mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Thom Tillis (Republican, NC) \u2014 2022-3-10

speaking on behalf of Leader McConnell and with all due respect to my friend from Michigan, this is a COVID- related provision which the administration never requested. It is not in the President's budget. It is not even in the supplemental budget. The administration asked for everything under the Sun, but they never asked for this. prgtoken This is another example of my colleagues trying to take an emergency pandemic, the exemptions, and turn prgtoken them into permanent changes that last forever. Families don't want schools to be permanently stuck in a pandemic posture. Families want schools to move past COVID and get back to normal. Yet this amendment would continue policies that were explicitly designed to help schools close and go virtual. That is exactly what families don't want. Parents and kids want schools open. prgtoken Finally, this amendment costs $11 billion, and it is not offset. For the people watching this tonight, that means it is not paid for. It is $11 billion more that we can't afford. prgtoken We had a fully-paid-for COVID package ready to go until the House blew it up. We will not be going around the backs of our own Senate committees of jurisdiction because House killed a bipartisan COVID package. prgtoken So I respectfully object.
UKRAINE
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2022-3-10

the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine continues to escalate. Americans who walked by a newsstand on Monday were met with the wrenching picture of a Ukrainian family killed by Russian shelling, a mom and her two children struck down as they attempted to flee along a main evacuation route from Irpin to Kyiv, an evacuation route that Russia shelled. prgtoken Yesterday, the world saw pictures of the devastation after a maternity hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine--maternity hospital--fell victim to a Russian air strike. prgtoken President Zelenskyy reported that there were children buried under the rubble--children. prgtoken One newspaper reported: The bombing took place during what was supposed to be a ceasefire in Mariupol so that civilians could evacuate. It marks the fourth time a so-called `humanitarian corridor' out of the city has failed because Russian forces opened fire. ``[T]he fourth time a so-called `humanitarian corridor' out of the city has failed because Russian forces opened fire.'' ``Opened fire'' on civilians, on parents trying to save their children, this is what Russia is doing. prgtoken The scenes in Ukraine are unreal. They are scenes that we thought had finally been left behind in the dust of European history: devastated cities, apartment buildings with their sides sheared off, the smoking ruins of homes and businesses, a school reduced to rubble, mass graves. prgtoken In 2 short weeks, Vladimir Putin has wrought an unimaginable amount of devastation. The damage he has done will take years, if not decades, to rebuild. The scars may last much longer. prgtoken And for what, ? For what? For one man's vision of a Russian Empire. Vladimir Putin wants Ukraine, and he is apparently willing to destroy Ukraine to get it--destroy Ukraine and devastate his own nation, because Russia is suffering too because of Putin's war of aggression. prgtoken There are no smoking ruins of apartment buildings in Russia, but there is the senseless waste of so many young Russian lives, soldiers and conscripts sent to die in Ukraine for a war that is not their own. There is Putin's brutal crackdown on protesters and journalists, and there is the economic devastation his nation will suffer--is already suffering--as a result of sanctions and companies' decisions to pull out of Russia to protest its unprovoked attack on Ukraine. Vladimir Putin is laying waste to two countries. prgtoken These have been dark days for Ukraine, but the devastation in Ukraine has been met with determination. This is Ukrainians' fight, and they are not shrinking from it. The Washington Post recently reported that more than 66,000 Ukrainians who were outside the country have returned to answer President Zelenskyy's call to arms. That is 66,000 Ukrainians who could have sat in safety outside Ukraine who have returned to help defend their country. prgtoken Outnumbered as they are, the Ukrainian people are s
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 3811
Cynthia M. Lummis (Republican, WY) \u2014 2022-3-10

