mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF FORMER JUSTICE GREGORY K. SCOTT
Diana DeGette (Democrat, CO) \u2014 2021-4-22

. Madam , I rise today, along with Congressman Ed Perlmutter, Congressman Jason Crow, and Congressman Joe Neguse, to recognize the life and accomplishments of the first and only African American to serve on our state's highest court, former Colorado Supreme Court Justice Gregory K. Scott who passed away on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at the age of 72. prgtoken Justice Scott graduated from Rutgers University before attending law school at Indiana University. In 1977, he and his wife Carolyn, also an attorney, moved to Denver so that Scott could start his new position as a trial attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's regional office. Later, Scott joined the faculty at University of Denver's Sturm College of Law as a professor, where he taught numerous students about securities and corporate law. While making their life in Denver, the couple welcomed two sons, both of whom sadly preceded them in death. prgtoken In 1993, then Governor Roy Romer appointed Scott to the Colorado Supreme Court, making him the first--and thus far the only--African American to serve at the highest level of our state's judiciary. During his time on the bench, Justice Scott participated in 1,000 decisions, some notable ones including Evans v. Romer, which involved the court stepping in to stop enforcement of a ban that infringed the rights of our gay and lesbian Coloradans, and also Hill v. Thomas, a decision he penned himself to uphold the state law I wrote to mandate an 8-foot buffer zone between protesters and individuals trying to gain entrance into Colorado abortion clinics. I am proud to note that the U.S. Supreme Court later upheld this decision, finding the same truth we hold so dear in Colorado, that rights of speech and access to reproductive care can both be vigorously protected. prgtoken Justice Scott served admirably both inside and outside of the courtroom, especially when it came to championing the civil nights causes he cherished deeply. While living in Denver, he took pride in mentoring law students, especially law students of color, who believed as he did--as we all do--that diversity in the legal profession is vital to the best interests of clients, whether corporate or individual, and every Coloradan. Additionally, Scott was active with the local NAACP chapter, the Urban League, and the Sam Cary Bar Association. Even in his retirement years, Scott continued answering the call to serve. After moving to his wife's hometown in Indiana, he became the executive director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission. prgtoken Justice Scott has been remembered by friends and former colleagues as a ``giant'' in Colorado's legal community with a brilliant legal mind and a profound respect for the rule of law. Truly, he will always be remembered for his lasting legacy on our state's supreme court, but also as a bowtie-wearing jurist who was as likable as he was learned, and as socially conscious as he was compassion
WASHINGTON, D.C. ADMISSION ACT
Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-4-22

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me. I also want to commend her for her outstanding leadership of her committee. I also want to take a moment to commend my colleague who has been championing D.C. statehood before I even came to Congress. prgtoken You know, I have listened intently to all of the arguments, and it always gets back to one: How are the people in D.C. more likely to vote? Are they are going to vote more likely ic? Are they going to vote for ? prgtoken Well, let me tell you, I have got people in my district who vote . Can you imagine that? They vote . But we don't deny them the right to vote, and we don't deny them the right to representation. prgtoken All that we are seeking and all that we are asking for is simply the principle of no taxation without representation. I think we learned that in grammar school when we took U.S. history, when we first learned how great this country is and how great it can be. prgtoken I look forward to the people of Washington, D.C having all rights of citizenship as a member of a State, voting in the greatest State in the country when it becomes one, Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. ADMISSION ACT
Al Green (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-4-22

and still I rise. And today, I rise with love of country at heart. prgtoken I rise to announce that I will not allow this issue to become so complicated that the American people might be confused because the truth is we will be voting for one thing: whether we are for taxation without representation or whether we are against taxation without representation. It is really that simple. prgtoken As for me, I will be voting with the patriots. I will be voting with those patriots from 1773 who confronted the government, those patriots who were there at the Boston Harbor, those patriots who were there for the Boston Tea Party. prgtoken I will be voting against taxation without representation. I believe that this is what the American Constitution and the American way are all about. Since 1773, it has been said, and today, I will respect it with my vote.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-4-22

