Fi signal. prgtoken Closing the homework gap extends beyond just helping our students finish their homework. Internet connectivity is essential to success in the 21st century; much like electricity was important in the 1930s, internet will be the same, if not more. prgtoken That is why Congress passed the Emergency Educational Connections Act as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a bill that I proudly championed with Senator Markey. This provision created the Emergency Connectivity Fund, and provided a one-time $7.17 billion appropriation to connect students and library patrons learning at home. prgtoken As our Nation works to move past the pandemic, we must finally close the full homework gap that predates the ongoing emergency. That is why I am proud to introduce today the Securing Universal Communications Connectivity to Ensure Students Succeed or the SUCCESS Act. This bill would provide $8 billion a year over five years (for a total of $40 billion) to extend the FCC's Emergency Connectivity Fund, without an emergency time frame, so that schools and libraries can continue supporting distance learning after the coronavirus pandemic is over. This extended program will then ensure that students connected by the emergency connectivity fund do not lose their internet access and devices once the original funds run dry. prgtoken Madam , as the mother of two young children, I know firsthand how crucial this issue is. Each and every student must have the tools they need to succeed in school, and the SUCCESS Act is an essential component to permanently closing the homework gap. I urge all of my colleagues in both chambers to help close this digital divide for good.
CORONAVIRUS
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2021-7-22

since the start of the pandemic, the State of Vermont, at every level of its leadership, has taken heroic efforts to mitigate spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. With strong leadership from Gov. Phil Scott, and bolstered by a firm belief in scientific facts, the State nearly halted altogether the spread of COVID-19, minimized the number of Vermonters lost to the disease, and now leads the Nation in the percentage of residents who have received at least one vaccine shot. As we look to hopefully soon be on the other side of this pandemic, I strongly believe that there are invaluable lessons to be learned from Vermont's response, so that we are better prepared for the days, months, and years ahead. prgtoken Aisha K. Jha's ``Vermont's and South Dakota's COVID Infection Rates are Remarkably Similar--But their Outcomes are Not'' article published in the Washington Post on July 13, 2021, reviews the important steps Vermont took to not only protect the health of its residents but also ensure that minimal economic damage was done given prgtoken the circumstances. A strong public health approach, led by Vermont Health Commissioner Mark Levine, always communicated scientific evidence clearly and thoughtfully. This fostered a sense of trust and community that has now resulted in Vermont nearing herd immunity and able to fully reopen local businesses for everyone to enjoy. prgtoken I am so proud of every Vermonter who stepped up to do their part to not only protect themselves, but their families, friends, and neighbors. This is truly the Vermont way. I know that if all States followed Vermont's example, and continued to vaccinate all residents, we would be able to put this dark chapter of American history in our rearview mirror. prgtoken I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the article mentioned above, about the important work in Vermont to protect our State from the COVID-19 pandemic.
RENEWABLE FUEL STANDARD
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-7-22