I also rise to protest the manner in which funding for the people of Ukraine has been strapped to this spending bill, thereby delaying aid to Ukraine and strapping it to a bill that is going to need days to get to the President's desk so it is in good shape. prgtoken I have been following--just as you have--the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, and I am incredibly concerned for the people there: the women and children who have been murdered in the streets by Vladimir Putin's bombs, the housing complexes that have been destroyed, the maternity hospital that was bombed just yesterday, all from unprovoked Russian aggression. prgtoken We want to help these people. The people of Wyoming whom I represent want to help these people. prgtoken Because of this, I was particularly appalled at the decision by congressional to include Ukraine aid funding in the massive government funding omnibus bill that we are starting to consider. prgtoken We could get this Ukraine money on its way today. We could get it to the President's desk today. Most of us agree. I think it would be unanimous to send the money to Ukraine. prgtoken As a former House Member and a longtime legislator, I know that any big piece of legislation has good pieces and bad or, as former U.S. Senator Al Simpson used to say, ``some spinach.'' But this is a cynical approach to legislating. prgtoken It forces Members of Congress to make an unnecessary choice: choose between helping the Ukrainian people and further indebting our own constituents. It is a cynical ploy, and it is cynical because of what is in the rest of bill, the omnibus spending bill. At a time when the United States is over $30 trillion in debt, instead of taking a serious look at our budget, we are piling on. prgtoken We are increasing nondefense discretionary spending by 7 percent, even though inflation this year is more than 7 percent. Worse still, the omnibus continues to fund President 's vaccine mandates, even after the President himself called for a return to normal. This bill also contains anti-Second Amendment provisions that threaten the rights of law-abiding citizens in Wyoming. Finally, after banning the practice for years, this omnibus contains around $10 billion in earmarks for pet projects around the country. prgtoken Here is the book of earmarks. Look how thick this is. It is printed on both sides in about 4-point font. You almost have to have a looking glass to see what is in here--4,000 earmarks after we had gotten away from this. prgtoken I am sympathetic to the argument that earmarks are a more direct way of addressing problems around the country, but historically they have been abused as a way for leadership to whip votes on bad legislation and a way to fund unnecessary pet projects to curry favor back home. prgtoken But instead of having a debate about these and other concerns of the massive spending bill, Ukraine funding was dropped in here i
TRIBUTE TO BRIGADIER GENERAL TYLER SMITH
Mitt Romney (Republican, UT) \u2014 2022-3-10

I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding Utahn whose decades of uniformed service will soon conclude. BG Tyler Smith, currently assistant adjutant general of the Utah National Guard, will retire after 36 years of decorated service to Utah and the Nation. prgtoken Brigadier General Smith's military service began with his enlistment in the U.S. Army in 1986. Soon after, he deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm, earning liberation medals from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, respectively. Upon returning to Utah, he joined the National Guard, attended officer candidate school, and commissioned in the 1457th Engineer Battalion of the Engineer Branch, serving as a platoon leader and company commander. In 2008, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and earned the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge for his efforts and outstanding leadership. prgtoken Given his depth of experience and impressive work ethic, the brigadier general earned multiple appointments throughout his career. He served as operations officer in the 115th Engineer Group, commander of the 85th Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Team, and range control officer at Camp Williams, UT, where he was also deputy commander of the Utah Training Center before his appointment as garrison commander in 2014. Brigadier General Smith served as director of the Utah Army National Guard's Construction and Facilities Management Office before his appointment as assistant adjutant general. prgtoken In addition to the aforementioned awards, he also earned the Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Bronze oakleaf clusters; Army Commendation Medal with 1 Bronze oakleaf cluster; Army Achievement Medal with 1 Bronze oakleaf cluster; Army Good Conduct Medal with 2 Bronze Loops; Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 2 oakleaf clusters; National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star; Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars; Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass Device and M Device; Army Service Ribbon (ASR); Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 3; Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon; and the NATO Medal (ISAF). prgtoken His professional success is also matched by impressive educational accolades. Before his tenure as assistant professor of military science, ROTC, at Utah Valley University, he earned several degrees himself, including a master of public administration from Brigham Young University and a master of strategic studies from the Army War College. prgtoken BG Tyler Smith has demonstrated remarkable character as an exemplary public servant and a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Thank you for your dedication to our great State of Utah and the United States of America. We wish you and your family all the best.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 3811
Marsha Blackburn (Republican, TN) \u2014 2022-3-10

I do want to thank my colleague from Florida for doing the right thing for our partners in Ukraine by bringing up this supplemental appropriation for its own vote--its own vote. prgtoken But this isn't something that he should have had to do. It is something that should have been demanded by every Member of this Chamber. Vladimir Putin is waging a war, an all-out war on Ukraine. He has reduced maternity hospitals, orphanages, schools, and private homes to piles of rubble. He has boobytrapped humanitarian corridors. He is using weapons so horrific that to possess them constitutes a war crime. And he is preparing to terrorize civilians with the same proxy fighters that have brutalized innocents in Mali and in Syria. prgtoken And here we stand as our colleagues try to use an aid bill for Ukraine to link onto its back a $1.5 trillion spending spree. prgtoken At last count, there are more than 4,000 earmarks in this omnibus spending bill. prgtoken You and I have been through the issue of earmarks when we each were Members in the House. Earmarks, 4,000 of them, this bill is divisive, controversial, and requires actual deliberation and debate. It should not be used as a vehicle to hold this emergency funding for Ukraine hostage. prgtoken The fact that we even have to have this discussion is just disrespectful of the process. And it does not help the Ukrainian people. It slows down the aid to them. It is time to stop this manipulation in its tracks. prgtoken We need to give the people of Ukraine airpower. We need to give them humanitarian aid. And it needs to be done now. We need to give them the funding and the support that they need to survive, and it should be done now. And we need to separate this supplemental from this $1.5 trillion spending spree, and it ought to be done now. prgtoken .
EB-5 REFORM AND INTEGRITY ACT OF 2022
Bill Cassidy (Republican, LA) \u2014 2022-3-10

