mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Chuck Grassley (Republican, IA) \u2014 2021-8-5

I am reintroducing the Survivors' Bill of Rights in the States Act of 2021. This measure, which Senator Shaheen has joined me in sponsoring, builds on an initiative on which the two of us worked together in 2016. prgtoken Entitled the ``Survivors' Bill of Rights Act,'' that earlier legislation cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee in June of 2016, during my tenure as its chairman. The House of Representatives introduced a similar package of rights some months later, and that version was enacted in the fall of 2016 with my strong support. prgtoken The 2016 statute provides very important rights for victims of sexual violence, but that act only accomplishes those cases that are Federal. Such rights include, for example, the right to know the results of your forensic exam, the right to have evidence preserved for a certain period, and lastly, the right to notice before your forensic kit is destroyed. prgtoken A young sexual assault survivor, Amanda Nguyen, who advocated for these rights at the Federal level, now is leading the effort to persuade other jurisdictions to adopt the same rights for all sexual assault victims. One of those jurisdictions is my home State of Iowa, which this summer adopted a package of rights that is closely modeled after the Federal Survivors' Bill of Rights. prgtoken I want to take the opportunity to again thank Amanda, who arrived in my office 6 years ago and convinced me of the importance of working with her on this important initiative. Amanda also later testified before the Judiciary Committee, not once but twice, at my invitation, about the importance of protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence in our criminal justice system. prgtoken Amanda worked with Senator Shaheen on this same legislation, as well as this Senator, and I am pleased to partner with Senator Shaheen again in introducing today's measure that will hopefully affect more States adopting this legislation. prgtoken This bill that we sponsored, then, gives each State a financial incentive to adopt new rights for survivors in all sex crime cases, modeled on the same rights that victims in Federal cases now enjoy. Each State that extends these same rights to survivors of sexual violence would then be eligible to receive a Federal grant under the legislation that we have introduced. The amount of each State grant would be calculated based on the formula that is used to calculate STOP grant funding to States under a program that is authorized by the Violence Against Women Act. prgtoken Finally, this measure that we have introduced would authorize $20 million annually for each of the next 5 fiscal years to support the implementation of the new grant program established by this bill. prgtoken Once again, I want to thank Senator Shaheen for joining me in leading this legislation and for her commitment to working to increase protections for victims of sexual violence. prgtoken I also want to thank the Nat
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Thune (Republican, SD) \u2014 2021-8-5

I want to associate myself with the comments of my colleague from Delaware with respect to Senator Enzi. He is absolutely right. Senator Enzi, who will be laid to rest in Wyoming, was a wonderful public servant and someone who there weren't any pretensions about him. He was a ``what you see is what you get'' type of individual, somebody who worked hard every day, was solutions- oriented, results-oriented, and brought with him a humble spirit and demeanor that we all benefited from here, and something that I think all of us could aspire to here as well. prgtoken And I was reminded as my colleague from Delaware was speaking, of a verse in the Old Testament Book of Micah, where it says: He has told you, old man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. prgtoken And I think that certainly describes Senator Mike Enzi. And we think about him and his family and keep them in our prayers as they prepare for that ceremony tomorrow. Broadband prgtoken , as a Senator from a rural State and a member and former chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, expanding broadband access to rural areas has long been a priority of mine. Given our economy's increasing reliance on broadband in the digital age, it makes sense, as part of this infrastructure bill, that we are prioritizing expanding broadband access to unserved areas. prgtoken But I have to say I am concerned, because a lot of the money allocated for expanding access--more than $42 billion--would be funneled not through the Federal Communications Commission, where the majority of the Government's broadband experience resides, but through the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA, which has previously fumbled attempts to bring broadband access to more communities. prgtoken Back in 2009, a government stimulus bill allocated $4.7 billion to NTIA to expand broadband access in rural and underserved areas. It didn't go very well. The Agency struggled with implementation. There were serious issues with a number of the projects the Agency approved. In fact, 14 projects were either temporarily or permanently halted. prgtoken Other projects resulted in a significant amount of overbuilding, meaning that they resulted in the construction of additional broadband infrastructure in areas that already had access to reliable broadband. A Government Accountability Office report found that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration lacked the data it needed to determine whether areas were genuinely underserved. prgtoken More recently, just last month, the NTIA called for ``volunteers''-- volunteers--to evaluate grant proposals. That is right. The NTIA has called for volunteers to help determine how to allocate the $1.5 billion Congress has provided to NTIA over th
TRIBUTE TO MILDRED JANZEN
Jerry Moran (Republican, KS) \u2014 2021-8-5