many bills get introduced in the Senate and don't seem to go anyplace. The reason is that they are meant to be simply messaging documents, making a statement, telling people what you believe, not necessarily with the motive of passing a piece of legislation. prgtoken Now, I usually do not care to comment on these bills. It is simply not worth the time. But when I see the combination of false information spread in messaging bills that could negatively impact my State, I must set the record straight, and that is why I am here. prgtoken Several colleagues just introduced a bill to repeal the renewable fuel standard. I have been a proud advocate for renewable energy. Iowa is the leader in both wind and renewable fuels. When it comes to the renewable fuel standard, it is hard to argue that there has ever been a more successful clean-fuel policy implemented across the world. Between 2008 and 2020, the use of biofuels under the renewable fuel standard resulted in a savings of 980 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. That is the equivalent of removing over 200 million cars from the road for 1 year. The renewable fuel standard makes gasoline more affordable. It generates good-paying jobs. It reduces oil imports and reduces our country's greenhouse gas emissions. prgtoken The messaging coming from the bill rehashes the same talking points about ethanol that Big Oil has trotted out for the past decades. So, once again, Big Oil raises its ugly head. prgtoken Of course, Big Oil's talking points have been completely debunked by the latest science and even our nonpartisan research from the Congressional Budget Office. And Congress depends a great deal upon the research done by the Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan group of professional people that study things a long time before they release their information. prgtoken Now, my pro-oil colleagues say that the renewable fuel standard causes food and feed prices to rise. However, in 2014, the CBO looked at this issue and the impact on food prices if the renewable fuel standard was fully repealed. The Congressional Budget Office concluded that American food prices would be just one-quarter of 1 percent higher if the renewable fuel standard was kept in place versus a total repeal. Out of a $100 grocery bill, the impact is no more than a quarter. But when you consider that there is a savings of $5 every time you fill up your gas tank due to the renewable fuel standard, consumers save money overall with the renewable fuel standard in place. prgtoken My colleagues who introduced this messaging legislation also claimed, falsely, that corn ethanol achieves little to no reduction in greenhouse gases. Now, this must be the most ridiculous assertion made against ethanol. I would like to invite my colleagues to visit Iowa to see how far ethanol has come in reducing emissions. prgtoken The most recent research from Harvard shows that corn ethanol greenhouse gas emi
AVERTING LOSS OF LIFE AND INJURY BY EXPEDITING SIVS ACT OF 2021
Neal P. Dunn (Republican, FL) \u2014 2021-7-22

I came to speak on this bill because it means a lot to me. My war was Vietnam, and I remember the end of that war. I remember the friends that we left behind, I remember the families that were torn apart, and it still weighs on me. prgtoken Now I have a son who spent years in Afghanistan, and when he talks to me, he does not talk about taxes or healthcare. He talks about the people he left behind in Afghanistan and what we are doing for them. We cannot do this again. We must not do this again. We have to rise and bring back and repatriate all the people who were so important to us in combat. prgtoken , I know you understand that. Please do not abandon friends of America again.
CELEBRATING PURPLE HEART HOMES
Patrick T. McHenry (Republican, NC) \u2014 2021-7-22

. Today, the Purple Heart Homes nonprofit is celebrating their 750th completed project. prgtoken Headquartered in Statesville, North Carolina, Purple Heart Homes is a nonprofit founded by combat-wounded veterans to help aging and service- connected disabled veterans in their housing needs. prgtoken Founded in 2008 by John Gallina and the late Dale Beatty, they established Purple Heart Homes with a mission to help those that have given so much to our Nation. prgtoken Whether it is building ramps or constructing new homes, they step in to fill the void in programs designed to serve our deserving veterans. prgtoken I congratulate John and his diverse team on their incredible accomplishments to serve our heroes. prgtoken I recently met with John and his team, and while they have unique backgrounds that they bring to this mission, they are all united by one thing: They are called to serve. prgtoken I congratulate John and his team, and I also congratulate Purple Heart Homes.
TRIBUTE TO KYLEE VAN EGDOM
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2021-7-22

today I recognize Kylee Van Egdom, an intern in my Aberdeen, SD, office, for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. prgtoken Kylee is a graduate of Sioux Falls Christian High School in Sioux Falls, SD. Currently, she is attending Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, where she is majoring in government. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience. prgtoken I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Kylee for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.
REQUEST TO CONSIDER H.R. 18, NO TAXPAYER FUNDING FOR ABORTION ACT
Mike Johnson (Republican, LA) \u2014 2021-7-22

I rise today in support of the pro-life Hyde amendment. Typically, prgtoken during appropriation season, of course, and s debate our differences, but we have always historically rallied together in opposition to taxpayer-funded abortions, and we have adopted the bipartisan Hyde amendment. prgtoken However, for some inexplicable reason, this year is different. In 1994, then-Senator famously stated: ``Those of us who are opposed to abortion should not be compelled to pay for them.'' Of course, he was right. But the President's position has changed now, giving fuel to the fire of leadership here in this House to follow suit in their own funding bills. prgtoken It is time to make these Hyde amendment protections permanent. It is true: Hyde saves lives. And today I am asking my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to recognize the inherent dignity of every single human life, rejecting this blatant attack on pro-life amendments like the Hyde amendment. prgtoken , I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 18, and ask for its immediate consideration in this House.