I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment because it essentially shreds the bill. It removes core provisions. prgtoken It would prevent the Department of Justice from tracking hate crime incidents that don't rise to the level of criminal conduct. That provision is contrary to policy of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. It would eliminate a provision from the NO HATE Act that I have advocated that funds creation of State-run hotlines so we know more about these hate crimes. prgtoken It would eliminate a judge's ability to order that a person convicted of hate crimes undertake educational classes and provide that kind of remedy as a condition for supervised release. prgtoken In short, it eliminates some of the most important provisions of this bill. prgtoken I strongly urge opposition to this amendment.
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2021-4-22

one final issue. It has come to my attention that President intends to have the United States formally recognize the Armenian genocide, becoming the first sitting U.S. President to do so. Great news. It is a long time coming and a step that I have called on Presidents of both parties to take. prgtoken Each year, I gather with Armenian Americans in Times Square to commemorate the annual anniversary of this atrocity. Every year, my heart breaks for the victims of the genocide and their descendants. There are very few left, but some very elderly people are sitting in the audience each year, reminding us how painful and how real that genocide was. The Turkish Government's idea of saying there was no genocide just defies history. I have seen the victims. I have talked to the victims. prgtoken Saturday marks the 106th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. I am so relieved, grateful, and moved that we prgtoken can finally commemorate the anniversary with the knowledge that the Government of the United States, led by President , has recognized the truth of the Armenian genocide at last. prgtoken . prgtoken .
IN HONOR OF UAW LOCAL 276 MEMBER KAREN ROHRSSEN
Marc A. Veasey (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2021-4-26

. Madam , I rise today to pay tribute to retiring UAW member Karen Rohrssen. Karen is the Administrative Assistant for the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agriculture Implement Works of America Local 276 in Grand Prairie, TX. prgtoken With 36 years of faithful service to UAW Local 276, Karen Rohrssen is the conscience and heartbeat of the organization. Her dedication to supporting its members goes above and beyond expectations. She is an essential member of Local 276 who has given her time and talents to helping others. prgtoken Madam , I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Karen Rohrssen and extending our best wishes to her for continued success. Her leadership will be greatly missed, but I know she will continue to be an active member of our community and continue to support local union members.
ORDERS FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2021
Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, CT) \u2014 2021-4-26

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m Tuesday, April 27, and 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 morning business be closed; that upon conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Miller nomination, postcloture; that at 11:30 a.m all postcloture time be considered expired; that following the cloture vote on the McCabe nomination, the Senate recess until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings; that if cloture is invoked on the McCabe nomination, all postcloture debate time be considered expired at 2:30 p.m.; finally, that if any of the nominations are confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions.
SECURITY POSTURE FOR JOINT SESSION
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-4-26

. Madam , pursuant to the authorities vested in the of the House by law and the Rules of the House of Representatives, commencing at 5:00 PM on April 28, 2021 and ending at 11:59 PM on April 28, 2021, the corridors and passages of the Capitol under control of the House shall be restricted to those Members and staff who have an office in the House wing of the Capitol, invited Members, and individuals who possess the appropriate credentials for presence in the Capitol as issued by the Office of the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, and those who are issued a credential in support of the joint ceremonial session. The Office of the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives and the United States Capitol Police shall deny admittance to the Capitol except to those listed above.
Confirmation of Deanne Bennett Criswell (Executive Session)
Gary C. Peters (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2021-4-26

I rise to recognize a historic confirmation that took place last week. On Thursday, the Senate confirmed Deanne Criswell to serve as the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. I would like to thank Senator Portman for his support and for working closely with me to see that Ms. Criswell was swiftly confirmed for this critical position. prgtoken Ms. Criswell is an experienced, crisis-tested leader, well deserving of the unanimous bipartisan support that her confirmation received. As she takes the helm of FEMA, Ms. Criswell brings more than 25 years of emergency management and disaster response experience at the Federal, State, and local level. prgtoken Having served as an emergency management commissioner for one of the largest and most diverse cities in America, Ms. Criswell knows what it takes to ensure the coronavirus vaccination distribution is efficient and effective and that every community has the resources that they need to recover from this pandemic. prgtoken As a former member of the National Guard and a firefighter, she understands the needs of our heroic first responders as they continuously protect Americans on the frontlines. prgtoken However, the pandemic is just one of many challenges that FEMA faces, and Ms. Criswell understands that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to disaster response and every crisis, from hurricanes to historic flooding and wildfires, to the COVID-19 pandemic, requires a coordinated strategy. prgtoken There is no doubt that Ms. Criswell's experience in emergency management, extensive record of tackling crises on a local and national level, and the desire to work on a bipartisan basis to improve our Federal disaster response in every community are exactly what is needed to meet the challenges that we are facing now and those challenges that lie ahead.
TRIBUTE TO HONOR THE LIFE OF CHARLES GESCHKE
Anna G. Eshoo (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2021-4-26