I want to congratulate and pay tribute to Mildred Schindler Janzen, a World War II survivor and author of the memoir, ``Surviving Hitler, Evading Stalin.'' prgtoken Mildred was born in Great Bend, KS, in 1929 to German parents. Shortly after her birth, her family returned to Germany to take care of the family farm. Growing up in Nazi Germany, World War II completely disrupted Mildred's childhood and her family's life. Mildred and her family were driven away from their home, separated from each other, and forced to become refugees in their own country. As a teenager, Mildred and her family were captured by Russian soldiers, and eventually, her father was led away to never be seen again. After returning to their family farm, she and her mother and brother were displaced once again by Polish soldiers. prgtoken Mildred experienced the horrors of World War II and her courage in sharing her story should be commended. After the war and with the help of her American birth certificate, Mildred was able to return to the United States to live with relatives. Back in the United States, Mildred came back to Kansas, to her birthplace. She settled in Ellsworth, KS, where she attended high school, learned English, and worked at a local bank. During her time in high school, Mildred met and married Leon Janzen, and they had four children together: Karen, Kenton, Susan, and Galen. prgtoken After sharing her story with many others, Mildred decided to write a memoir. It is her hope that releasing this memoir will help prevent history from repeating itself. Mildred's bravery and resilience is a testament to her strong character. Her choice to rise above past hardships and instead focus on a life filled with happiness, persistence, and love is a prime example of the enduring survivor that Mildred is. prgtoken Today, Mildred spends her time gardening, baking, being active within her church and being with family. She embodies a true Kansan: determined, hard-working, and committed to her community. prgtoken Mildred, I congratulate you on the release of your memoir and thank you for demonstrating to Kansans and the world your outstanding courage and character. Thank you for telling your story.
OIL AND GAS LEASES MORATORIUM
Kevin Cramer (Republican, ND) \u2014 2021-8-5

I rise today in support of North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem filing a lawsuit against the administration's continued cancelation of oil and gas leases on Federal lands and its impact on State and private mineral owners. prgtoken In addition to being a foolish idea, I believe President 's moratorium is illegal. It increases Federal and State budget shortfalls, hampers State and private mineral owners' rights, and makes the United States less energy independent and more reliant on foreign producers. prgtoken My State of North Dakota is uniquely harmed by this action, given what is commonly referred to as the split estate issue. For roughly 100 years, the Federal Government has retained Federal mineral rights on land near where State and/or private entities also hold surface and mineral rights. About 30 percent of the spacing units in North Dakota have interspersed federal mineral interests and therefore must go through the leasing process of the Bureau of Land Management--BLM-- regardless of its size. prgtoken Accordingly, since the moratorium, it is estimated our State has lost $4.77 billion in tax revenues and $1.2 billion in private royalties. We are grateful the Louisiana Federal District Court Order agreed the administration's actions are illegal, but unfortunately, we are being given no reason to think the near of this harmful policy is near. prgtoken On a recent call between the leadership of the BLM Montana/Dakotas office and constituents from the region, BLM officials stated that they are canceling quarterly lease sales at least through the end of calendar year 2021. Citing the administration's plans to appeal the district court ruling, State Director John Mehloff said, ``We'll probably, at earliest, would be able to hold an oil and gas lease sale late first quarter of 2022.'' prgtoken That is disappointing, to say the least. Thankfully, North Dakota is taking action to protect our producers and America's energy security. I support the State's efforts in court and hope they are successful.
REMEMBERING FRED C. ADAMS
Mike Lee (Republican, UT) \u2014 2021-8-5

