mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2022-3-23

. It really is about families. prgtoken So, , I just want to close by saying I am so grateful for the partnership that Senator Blunt and I have had. He thinks he is retiring at the end of the year. I am actually going to put him in a closet and not let him leave because he has been such a champion both in his role on appropriations as well as partnering for long-term funding. This is important; this is something real and tangible and meaningful that we can all do together; and I am excited and hopeful we are going to take the next step this year together.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, MN) \u2014 2022-3-23

I want to thank the Senator from Washington for her incredible leadership of the Commerce Committee and focusing on the issues that matter to businesses, something the Presiding Officer, as the former Governor of Colorado and someone who knows a little bit about business understands as well. We have to fix these supply chain issues, and we have to actually take up the torch. prgtoken We have gotten through the worst of this pandemic; we see the lighthouse on the horizon; and it is time to move forward with our economy. prgtoken And instead of just diagnosing the problem, we actually have to do some things to fix it. And on that list, for my own State, I would say, No. 1 is workforce and getting people into the jobs that we have available; No. 2, something Senator Cantwell has made so clear, is the semiconductors and all of the things we should be making in America; No. 3 is infrastructure. We are so proud of the bipartisan infrastructure bill that we worked so hard on and the money going to improve our ports, including the port in Duluth, the busiest port on Lake Superior. And then, finally, something I am going to address today, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, a bipartisan bill that I lead with Senator Thune, unanimously passed the Commerce Committee yesterday, and I want to thank Senators Cantwell and Wicker for their leadership and help on the bill. prgtoken Senator Thune and I are both in the middle of the country. In fact, we are neighbors in Minnesota and South Dakota, and we know that American farmers feed the world and consumers and businesses look to them for in-demand ag goods from soybeans to corn, to dairy, to poultry, to pork, to beef, to name just a few. prgtoken We also have tons of small and big manufacturers in the middle of the country--and it is not just Minnesota or Colorado or South Dakota that have been seeing the delays in shipping. It is everywhere in this Nation. prgtoken The past 2 years have highlighted significant supply chain disruptions and vulnerabilities for U.S. exporters, including many families across my home State. prgtoken U.S. companies have only been able to ship 60 percent of their orders because they can't access shipping containers during certain parts of this pandemic. At the same time, ocean carriers--almost all foreign owned--have reported record profits. It is estimated that the mostly foreign container shipping industry made a record $190 billion in profits in 2021, a sevenfold increase from the previous year. prgtoken Their financial performance certainly isn't the result of improved performance, given how many things we have not been able to ship out. No, they are fleecing consumers and exporters because they know they can get away with it, and this is all while exporters and consumers are paying the price, literally, for the supply chain disruptions caused by their unreliable service. prgtoken We need to get exports to those who need them. We need
AMERICA CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANUFACTURING, PRE-EMINENCE IN TECHNOLOGY, AND ECONOMIC STRENGTH ACT OF 2022
Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, MD) \u2014 2022-3-23

reserving the right to object to the request from the Senator from Idaho, it is my understanding that the Senator's modification would not include provisions that were included in the House-passed legislation that modifies the global Magnitsky sanction regime. prgtoken I just would like to speak for a moment, if I might. There is no question that we stand with the people of Ukraine against the unprovoked attack by Mr. Putin. We are inspired every day by the courage of the Ukrainian people and by their inspirational leader, President Zelenskyy. prgtoken The United States has shown leadership, and I congratulate the administration. We have led the free world in providing defensive lethal weapons to Ukraine to defend itself. We have provided humanitarian assistance, joining the global community, including dealing with 3 million Ukrainians that are now refugees in other countries and 10 million that have been displaced as a result of Mr. Putin's unprovoked attack. prgtoken And we have led on sanctions. We have led in getting the global unity to impose sanctions against not just the Russian sectors, but also against individuals. And when Mr. Zelenskyy spoke before the Members of Congress, he specifically mentioned the importance of these sanctions; and he asked us to expand those covered by the sanctions to include the enablers, those that are enabling Mr. Putin--the oligarchs--to be able to fund his aggression against Ukraine. prgtoken So what did the House send over to us? In their bill, they sent over a global Magnitsky modification. It is identical to legislation that was filed by Senator Portman and myself that included the revocation of PNTR for Russia, along with the global Magnitsky. First and foremost, it removes the sunset that is in the legislation that would sunset this year. prgtoken Mr. Zelenskyy asked for us to be resolved in being willing to stand up to Mr. Putin, that it would take some time. A clear message is that we remove the sunset on the global Magnitsky statute. And we know how difficult it is to get legislation passed in this body. prgtoken It also expands the global Magnitsky to include the enablers--exactly what Mr. Zelenskyy asked us to do--those that enabled--the oligarchs that allowed him to be able to finance this. The language that is included in here is very similar to the language that was included in President 's Executive order. This is critical legislation. prgtoken Now, let me just tell you how appropriate it is that it is included in a PNTR bill--because the first Magnitsky sanction bill--and Senator Wyden was very important in getting this done--was included in the original PNTR bill for Russia, and we were able to get it done at that time. prgtoken We then made it a global Magnitsky, and my partner on that was the late Senator McCain. It has always been bipartisan. My partner now is Senator Wicker. The two of us have joined forces to make sure we ge
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)
Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, NY) \u2014 2022-3-23