I am rising to support the amendment that my colleague Senator John Kennedy will introduce. So I will speak before he introduces it, but I speak in support thereof. prgtoken Senator Kennedy is going to introduce an amendment that would increase and that would grant disaster relief in several regions of the country, but I speak on behalf of those in Southwest Louisiana. prgtoken A picture tells a thousand words. If you recall back 3 years ago, Hurricane Laura hit Southwest Louisiana. Two weeks later, almost on the exact same track, Hurricane Delta followed up, destroying that which had not already been destroyed by Hurricane Laura. prgtoken The devastation of these storms was dramatic. Now I thank the American people. There has been aid that has been given by fellow Americans to these communities, but it has been less than what is required. And flying over, the picture tells a thousand words. There are still blue tarps on top of roofs years after the storm has hit. And for those who are unfamiliar with it, blue tarps are when the roof has been destroyed, you place the tarp so that it hopefully provides protection that shingles otherwise would. prgtoken When you are on the ground and you go through the neighborhood, there are homes that are blighted, boarded up, and as they have been boarded up, criminals have come in and businesses have closed. This particularly affects lower income communities. Those who have more resources, they will recover, but those folks who need a little extra help, they are not. prgtoken And so, as we think about the aid that my fellow Americans are asked to give to their fellow Americans, I just will give some statistics. Hurricane Laura cost $19 billion in damages; Hurricane Delta another $3 billion; and Ida, of course, not only hit Southwest Louisiana, but cost $75 billion in damages from Louisiana to New York. prgtoken There is a lot that has happened. I ask for additional support as outlined in my colleague John Kennedy's amendment to finish the recovery for these folks who have endured so much. prgtoken I humbly ask my colleagues to support the amendment. prgtoken .
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Robert Menendez (Democrat, NJ) \u2014 2022-3-10

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. prgtoken In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
EB-5 REFORM AND INTEGRITY ACT OF 2022
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2022-3-10

I rise today in support of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022. This bill would reauthorize our Nation's critical law to respond to domestic violence. It is long overdue. prgtoken Last month, I introduced the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act alongside Senators Ernst, Durbin, Murkowski, and others. A number of advocates joined us, including Angelina Jolie, to speak about the importance of this bill. prgtoken This bill has received strong bipartisan support, including from 11 cosponsors. And it has now been included in the Federal Omnibus spending bill we are set to vote on this week. prgtoken This bipartisan bill would reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act through 2027. And the bill includes important updates to modernize the Violence Against Women Act to do an even better job of protecting and supporting the survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. prgtoken I was proud to support the original Violence Against Women Act in 1994. And I have supported each reauthorization of the law since then. prgtoken This includes the most recent reauthorization in 2013, which passed the Senate by a strong bipartisan vote of 78-22. prgtoken I was honored to be able to sponsor this new reauthorization, which expands protections for survivors. prgtoken This bill is the result of a truly bipartisan effort. I would like to thank Senators Ernst, Durbin, and Murkowski for working with me to prepare this important piece of legislation. prgtoken We have also had help from a number of our Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have made important contributions to this effort. prgtoken I would also like to thank the many advocates who provided valuable input and support for this effort. This bill was written in close consultation with the people who are on the frontlines helping survivors of domestic violence every day. prgtoken Together, we drafted a bill that preserves the good work of the last Violence Against Women Act reauthorization and strengthens existing programs. prgtoken For nearly 30 years, the Violence Against Women Act has played a vital role in the Federal response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. I hope that this bill will be an effective tool to build on those efforts. prgtoken The need to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act is clear. These programs are vital tools that provide thousands of domestic violence survivors with the resources they need. prgtoken For instance, according to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, in a single day in 2020 there were prgtoken 76,525 survivors of domestic violence who received assistance thanks to programs funded and supported by the Violence Against Women Act. prgtoken Despite the progress made over the last three decades, sexual, emotional, and physical abuse are still painful realities for far too many Americans. prgtoken More tha
CLIMATE CHANGE
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2022-3-10