through the summer and fall, in the growing town of Cedar City, UT, hundreds of people will fill the seats of the Engelstad Shakespeare Theater, modeled after the Globe, to enjoy a showing of Pericles, Prince of Tyre by William Shakespeare. Families will cry and cheer, gasp and giggle as they enjoy a Utah tradition: the annual Utah Shakespeare Festival. prgtoken Each year, for the last six decades, families from around the world have flocked to the campus of Southern Utah University to enjoy productions of the Bard's best works. Founded in 1961, the Utah Shakespeare Festival is a prime example of how private initiative can catalyze growth and unite community. Nobody embodies this story more vividly than Fred C. Adams, the festival's founder. prgtoken As a young man, Fred made acting look easy. Not only did he develop a passion for the world of theater, he also demonstrated a knack for stagecraft. Over time, his talent and passion developed from a hobby into a career. prgtoken Years before the Utah Shakespeare Festival put on its first show, Fred served his country from the Pentagon. During the Korean war, he was in charge of entertainment and morale. Having grown up acting, he dedicated himself to the work of production and performance, bringing joy and brilliance to those who served with him. prgtoken After his service during the Korean war, Fred returned to his home in southern Utah in 1961. At that time, hundreds of thousands of tourists visited each summer to see the area's national parks by day, but by night, there was little to do. It was around that same time that a new freeway exit was planned along I-15, Utah's primary interstate highway, right in the heart of Cedar City. Excited by the prospect of growth, Fred saw an opportunity. prgtoken One day, while he and his girlfriend Barbara, who later became his wife, were in the Fluffy Bundle Laundromat, daydreaming while waiting for their laundry to dry, the two thought up an idea. Both Fred and Barbara were passionate about theater, and Fred even taught theater classes at the local College of Southern Utah. ``Why not start a Shakespearean festival in Cedar City?'' they thought. With a bit of funding and the help of friends, the idea seemed like it could become a reality. Eager to learn more about how such a festival might come to be, Fred left the laundromat, packed up his bags, and headed to Ashland, OR, where the Oregon Shakespeare Festival takes place each year. prgtoken When Fred got to Oregon, he was befriended by Angus Bowmer, the founder of the Oregon Shakespearean Festival. After a few days of observation there, Fred returned to Cedar City and then set out with Barbara, Barbara's mother Louise, and two theater students to visit theaters in Canada and Connecticut. On the road, the Utah Shakespeare Festival was born. prgtoken Fred eagerly approached the Cedar City Council and the Chamber of Commerce to tell them about his plan to attra
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
James Lankford (Republican, OK) \u2014 2021-8-5

. . prgtoken I would say this is a complicated issue to walk through the issues of immigration, and there are a lot of questions that hang out there. Secretary Mayorkas was in front of our committee on May 13 to be able to walk through the issues we are facing. prgtoken Just as a quick review, we had a record number of people illegally cross the border in March. That was beaten in April. That was beaten in May. That was beaten in June. That was beaten in July. prgtoken In July, we had 210,000 people illegally cross our border, that we know of. prgtoken The DHS, in a recent court filing--actually filed in a court filing where they made this statement: Based on current trends, the Department expects that total encounters this fiscal year are likely to be the highest ever recorded. . . . The Department also expects that these numbers will climb even higher if the CDC Order [Title 42] is enjoined. prgtoken There is a real issue that is going on. So when Ale Mayorkas was in front of our committee, our committee had direct jurisdiction for oversight in what is happening in Homeland Security. There have been a lot of changes that have been done this year in how we are enforcing or not enforcing the border. prgtoken We have record numbers of individuals crossing the border. The border wall and that whole infrastructure, as well as the technology on the southern border, all the construction has stopped on that. The best we can tell, we have spent $2 billion this year not building the wall. prgtoken Currently, it is not getting better. It continues to be able to get worse. We have 10,000 migrants in the Rio Grande Valley currently being held right now. That is 783 percent overcapacity in the Rio Grande Valley right now. prgtoken And on the Interior enforcement side with ICE--we have 6,000 ICE agents--and the last number that we saw last month, they did 3,000 deportations among 6,000 ICE agents in a month. The standard for them to actually interdict, detain, or deport an individual has now reached such a high standard that they have to contact regional leadership and ask permission by name to be able to interdict someone. prgtoken That has dramatically slowed down what is happening in Interior enforcement, what is happening at our border area. prgtoken And as we continue to be able to watch the number of individuals cross our border that are COVID positive, we have this odd situation where the Nation and the President are talking to companies and telling companies, ``you need to mandate vaccines and you need to mandate masks,'' when at the whole time we are literally bringing people from all over the world across our southern border and releasing them into the United States. prgtoken We have legitimate questions that need to be answered. May 13, when Ale Mayorkas was in front of our Committee, there were multiple questions that I had. It was a very cordial interchange an
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
John Barrasso (Republican, WY) \u2014 2021-8-5