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar Nos. 686, 689, 691; that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate resume legislative session.
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LATIN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
Jon Ossoff (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2022-3-23

today let the Senate recognize the 50th anniversary of the Latin American Association based in Atlanta, GA. prgtoken Founded and led by Angel Ortiz and Stratton Frank, what started as a small organization to serve Atlanta's then-emerging Latino population has become one of the largest service providers and advocates for Georgia's Latino and immigrant communities. prgtoken With a focus on civic engagement, economic empowerment, youth services, family stabilization, and immigration services, the association has made a big difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Georgians. prgtoken The Latin American Association has been instrumental helping immigrants who have newly arrived to the United States to assimilate, feel at home, and positively contribute to our great Nation. Because of their work, Georgia and the country are better off. prgtoken On behalf of the State of Georgia and the U.S. Senate, I express our heartfelt thanks to the Latin American Association.
AMERICA CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANUFACTURING, PRE-EMINENCE IN TECHNOLOGY, AND ECONOMIC STRENGTH ACT OF 2022
Ron Wyden (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2022-3-23

let me pick up on what both of my colleagues have just said. Senator Schumer and Senator Crapo have both said prgtoken how committed we are to getting this worked out today. And as Senator Schumer said, under his leadership, the Finance Committee--the chair and the ranking member--that is what we are going to be working on so that this actually happens. prgtoken And I want to make sure everybody understands what that means. It means that while the President is in these crucial discussions right now in Europe, the Senate--in the most expedited way, which is to pass the House legislation today--would revoke permanent normal trade relations with Russia. prgtoken And here is why that is so important. Vladimir Putin's inhumane conduct means that Russia has forfeited the right to the benefits of the international trade order that was established after World War II. And what the Senate can do by passing the House bill today would amount to the harshest economic consequences in a generation. Let me be specific about that. prgtoken When we pass that legislation that came over from the House here in the Senate, it would immediately trigger a significant increase in tariffs on Russian-made products. Adding to that, the proposal also includes authority for the President to raise tariffs even higher in the future. These tariffs would directly level a significant set of restrictions on Putin's circle of oligarchs, who export everything from chemicals to plywood. This is an absolutely essential step in ensuring that Russia is a pariah state. prgtoken So to wrap up, apropos of the comments from the distinguished Senate majority leader and our ranking member--and the President of the Senate has worked with him as well--we had a good discussion over the last half-hour that is going to focus on getting passage of the House bill done today. And as Senator Schumer, Senator Crapo, and I have all noted, those discussions have been ongoing, but we are going to step it up so we can get this done today and send the House bill to the President's desk by close of business today. prgtoken With that, , .
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Maria Cantwell (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2022-3-23