I am here for a rather different reason. It is to call on this Chamber yet again to wake up to the urgent threat of climate change. prgtoken I wish I was done with these ``Time to Wake Up'' speeches. Frankly, I wish I had never had to deliver a single one. prgtoken I wish Congress had dealt with this threat--for instance, back when another Senator from Rhode Island, John Chafee, held hearings on the looming challenge of carbon dioxide pollution. prgtoken I wish we had dealt with it when the House, under Pelosi, passed the Waxman-Markey climate change bill, only for Majority Leader Harry Reid and President to kill it in a ic Senate with a filibuster-proof majority. prgtoken I wish the Citizens United decision hadn't allowed the fossil fuel industry to capture the Party and kill the bipartisanship on climate that existed before that decision in this Chamber. prgtoken In my church growing up, there was a prayer about things we have left undone that we ought to have done. In that spirit, here is a graphic on carbon emissions we prepared in conjunction with the White House that charts out where we are on this problem. prgtoken Green, this line here, is carbon emissions business as usual if we keep kowtowing to the fossil fuel industry here and don't take serious climate action. prgtoken Orange, this line, with quite significant emissions savings, is the Finance Committee's climate tax package. That is the effect just of that climate tax package if it comes into law. prgtoken Down here is a clean electricity standard. If you could put into law a national U.S. clean electricity standard, you could reduce emissions to this gray line. prgtoken If you were to combine the two, if you were to combine the Finance Committee tax package and the clean electricity standard, you push emissions down to this yellow line. prgtoken Look at the blue line. This upper blue line is the carbon savings from a modest price on carbon, one that we have discussed and negotiated with the White House--$15 per ton in 2023, rising to $70 per ton in 2032. Look at how powerful the emissions effect is of that single intervention. prgtoken Now, this lowest one that reduces emissions the most, this is the safety pathway. This dark blue emissions line is all of those policies together. That is what they add up to. That is what we could be doing. We could be creating a pathway to safety. prgtoken As these emissions results show, a carbon price is the key policy to hit the 50-percent emissions reduction target we have and to get on a pathway to safety. Well, that is not happening right now. prgtoken So, while fossil fuel-funded s block legislative action on climate, what could be done through executive action? Regulation. It is not a substitute for ambitious legislation, but it can make a big difference. prgtoken The EPA has more or less restored -era fuel economy and greenhouse gas em
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Richard J. Durbin (Democrat, IL) \u2014 2022-3-10

I would like to call the attention of my friend from Wyoming to a column today by Dana Milbank in The Washington Post. I think it is really worth reading in light of some of the things that have been said on the floor: Canceling the Keystone XL pipeline caused gas prices to rise? prgtoken That has been said. Well, it is wrong. It was only 10 percent [finished] when canceled it, and its owners didn't expect to open it until 2023 at the earliest. prgtoken It had no measurable impact--maybe no impact--on current oil prices. [The assertion that] halted new drilling on Federal lands? Wrong. After a temporary halt in new leases, has outpaced in new drilling permits for public lands. prgtoken The Post has reported that publicly. As for 's ``shutdown of American energy,'' U.S. production has increased under from 9.7 million barrels a day to 11.6 million barrels. The number of oil rigs operating was at 172 in July 2020, E&E News reports. Now, 519 are in operation. U.S. production is forecast to set a record next year. What's holding back oil production-- prgtoken according to Mr. Milbank-- isn't government policy. U.S. producers still have 4,400 wells already approved and drilled that are not yet producing. They aren't drilling more because of a shortage of workers and equipment and, particularly, investors' greed-- prgtoken which, I think, the Senator from Maine was alluding to. prgtoken So some of the many things that have been said on the floor here as gospel have turned out to be somewhat short of factual. prgtoken I would concede that I listened to the Senator's statement earlier that this is a supply and demand issue at its heart. I do think there is some gouging going on. Maybe I am wrong. The fact of the matter is we are coming out of a recession--or at least out of a downturn in the economy--from COVID-19, and there is an exceeding demand and not much supply. The net result is inflationary, and prices have gone up at the pump. In terms of this administration's being at war with the production of oil in America, I don't think that case can be made. prgtoken .