. Madam , I rise today to honor the life of Charles Geschke, known to all as Chuck, a pioneer and a giant in Silicon Valley, who died on April 16, 2021, at the age of 81, at his home in Los Altos, California. He was born on September 11, 1939, and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where his father was a photoengraver and his mother a paralegal. prgtoken Chuck was a deeply faith-filled man who once considered entering the Catholic priesthood. He attended a Jesuit high school and studied liberal arts at Xavier University in Cincinnati. He earned a master's degree in mathematics there and later earned a Ph.D. in computer science at Carnegie Mellon. He worked as a math professor, then at the Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency. He was hired by Xerox to work at its Palo Alto Research Center where he met John Warnock, Ph.D and they joined together in leaving Xerox to found what is now Adobe Inc. prgtoken Chuck created a highly successful and important company, one of Silicon Valley's greatest, that enabled desktop publishing which has had worldwide impact. The New York Times, (4/20/2021) opened its obituary of him by asking, ``If you sent a PDF on your computer today, thank him. In 1980, he and a colleague created a way of sending digital documents to a printer, starting a company, Adobe.'' In the same piece, the Times quoted him as saying this regarding his immense success; ``Engineers dream of building something that millions of people will use; that's their ultimate goal. I don't think many engineers are motivated by money. They're motivated by having an impact.'' prgtoken Chuck was a gentle person with a self-deprecating sense of humor and was unrelentingly generous. With his wife Nan, they donated millions to non-profits and universities. He was a fair-minded boss and with Dr. Warnock, employed the ``golden rule'' in the treatment of employees. He was a man of great faith and a model for corporate leaders to emulate. prgtoken He received numerous well-deserved awards, including the National Medal of Technology and Innovation Award in 2009, with Dr. Warnock, and served on many foundation boards. He was proud of what he created in business, but his family was his greatest treasure. prgtoken I had the privilege of knowing Chuck for decades and shared an enduring friendship with him. I sought his wise counsel and practical advice, always learning from him and appreciating his depth of knowledge and integrity. prgtoken Madam , I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in extending our condolences to Chuck Geschke's wife Nan, his sons Peter and John, his daughter Kathy Orciuoli, and his seven beloved grandchildren. We are a better, stronger nation because of this great and good man.
World Intellectual Property Day (Executive Session)
Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat, VT) \u2014 2021-4-26

as we finally, finally begin to turn the corner on the coronavirus pandemic, we have the hard work of rebuilding our economy. prgtoken One of the core engines of the American economy is intellectual property. From the smallest startup to the largest multinational company, intellectual property is central to creating jobs, boosting economic output, and protecting consumers. So it is appropriate that, today, we celebrate World Intellectual Property Day, which recognizes the important role that intellectual property plays in promoting innovation, creativity, and economic growth. prgtoken This year's World IP Day theme celebrates the contributions of small- and medium-sized businesses to the global marketplace. Why? Well, these small enterprises make up 90 percent of the world's businesses. Whether through protecting their brands with trademarks or their inventions with patents, intellectual property allows these small companies to grow and succeed; yet, here at home, far too many Americans with an entrepreneurial spirit find key elements of the intellectual property system out of their reach. prgtoken Last week, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property--and I am privileged to chair that--held an important hearing to find ways to boost access in the patent system. We know that women and people of color are chronically underrepresented in the patent system, which results in a serious loss to our economy. prgtoken I am particularly proud that this hearing featured testimony from Georgia Grace Edwards, a Middlebury College graduate and entrepreneur, who realized that, after spending a summer in Alaska and 8 to 12 hours at a time on ice, she was at a serious disadvantage when it came to answering nature's call during her treks. Like so many innovators before her, Georgia Grace got to work in designing a new zipper--in sense, it was such a great thing--that could be incorporated into a variety of women's pants. prgtoken Now, while she was ultimately able to successfully navigate the patent system and secure protection for her idea, here is the problem. She faced a number of barriers along the way: the high cost of obtaining a patent, particularly from legal fees; a lack of knowledge about how the patent system works; and the lack of representation of women throughout the system. prgtoken Ten years ago, Congress enacted the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, which put structures in place to help access the patent system and bring up a far more diverse set of inventors into the innovation economy, and at our hearing, we heard specific ideas for building on the success of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. prgtoken As the President awaits nominating the next Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, I want him to choose a nominee who shares a commitment to increasing access. It is not just the huge companies that need it; it is the small inventors. prgtoken It is important that the
Biden Administration (Executive Session)
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2021-4-26