. I come to the floor to talk about the underlying bill that we are trying to get passed. That is the United States Innovation and Competition Act that we passed here in the U.S. Senate about 280 days ago. prgtoken One aspect of that bill is a provision that we just had a hearing on in the Commerce Committee today, and that is the funding of what are called semiconductors, the key technology enabling so much of the technology sectors today--from your phones to your smart devices, to automobiles, to the transition we want to make on clean energy, to just about everything that we see that is essential to be smarter, more connected, and to play off some of the advances in technology that allow us to be more efficient. prgtoken But we are here to talk about how chips are also a supply chain issue. And the supply chain of this product has definitely been impacted over the last few years, both by the fact that there has been a higher demand for them and because of what has happened during COVID. prgtoken In fact, 90 percent of the chips that are most advanced today come from Taiwan. Today's hearing was about how the United States of America needs to do more to produce the next generation of advanced chips for artificial intelligence, automation, and advanced manufacturing, here in the United States, and that an overreliance on the global supply chain--which every American can tell you about the supply chain now because there are products that they are not getting because of the supply chain or the price has gone up because of the supply chain--but we know that this issue of getting this Innovation and Competition Act and getting the funding for more production to be done in the United States on something as critical as semiconductors is a very key issue. So I hope our colleagues will help us get to conference and resolve this issue with our colleagues. prgtoken But I would like to talk about a few of those sectors that are really impacting and hurting Americans. First of all, in the automotive sector, thousands of American workers have endured layoffs due to the shortage. The global automobile industry suffered over 200 billion in losses, and Ford was forced to halt or cut production at eight plants as recently as last month. prgtoken The cost of a used car has gone up 41 percent, and the price of new cars 12 prgtoken percent. A lot of this is due to the semiconductor shortage. Let me repeat those numbers: The price of a used car has gone up 41 percent; the price of a new car over here, 12 percent. And this is the price of a 12-percent increase on new equipment. prgtoken Well, if you think about it, right now, for most of those people trying to buy the new cars, they might be on a waiting list. But people who can easily afford a new car and need one but can't get it due to the shortage, they are buying used cars instead, and that is what is driving up the price. prgtoken So who feels the pain at the pump? It is not the
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Tim Kaine (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2022-3-23

today I am introducing the Military Spouse Hiring Act with my colleagues Senators Boozman, Hassan, and Rounds. Enacting this bill would improve financial stability for Blue Star families across the country. prgtoken The families of America's servicemembers make sacrifices that often go unrecognized. Among them is packing up and moving frequently, with military spouses regularly having to leave stable employment to move to a new area and start over. This is compounded by the complex system of State licensing and certification requirements, which can prevent these spouses from taking jobs that utilize their expertise and experience. Because of this, military spouses have unemployment rates substantially higher than the national average, and they are often underemployed when they do have jobs. Adding to the financial struggles caused by frequent periods of unemployment and underemployment, the rising cost of child care puts a substantial burden on many military families. prgtoken The Military Spouse Hiring Act would help these families by making military spouses an eligible population for the work opportunity tax credit. This tax credit has proven effective in improving employment prospects for other groups. Extending it to military spouses would help them find employment more easily after moving to new areas. prgtoken I hope my colleagues will support this bill to help families who have made the greatest sacrifice for our nation.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jack Reed (Democrat, RI) \u2014 2022-3-23

today marks 1 month since the illegal and unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine began. Since that time, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has proven himself a courageous and inspiring leader, the Ukrainian military has performed heroically in the face of overwhelming violence, and the Ukrainian people have shown the world what true courage looks like. prgtoken There is one person who is responsible for so much suffering and catastrophe: Vladimir Putin. Faced with this senseless attack, Ukraine and the prgtoken international community have rallied together to stand up to Putin with a unified front. It is stunning, therefore, that many of my colleagues now seem intent upon suggesting that Russia invaded Ukraine because of something the administration did or failed to do. prgtoken There is no polite way to put this: This attempt to score political points by blaming the administration for Putin's invasion is unacceptable and inappropriate. prgtoken I think it is important to remind my colleagues of some important facts they are ignoring. prgtoken To be clear, the administration has done more than any previous administration when it comes to support for Ukraine. In the roughly 14 months since taking office, the administration has provided more than $2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, including weapons like Stingers and Javelins that are proving so effective today. This is far more than any previous administration, and I applaud those 17 Senators who voted for this military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine. prgtoken Further, since last fall, the administration has worked tirelessly to build a coalition of nations committed to supporting Ukraine. So when the time came to stand up to Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the United States stood with more than 30 countries from across the globe to condemn the violence, to execute the largest sanctions and export controls in history, and to support the Ukrainian people by surging humanitarian and security aid into the country. This overwhelming international response would not have happened without President 's leadership. prgtoken We also should not forget a major reason Vladimir Putin felt so emboldened to invade Ukraine and challenge NATO. For 4 years, President treated our allies like adversaries and pandered to dictators and despots--especially Putin. Mr. 's animosity toward NATO created lingering doubt about the United States' reliability and the cohesion of the alliance, jeopardizing our greatest advantage against Russia. prgtoken The administration's failure to hold Russia accountable for numerous violations of international norms served only to embolden Putin in challenging U.S. leadership and the rules-based international order. prgtoken Most disturbing, of course, was the offense that led to Mr. 's first impeachment: his efforts to extort Ukraine's securi
AMERICA CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANUFACTURING, PRE-EMINENCE IN TECHNOLOGY, AND ECONOMIC STRENGTH ACT OF 2022
Sherrod Brown (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2022-3-23

since Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has been shocked by two things: He has been shocked by the courage and the resilience and skill of the Ukrainian army and the resistance by the Ukrainian people. prgtoken He has also been shocked by the way President has unified the world and put together this broad, effective coalition. Think about this: Countries like Germany and Sweden and Finland, even Switzerland, have never been involved in these kinds of international operations. They are all on board, all working with us on weapons and on humanitarian assistance and on sanctions. prgtoken The President's team has done an extraordinary job in mustering the strength of this allied coalition to impose a broad range of powerful, punishing sanctions. We have cut off huge portions of their banking, finance, and business sectors from the Western financial world. We have shut down access to their monetary reserves--what Putin considered his war chest. We have sanctioned their central bank, their large commercial banks, and their sovereign wealth funds. prgtoken We have cut off their ability to finance their debt. We have blocked key sanctioned banks from the SWIFT financial messaging system. We are shutting down their borrowing privileges at international institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. prgtoken We have gone after Putin personally and the oligarchs who prop up his regime. We have gone after their intelligence entities and defense firms and others supporting them and supporting the war effort. prgtoken We have sanctioned disinformation agents, freezing their assets, cutting off their ability to propagandize Putin's lies. prgtoken Together with our allies, we have begun to go after their lucrative energy sector. We shut down the Nord prgtoken Stream 2 gas pipeline. We imposed a broad ban on Russian oil and gas and coal coming to the United States. We have cut off all new American investments into their oil and gas sector, and our big oil and gas firms have withdrawn in droves. prgtoken We have cut off the sophisticated technology Russia's refining industry needs and other technologies that have powered their industrial efforts. prgtoken In all this, we make it clear: Russia cannot invade its neighbors, cannot kill civilians, cannot expect to benefit from being part of the international economic order. prgtoken And again, this has been the leadership of President and the State Department and the Defense Department and the Commerce Department and others and strong leadership that has pulled everybody together. The fact that we have put together this coalition so quickly, again, with countries that really haven't, since World War II, participated in anything like this--again, Sweden and Finland; Germany for the first time; Switzerland, which has been a neutral country since way before even you were born, . So this has been a long time tha
IN RECOGNITION OF THE CAREER OF MICHAEL LAVOIE
James P. McGovern (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2022-3-24

. Madam , I rise today to honor Fire Chief Michael J. Lavoie, a dedicated public servant whose commitment to protecting the safety of the people of Worcester, Massachusetts has saved countless lives over the last three decades. prgtoken Joining the Worcester Fire Department in 1987, Chief Lavoie served for 14 years as a firefighter. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2001, captain in 2008, and then Worcester Fire Safety Division District Chief and North End District Chief in 2009 and 2011, respectively. Finally, Chief Lavoie was named chief of the Worcester Fire Department in 2017. During his tenure, Chief Lavoie led the department and the City of Worcester through challenging times with grace and strength. prgtoken Throughout his career, Chief Lavoie facilitated great improvements. He helped implement training workshops and instituted a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, which uses safety features like a thermal imager and enhanced communication capabilities to protect the health of firefighters. Chief Lavoie also worked tirelessly with Worcester City Manager Ed Augustus to bring new vehicles to the department and to make sure every firetruck was always fully staffed. prgtoken Madam , the impact Chief Lavoie had on the Worcester Fire Department cannot be understated. He has shown, time and time again, incredible leadership and commitment to the people of Worcester. prgtoken Chief Lavoie is a public servant, through and through. Over the course of his 35-year long career, he gave so much to the City of Worcester and improved the working conditions of firefighters along the way. I also have to thank Chief Lavoie's family for supporting him in his service to our city. Their sacrifice has allowed all of us to have a safer place to call home. prgtoken Madam , on behalf of the United States Congress and all the people in whose lives Chief Lavoie has made a difference, it is my great privilege to thank and recognize Chief Michael J. Lavoie for his service to the people of Massachusetts and his unwavering commitment to making a safer world.