. . I come to the floor today to comment on statements made by the majority leader earlier today on this Senate floor, and he made those after President , this morning, signed another expensive Executive order relating to climate change. prgtoken The President at the time said it was his goal of making half of all new cars emission-free in less than a decade. In practice, that means making half of all new cars electric. prgtoken Well, after the President signed his Executive order, the majority leader came to the floor, and he talked about his own plans to give more of American taxpayer dollars to the manufacturers and purchasers of electric vehicles. prgtoken He said: [W]e hope to add large parts of the plan. prgtoken Well, where does he want to add it? Well, he wants to add it to the reckless tax-and-spending plan. prgtoken The American taxpayers are already giving billions and billions of taxpayer dollars to electric vehicle manufacturers and owners. Electric vehicle makers have been given free tax dollars for 30 years. The truth is, electric car buyers don't need more taxpayer money. They have plenty of their own. prgtoken Today, the market for electric vehicles is very well established. There are more than a million electric vehicles on the road today. They are being made by everyone: General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, U.S. manufacturers, foreign manufacturers. They are being made all around the world. prgtoken In fact, the U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that sales of light-duty electric vehicles is going to reach 4 million by the year 2025. Electric vehicle makers are doing just fine. prgtoken They are also receiving free money from just about every State. So who benefits from these taxpayer handouts to electric vehicle makers and users? prgtoken Well, customers are usually wealthy. They don't need more money. prgtoken Now, seniors on fixed incomes, certainly in Wyoming, are not trading in their cars for expensive electric vehicles. Middle-class families who are trying to make ends meet are dealing with inflation that is hitting them every day under the economy. They are not going out to buy expensive new electric vehicles. Seniors and middle-class families are hurting right now because of inflation hitting them when they buy gas, when they buy groceries, when they buy other goods. And this is, of course, triggered by massive spending, including the borrowing and spending that has occurred under the last coronavirus--the so-called coronavirus relief bill. prgtoken So aren't looking out for them under the proposal. Oh, no. prgtoken Nearly 80 percent of tax credits for electric vehicles go to households that earned at least $100,000 a year. Let me repeat that. Nearly 80 percent of the tax credits for electric vehicles go to households that have earned over $100,000 a year, not to mention the fact that these drivers don't pay for the use and th
INVESTING IN A NEW VISION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION IN AMERICA ACT--Continued
Cynthia M. Lummis (Republican, WY) \u2014 2021-8-5

I want to say a few words about the Wyden- Lummis-Toomey amendment that is ready before the Senate to vote on tonight. prgtoken America is, at its core, a country of innovators. It is written into our DNA. It is why we were the first country to develop a computer, land on the Moon, and develop the internet. prgtoken Right now, our financial system is evolving before our eyes, much in the same way that the internet first began to find a foothold in the mid-1990s. Distributed ledgers, digital assets, and other forms of financial technology are in the early stages of transforming the way we share and store value. prgtoken These technologies have the potential, if implemented properly, to create a vast, new economic opportunity, reduce systemic risk in our economy, and provide for faster payments and create a more inclusive financial system. These are principles that all Americans can agree on. prgtoken America has a heritage of being the global leader in financial services, and this has created enormous wealth and opportunity in this Nation. But we must be careful not to rest on our laurels. America's leadership in the global economy is a privilege, not a right, and one we must earn through innovation and hard work. prgtoken Europe, China, Singapore, and other nations have a head start on the United States in implementing financial technology and integrating it into their economies. We have a window to catch up because the U.S. dollar is still the world's reserve currency and because our central role in payments and the capital markets put us there. But let's not make a mistake here; we still have a lot of catching up to do. prgtoken The digital asset reporting provisions in the infrastructure bill is one of the first times the Senate has been required to grapple with the opportunities and risks of digital assets. prgtoken I thank Senator Portman for bringing attention to this very important issue: the issue of ensuring tax compliance in the digital asset markets. Everyone should be paying the taxes they owe under the law, and I support the spirit of this provision. prgtoken I also want to thank Senator Portman for his willingness to work with me over the last week to make changes to the language currently in the bill. It has come a long way. But even with these changes, it isn't quite ready to become law. prgtoken The Wyden-Lummis-Toomey amendment is very simple. It clarifies in law what most of us already believe, that validators of distributed ledger data like miners and stakers, hardware wallet providers, and software developers should be required to report transactional data to the Internal Revenue Service. This is common sense. prgtoken The most important thing this amendment does is say in plain English what the law means. This is so important to startups, small business owners, and ordinary Americans who want to take a risk on their ideas. In many cases, these Americans can't hire a fancy lawyer to
TRIBUTE TO NICK ROSSI
Mitch McConnell (Republican, KY) \u2014 2021-8-5

now, on another matter, this week, Senate s are saying goodbye to some all-star staffers. prgtoken Nick Rossi, the chief of staff to our whip, Senator Thune, has spent 15 years mastering the ins and outs of the Senate. prgtoken This former FBI agent has used his Harvard Law horsepower to steer offices, committees, and our entire conference in the right direction. Our whip prgtoken has had a whip-smart right-hand man. I won't be able to top his boss's wonderful tribute remarks from yesterday, so I won't even try, but I did just want to add my own brief thanks and congratulations. prgtoken I have gotten to see Nick's great work up close. Senator Thune and I have a standing Monday meeting to plan the week. It is a very small meeting with very few staff. Nick has been in that room, and, every time, I have been glad he was. It is a rare thing in Washington to meet someone who is probably almost one of the smartest people in the room but who also never lets you know it, but Nick combines brilliance and humility in just that way. prgtoken So my staff and I join Senator Thune and the whole Senate in bidding Nick a fond, if reluctant, farewell. prgtoken Thank you, sincerely, for your fine, fine service.