at his first official news conference 1 month ago, President said: I got elected to solve problems and the most urgent problem was COVID-19 and the economic disruption facing millions and millions of Americans. prgtoken If we were to measure President using only those standards, the first hundred days of the - administration have been a historic success. But this new administration has done far more in its first hundred days than just tackle the pandemic; it helped small families and small businesses that are hurting financially because of the coronavirus. prgtoken President is reestablishing America's role as a leader in the world and repairing alliances that were damaged dangerously under his predecessor. Equally important, is restoring credibility and dignity to the Office of the President itself. prgtoken As President prepares to deliver his first joint address to Congress on Wednesday, it is worth considering how far we have come in 100 days. prgtoken President inherited a nation torn apart by political division, an out-of-control pandemic, and an economy that was in a deep, deep hole. Hundreds of thousands of American small businesses had been closed when he took office. The pandemic caused most of this. Millions of Americans had lost jobs. We lost 140,000 jobs in December alone. prgtoken President promised aggressive government action to stop the spread of the coronavirus and to stabilize the economy, and he and the in Congress are making good on those promises. prgtoken Let's remember where we came from. When took office, the United States was averaging 195,000 new COVID infections every day, and 3,000 Americans were dying every day. Today, we have come down from 195,000 daily infections to 57,000 and from 3,000 COVID deaths every day to 700--still too many, but dramatic progress was made under this new President. prgtoken Remember where we came from. When took office, the United States of America had one of the highest COVID infection rates in the world. Two numbers tell the story of the first year of COVID-19 infection under the previous President. The United States of America has about 5 percent of the world's population, but we had, when took office, 20 percent--20 percent--of the COVID-19 infections in the world and 20 percent of the deaths. Now there is hope. This President listened to the medical experts--he didn't come up with his own theories of the case--and he expanded vaccine distribution. prgtoken The day took office, on that day, January 20 of this year, to that day, the United States had administered 1.6 million COVID vaccine shots total in the Nation, 1.6 million. We are now seeing 3 million vaccinations administered every day. prgtoken President promised to deliver 100 million COVID-19 doses in his first hundred days. He didn't do that; he delivered 200
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FORMER SPEAKER JOE TAITANO SAN AGUSTIN
Michael F. Q. San Nicolas (Democrat, GU) \u2014 2021-4-26

. Madam . I rise today In honor the life and legacy of former Speakr Joe Taitano San Agustin. San Agustin was a devoted public servant, political pioneer, and a true advocate for the people of Guam. Our community will fondly remember him as a compassionate leader who dedicated his entire life to uplifting others and realizing a more prosperous Guam. prgtoken When Congress issued legislation in 1968, which provided for the first popular election of the governor and lieutenant governor of Guam, San Agustin was instrumental in launching Guam's transition into self-governance. He served as the director of administration to both the last appointed and first elected governors of Guam, and by 1976, he was elected to serve as a senator in the 14th Legislature of Guam, where he made strides in economic development and the protection of public finances for two decades. Throughout his ten terms in office, he also served as speaker of the 20th, 21st, and 22nd legislatures, and following his departure from the chamber, his service continued to prove valuable as chairman of the ic Party of Guam from 1997 to 2001. prgtoken San Agustin's contributions toward a greater quality of life for the island's residents extended beyond traditional politics, and continue to echo in today's age. Building strongholds for our community, he notably, led twenty government employees in donating to establish the Governmemt of Guam Federal Credit Union in 1962 and went on to serve on the board of directors for the Bank of Guam. He also fought for retirement security as chairman of the Government of Guam Retirement Fund Board and served as the executive director of the Guam Base Reuse and Closure Office. prgtoken San Agustin was an esteemed leader and advocate who dedicated his entire life to public service. His career illustrates a remarkable fidelity to just and meaningful change, and his countless contributions to our systems of governance and historic policy continue to inspire many in our community. San Agustin served with my grandfather during their time in the legislature, and I am deeply saddened by his passing. My family and I wish to extend our hearts and prayers for him and his family, and I join the people of Guam in remembering and celebrating his life and legacy of selfless service. Our island has lost an icon, but we know he is happy with Auntie May. He will be deeply missed, and his love and memories will forever remain in the hearts of the people of Guam.